Scarcely were the ships secured, when it began to blow very strong; so that we thought it prudent to strike top-gallant yards.  The weather, however, continued fair; and the wind dispersing the fog that had settled on the hills, it was tolerably clear also.  The moment, therefore, we had anchored, I hoisted out two boats; in one of which I sent Mr Bligh, the master, to survey the upper part of the harbour, and look for wood; for not a shrub was to be seen from the ship.  I also desired Captain Clerke to send his master to sound the channel that is on the south side of the small isles, between them and a pretty large island which lies near the south point of the harbour.  Having given these directions, I went myself, in my other boat, accompanied by Mr Gore, my first lieutenant, and Mr Bayly, and landed on the north point, to see what I could discover from thence.

From the highest hill over the point, we had a pretty good view of the sea-coast, as far as Howe’s Foreland.  It is much indented, and several rocky points seemed to shoot out from it, with coves and inlets of unequal extent.  One of the latter, the end of which I could not see, was disjoined from that in which the ships were at anchor, by the point we then stood upon.  A great many small islands, rocks, and breakers, appeared scattered along the coast, as well to the southward as northward; and I saw no better channel to get out of the harbour, than by the one through which we had entered it.

While Mr Bayly and I were making the observations, Mr Gore encompassed the hill, and joined us by a different route, at the place where I had ordered the boat to wait for us.  Except the craggy precipices, we met with nothing to obstruct our walk.  For the country was, if possible, more barren and desolate than about Christmas Harbour.  And yet, if there be the least fertility in any part of this land, we ought to have found it in this, which is completely sheltered from the predominating bleak southerly and westerly winds.  I observed, with regret, that there was neither food nor covering for cattle of any sort; and that, if I left any, they must inevitably perish.  In the little cove where the boat waited for us (which I called Penguin Cove, as the beach was covered with these birds), is a fine rivulet of fresh water, that may be easily come at.  Here were also some large seals, shags, and a few ducks; and Mr Bayly had a transient sight of a very small land bird; but it flew amongst the rocks, and we lost it.  About nine o’clock we got on board.

Soon after, Mr Bligh returned, and reported, that he had been four miles up the harbour, and, as he judged, not far from the head of it.  He found that its direction was W.S.W.; and that its breadth, a little above the ships, did not exceed a mile; but grew narrower toward the head.  The soundings were very irregular, being from thirty-seven to ten fathoms; and, except under the beds of sea-weed, which in many places extended from the shore near half channel over, the bottom was a fine sand.  He landed on both shores, which he found barren and rocky, without the least signs of tree or shrub, and with very little verdure of any kind.  Penguins, and other oceanic birds and seals, occupied part of the coast, but not in such numbers as at Christinas Harbour.