Page 462
An.1688
An Error of the Hydrographers. New Holland.
sharp, and stood to the Southward, passing close by it, and founded again; but found no ground.
This shoal is laid down in our Drafts not above 16 or 20 leagues from New Holland; but we did run afterwards 60 leagues due South before we fell in with it: and I am very confident, that no part of New Holland hereabouts lyes so far Northerly by 40 leagues, as it is laid down in our Drafts. For if New Holland were laid down true, we must of ne- cessity have been driven near 40 leagues to the Westward of our course: but this is very impro- bable, that the Current should set so strong to the Westward, seeing we had such a constant Westerly Wind. I grant that when the Monsoon shifts first, the Current does not presently shift, but runs after- wards near a month: but the Monsoon had been shifted at least two months now. But of the Mon- foons and other Winds, and of the Currents, else- where, in their proper place. As to these here, I do rather believe that the Land is not laid down true, than that the Current deceived us; for it was more probable we should have been deceived before we met with the shoal, than afterward: for on the Coast of New Holland we found the Tides keeping their constant course; the Flood running N. by E. and the Ebb S. by W.
The 4th day of January 1688, we fell in with the Land of New Holland in the Lat. of 16 d. 50 m. having, as I said before, made our course due South from the shoal that we past by the 31st day of December. We ran in close by it, and finding no convenient anchoring, because it lies open to the N. W. we ran along shore to the Eastward, steer- ing N. E, by E. for so the Land lies. We steered thus about 12 leagues; and then came to a point of Land, from whence the Land trends East and Southerly, for 10 or 12 leagues: but how afterwards I know not. About 3 leagues to the Eastward of this