There was little wind for the rest of the day. Sometimes we were even
becalmed and at the mercy of the current, which carried us towards the
coast, then only a league off. After sighting our points of the previous
day, we sailed along the high land that we had seen a little before sunset.
The coast in this part, if not extremely pleasant. was at least preferable
to the region of sand-hills that we had just left.
At midday the latitude observed was 35° 36' but this was very uncertain.
At three o'clock we sighted the island and islets spoken of by Mr. Flinders.
I proceeded so as to run in for the channel separating them from the mainland,
but since the slight wind blowing did not allow me to do this before dark,
I went about at five o'clock to stand out to sea.
Coasting the mainland during the day, we sighted three islets or rocks
lying such a short way out, that to see them. it was necessary to be as
close in as we were. If becalmed, one could anchor there in 24 or 21 fathoms,
for the bottom is sandy and good - a rather rare thing between here and
the Promontory. At sunset we could still see Mr. Flinders' ship running
on the South-westerly leg.
Until midnight the winds were South to South- South-East and rather
fresh, but then they moderated, and shortly after, we went on the landward
leg.
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