TRANSCRIPTION
ON THE MORNING of the 16th [6 April] the winds were still very weak and variable from South to West, but the rain stopped and the sky seemed to be clearing. We sighted land at daybreak, but were too far off to be able to make out properly where we were and the points at which our bearings had terminated. We proceeded East of North in order to stand in for land and so make quite certain of the place where we had stopped. We recognised it at about eight in the morning. After determining our position, we headed West of North again, sailing along the coast at a distance of no more than a league. In this part it consists solely of and and unattractive sand-dunes. Inland, one can see some fairly high and well wooded terrain.
During the morning we coasted a very large bay,* forming, in its North-East section, a fairly deep indentation. It ends in ajutting cape,† at the tip of which there lies a small island,‡ reaching about half a league out to sea. Its southern section is low and narrow, but the northern part is [higher ?] and can be seen from a fair way off. The island is completely surrounded by rocks and so is hardly approachable. The same applies to the whole coast, which is shielded by a reef and a line of more or less large rocks that prevent any landing there.
Beyond this island the route bore much further North than it had hitherto, and to continue along the coast, we steered North-North-West for a fairly long time, altering course only to draw, away from rocks which sometimes lie out to sea.
At midday the sun was not visible, although the weather was reasonably line. According to our reckoning, we were in 37° 27'.
* Rivoli Bay.
† Cape Martin.
‡ Penguin Islet.
Around three o'clock we sighted a reef under the water, lying approximately half a league offshore. We noticed it rather late, for it was already on our beam when we saw it from on deck.We immediately went upon the port tack, with the winds South- South-East, in order to stand off a little. Nevertheless, we passed it at a distance of no more than a mile, in 10 fathoms, hard rocky bottom.
After returning gradually to the North-North-westerly course, we proceeded so as to examine another cape lying North by North-West of us.* It seemed to terminate the coast in that direction. The cape is a projecting point that rises sheer out of the sea. In front of it there are three small rocks, one of which is particularly remarkable when approached from the East, for it is cleft in two and form, s an embrasure like that of a fortress. There is another large inlet† here, and the coast appears to run North by North-West. The land is no longer so low, nor does the shore consist of sand-dunes like those that we had seen for more than half the day.
Our bearings ended after sunset at a chain of islets and rocks. These do not touch the land, but are very close to it. Towards evening the South-South-easterly breeze grew stiffer, and we were extremely sorry to have it come at a time when we could not take advantage of it for we were obliged to head out to sea for overnight.
* Cape Rabelais.
† This can only be the small Nora Creina Bay.
