9

1798             At ten two pyramids appeared in the south-south-east, which were soon
February       found to be connected with the large island; an island lying off them
Friday 9th     has also a pyramid upon it at its south-west end, and between them we kept away to pass; but seeing the low sandy beach running nearly across to the island, we steered to go round all. Our latitude at noon was 39° 50' 20" south, the pyramid on the island bearing south-east-quarter-south three or four leagues, and the northernmost of the two islands we passed in the morning, and which I suppose to be the sisters of cape Furneaux, bore north-west-half-north five leagues.
    The wind now blew fresh from west-south-west, with hazy weather; there were great numbers of shags about the vessel, some of which attempted to alight on the masts and yards; the sheerwaters, or Mount-Pitt birds, which were also numerous, seemed as well as the shags, to belong to the pyramid island, for on a nearer approach we saw it covered with the tufts of wiry grass under which the latter usually make their holes. This island is between two and three miles long and presents an appearance not much unlike the lions head and rump, when sailing into Table Bay. There are two small islets divided from it, by channels of one and two cables lengths wide: the latter appeared deep.
    Having passed this small cluster, we hauled to the wind round