day from amongst those near the cape.  Our philosophers were of opinion that this was the smoke of some internal and perpetual fire.  My representing to them that there was no smoke here in the morning would have been of no avail, had not this eternal fire gone out before night, and no more smoke been seen after.  They were still more positive that the elevations were pillars of basaltes, like those which compose the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.  At sun-set, the wind veering round to the south, we tacked and stood off, it not being safe to approach the shore in the dark.  At day-break we stood in again, with a faint land-breeze between E.S.E. and S.S.E.  At noon observed, in latitude 21 deg. 59’ 30”, Cape Coronation being west southerly, distant seven leagues, and the foreland S. 38 deg.  W. As we advanced S.S.W. the coast beyond the foreland began to appear in sight; and at sun-set we discovered a low island lying S.S.E, about seven miles from the foreland.  It was one of those which are generally surrounded with shoals and breakers.  At the same time a round hill was seen bearing S. 24 deg.  E, twelve leagues distant.  During night, having had variable light winds, we advanced but little either way.

On the 25th, about ten o’clock a.m., having got a fair breeze at E.S.E., we stood to the S.S.W., in hopes of getting round the foreland; but, as we drew near, we perceived more low isles, beyond the one already mentioned, which at last appeared to be connected by breakers, extending towards the foreland, and seeming to join the shore.  We stood on till half past three o’clock, when we saw, from the deck, rocks, just peeping above the surface of the sea, on the shoal above-mentioned.  It was now time to alter the course, as the day was too far spent to look for a passage near the shore, and we could find no bottom to anchor in during the night.  We therefore stood to the south to look for a passage without the small isles.  We had a fine breeze at E.S.E., but it lasted no longer than five o’clock, when it fell to a dead calm.  Having sounded, a line of 170 fathoms did not reach the bottom, though we were but a little way from the shoals, which, instead of following the coast to S.W., took a S.E. direction towards the hill we had seen the preceding evening, and seemed to point out to us that it was necessary to go round that land.  At this time the most advanced point on the main bore S. 68 deg.  W., distant nine or ten leagues.  About seven o’clock we got a light breeze at north, which enabled us to steer out E.S.E., and to spend the night with less anxiety.  On some of the low isles were many of those elevations already mentioned.  Every one was now satisfied they were trees, except our philosophers, who still maintained that they were basaltes.[1]