(16)
1796         are three isles in his chart not far to the south of Red
March       Point.+
Monday             A fine morning presented itself to us, with a
    28     light air off the land. We got under weigh, and stood to the north-
-ward pulling and sailing; but the light air freshening to a breeze,
and soon after blowing strong, we had a long and very laborious
row to get in with the shore, which about noon we effected; and soon
after, a light breeze set in from the sea.
      Rowing close along the shore, at one in the afternoon, we came
abreast of a small beach fronted by a reef of rocks. There was
a narrow, paƒsage through these rocks, and the sea breeze having
as yet made no impreƒsion on the water, it was without surf,
and permitted us to get to the beach, and haul the boat up.
      Till evening, we were employed in getting fresh water, which there
was a good deal of trouble to find, and in cooking provisions for
our present and future subsistence.
      This night for the first time, we slept on shore; and perhaps
the softest bed of down was never more enjoyed, than was the fine
sand of the beach by us, at this time. The liberty of lying in
any posture, and stretching out our limbs, was an indulgence,
which our little bark, with all her good qualities, could not afford:
but I ought to have had a back covered with one continued blister,
to describe the sensation of my companion.
Tuesday 29       In the morning, we prepared to depart; having made
a com-
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Ω We have since learnt from Rogers, a fisherman, that this island is divided
into two parts, by a narrow channel, but of tolerable depth.
+ Captain Cooks chart of the coast was not known to us till many months
after this excursion.