On the 25th, Christmas day, we observed by two altitudes, and found the latitude of Sandy Point to be 58 deg. 10’ S. At eight in the morning we weighed, and having sailed five leagues from Sandy Point, in the direction of S. by E. 1/2 E. we anchored again in thirty-two fathom, about a mile from the shore; the south point of the Fresh Water Bay then bearing N.N.W. distant about four miles; and the southernmost land S.E. by S. As we sailed along the shore, at about two miles distance, we had no ground with sixty fathom; but at the distance of one mile we had from twenty to thirty-two fathom.  At the full and change of the moon, the tide flows off Fresh Water Bay at twelve o’clock; it runs but little, yet flows very much by the shore.

On the 26th, at eight o’clock in the morning, we weighed, with the wind at E.N.E. and steered S.S.E. for Port Famine.  At noon, St Anne’s Point, which is the northermost point of that port, bore S. by E. 1/2 E, distant three leagues.  Along this shore, at the distance of two or three miles, we had very deep water; but within a mile had ground with twenty-five or thirty fathom.  From St Anne’s Point a reef of rocks runs out S.E. by E. about two miles; and at the distance of two cables’ length from this reef the water will suddenly shoal from sixty-five to thirty-five and twenty fathom.  The point itself is very steep, so that there is no sounding till it is approached very near, and great care must be taken in standing into Port Famine, especially if the ship is as far southward as Sedger river, for the water will shoal at once from thirty to twenty, fifteen, and twelve fathom; and at about two cables’ length farther in, at more than a mile from the shore, there is but nine feet water when the tide is out.  By hauling close round St Anne’s Point, soundings will soon be got; and as the water shoals very fast, it is not safe to go farther in, when there is no more than seven fathom; the strait here is not more than four leagues wide.

The next day at noon, having had little wind and calms, we anchored at Port Famine, close to the shore, and found our situation very safe and convenient; we had shelter from all winds except the S.E. which seldom blows, and if a ship should be driven ashore in the bottom of the bay, she could receive no damage, for it is all fine soft ground.  We found drift-wood here sufficient to have furnished a thousand sail, so that we had no need to take the trouble of cutting green.  The water of Sedger river is excellent, but the boats cannot get in till about two hours flood, because at low water it is very shallow for about three quarters of a mile.  I went up it about four miles in my boat, and the fallen trees then rendered it impossible to go farther:  I found it, indeed, not only difficult but dangerous to get up thus far.  The stream is very rapid, and many stumps of trees lie hidden under it:  One of these made its way through the bottom of my boat, and in an instant she