The
Water Deepened And Sholdened So Very Gently, That In Heaving The
Lead Five Or Six Times We Should Scarce
Have a foot difference.
When we came into seven fathom either way, we presently went about.
From this south part
Of the bay we could not see the land from
whence we came in the afternoon; and this land we found to be an
island of three or four leagues long; but it appearing barren, I did
not strive to go nearer it, and the rather because the winds would
not permit us to do it without much trouble, and at the openings the
water was generally shoal: I therefore made no farther attempts in
this south-west and south part of the bay, but steered away to the
eastward, to see if there was any land that way, for as yet we had
seen none there. On the 12th, in the morning, we passed by the
north point of that land, and were confirmed in the persuasion of
its being an island by seeing an opening to the east of it, as we
had done on the west. Having fair weather, a small gale, and smooth
water, we stood further on in the bay to see what land was on the
east of it. Our soundings at first were seven fathom, which held so
a great while, but at length it decreased to six. Then we saw the
land right ahead. We could not come near it with the ship, having
but shoal water, and it being dangerous lying there, and the land
extraordinarily low, very unlikely to have fresh water (though it
had a few trees on it, seemingly mangroves), and much of it probably
covered at high water, I stood out again that afternoon, deepening
the water, and before night anchored in eight fathom, clean white
sand, about the middle of the bay.
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