early australian voyages-第22章
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ter； but found none。 There grow here two or three sorts of shrubs； one just like rosemary； and therefore I called this Rosemary Island； it grew in great plenty here； but had no smell。 Some of the other shrubs had blue and yellow flowers； and we found two sorts of grain like beans； the one grew on bushes； the other on a sort of creeping vine that runs along on the ground； having very thick broad leaves； and the blossom like a bean blossom； but much larger and of a deep red colour； looking very beautiful。 We saw here some cormorants； gulls； crab…catchers； etc。； a few small land birds； and a sort of white parrots； which flew a great many together。 We found some shell…fish； viz。； limpets； periwinkles； and abundance of small oysters growing on the rocks； which were very sweet。 In the sea we saw some green turtle； many sharks； and abundance of water…snakes of several sorts and sizes。 The stones were all of rusty colour； and ponderous。
We saw a smoke on an island three or four leagues off； and here also the bushes had been burned； but we found no other sign of inhabitants。 It was probable that on the island where the smoke was there were inhabitants； and fresh water for them。 In the evening I went aboard； and consulted with my officers whether it was best to send thither； or to search among any other of these islands with my boat； or else go from hence and coast along shore with the ship； till we could find some better place than this was to ride in； where we had shoal water and lay exposed to winds and tides。 They all agreed to go from hence； so I gave orders to weigh in the morning as soon as it should be light； and to get out with the land breeze。
Accordingly； August 23rd； at five in the morning； we ran out； having a pretty fresh land breeze at south…south…east。 By eight o'clock we were got out； and very seasonably； for before nine the sea breeze came on us very strong； and increasing； we took in our top…sails and stood off under two courses and a mizen； this being as much sail as we could carry。 The sky was clear； there being not one cloud to be seen； but the horizon appeared very hazy； and the sun at setting the night before； and this morning at rising； appeared very red。 The wind continued very strong till twelve； then it began to abate； I have seldom met with a stronger breeze。 These strong sea breezes lasted thus in their turns three or four days。 They sprang up with the sunrise； by nine o'clock they were very strong； and so continued till noon； when they began to abate； and by sunset there was little wind； or a calm； till the land breezes came； which we should certainly have in the morning about one or two o'clock。 The land breezes were between the south…south…west and south…south…east： the sea breezes between the east…north…east and north…north…east。 In the night while calm； we fished with hook and line； and caught good store of fish viz。； snappers； breams； old…wives； and dog…fish。 When these last came we seldom caught any others； for it they did not drive away the other fish； yet they would be sure to keep them from taking our hooks； for they would first have them themselves； biting very greedily。 We caught also a monk…fish； of which I brought home the picture。
On the 25th of August we still coasted along shore； that we might the better see any opening； kept sounding； and had about twenty fathom； clean sand。 The 26th day； being about four leagues off shore； the water began gradually to sholden from twenty to fourteen fathom。 I was edging in a little towards the land； thinking to have anchored； but presently after the water decreased almost at once； till we had but five fathom。 I durst； therefore； adventure no farther； but steered out the same way that we came in； and in a short time had ten fathom （being then about four leagues and a half from the shore）； and even soundings。 I steered away east…north… east； coasting along as the land lies。 This day the sea breezes began to be very moderate again； and we made the best of our way along shore； only in the night edging off a little for fear of shoals。 Ever since we left Shark's Bay we had fair clear weather； and so for a great while still。
The 27th day we had twenty fathom water all night； yet we could not see land till one in the afternoon from our topmast…head。 By three we could just discern land from our quarter…deck； we had then sixteen fathom。 The wind was at north； and we steered east…by… north； which is but one point in on the land； yet we decreased our water very fast； for at four we had but nine fathom； the next cast but seven； which frightened us； and we then tacked instantly and steed off； but in a short time the wind coming at north…west and west…north…west； we tacked again and steered north…north…east； and then deepened our water again； and had all night from fifteen to twenty fathom。
The 28th day we had between twenty and forty fathom。 We saw no land this day； but saw a great many snakes and some whales。 We saw also some boobies and noddy…birds； and in the night caught one of these last。 It was of another shape and colour than any I had seen before。 It had a small long bill； as all of them have； flat feet like ducks' feet； its tail forked like a swallow； but longer and broader； and the fork deeper than that of the swallow； with very long wings； the top or crown of the head of this noddy was coal… black； having also small black streaks round about and close to the eyes； and round these streaks on each side； a pretty broad white circle。 The breast； belly； and under part of the wings of this noddy were white； and the back and upper part of its wings of a faint black or smoke colour。 Noddies are seen in most places between the tropics； as well in the East Indies and on the coast of Brazil； as in the West Indies。 They rest ashore at night； and therefore we never see them far at sea； not above twenty or thirty leagues； unless driven off in a storm。 When they come about a ship they commonly perch in the night； and will sit still till they are taken by the seamen。 They build on cliffs against the sea； or rocks。
The 30th day； being in latitude 18 degrees 21 minutes； we made the land again； and saw many great smokes near the shore； and having fair weather and moderate breezes； I steered in towards it。 At four in the afternoon I anchored in eight fathom water； clear sand； about three leagues and a half from the shore。 I presently sent my boat to sound nearer in； and they found ten fathom about a mile farther in； and from thence still farther in the water decreased gradually to nine； eight； seven； and at two miles distance to six fathom。 This evening we saw an eclipse of the moon； but it was abating before the moon appeared to us； for the horizon was very hazy； so that we could not see the moon till she had been half an hour above the horizon； and at two hours twenty…two minutes after sunset； by the reckoning of our glasses； the eclipse was quite gone； which was not of many digits。 The moon's centre was then 33 degrees 40 minutes high。
The 31st of August； betimes in the morning； I went ashore with ten or eleven men to search for water。 We went armed with muskets and cutlasses for our defence； expecting to see people there； and carried also shovels and pickaxes to dig wells。 When we came near the shore we saw three tall； black； naked men on the sandy bay ahead of us； but as we rowed in； they went away。 When we were landed； I sent the boat with two men in her to lie a little from the shore at an anchor； to prevent being seized； while the rest of us went after the three black men； who were now got on the top of a small hill about a quarter of a mile from us； with eight or nine men more in their company。 They； seeing us coming； ran away。 When we came on the top of the hill where they first stood； we saw a plain savannah； about half a mile from us； farther in from the sea。 There were several things like hay…cocks standing in the savannah； which at a distance we thought were houses； looking just like the Hottentots' houses at the Cape of Good Hope： but we found them to be so many rocks。 We searched about these for water； but could find none； nor any houses； nor people； for they were all gone。 Then we turned again to the
