C. Northumberland, dist. 6 or 7 miles, bore N. 32 deg.  W.
Mount Schanck, N. 1 W.
Furthest extreme, obscured by haze, S. 66 E.

Close to Cape Northumberland are two pointed rocks resembling the back fins of sharks; and on its eastern side were heavy breakers, extending more than a mile from the shore.  The situation of the cape, as near as it could be ascertained, is in 38 deg. 2’ south and 140 deg. 371/2’ east.

Beyond Cape Northumberland the coast was found to trend east-by-north, but curved afterwards to east-by-south; it was higher than we had lately seen and not so barren; nevertheless, the shrubs and small trees did not more than half cover the sandy surface.  We pursued the round of the coast at the distance of four or five miles, having three reefs in the top-sails on account of the squally weather.  At ten o’clock, in a clear interval, land was seen bearing S. 51 deg.  E.; and a thick squall with rain coming on, in which the wind shifted suddenly from north-north-west to south-west, we were forced to haul close up and let out the third reefs in order to weather the coast.  A constant succession of rainy squalls prevented us from knowing how the land lay for some time, nor could an observation for the latitude be obtained; but at half-past noon our anxiety was relieved by distinguishing the furthest extreme, a bold, cliffy, cape, bearing S. 721/2 deg.  E., broad on the lee bow.

[SOUTH COAST. OFF CAPE BRIDGEWATER.]

This high projection was the Cape Bridgewater of captain Grant.  A hill upon it slopes to the edge of the cliffs in which the cape is begirt toward the sea; and on the land side it descends so low that the connection of the hill with the main could not be clearly discerned.  To the northward, and nearly in a line with the first, are two other hills almost equal to it in elevation.  As we passed Cape Bridgewater, a second cliffy head opened at S. 731/2 deg.  E., and a further round the last at N. 83 deg.  E. These are the Capes Nelson and Sir W. Grant, though differing considerably in relative position from what they are laid down in captain Grant’s chart.

At two o’clock, the weather having become somewhat finer, I ventured to bear away along the coast; and presently a small island with two hummocks on it and a rock nearer to the shore were visible:  these are Lawrence’s Isles.  The bearings of the land at four were,

C. Bridgewater, top of the hill, dist. 4 leagues, N. 44 deg.  W.
Cape Nelson, the south-west extreme, N. 21 W.
Cape Sir W. Grant, east part of the cliffs, N. 12 E.
Lawrence’s double Isle, dist. 3 leagues, N. 25 E.

Before six we hauled the wind off shore; having set the double isle at N. 43 deg.  W., six or seven miles, and seen the land indistinctly as far as east-north-east.

During the night there were squalls of wind with hail and rain, but tolerably moderate weather in the intervals.  At daylight [TUESDAY 20 APRIL 1802], we bore away for the land; and at half past seven, the