Page:A Voyage to Terra Australis Volume 1.djvu/281

King George's Sound.]

north side of the harbour for water and wood, and we got the ship under way to beat up to the entrance; the wind blowing still from the westward. At eleven o'clock, the anchor was dropped in 6 fathoms, half a mile from Point Possession; and as I was doubtful of the master's success, I went in a boat, accompanied by lieutenant Flinders, to examine Oyster Harbour. We carried 7 and 6 fathoms from the ship towards the entrance, until Michaelmas and Break-sea Islands were closing on with each other; after which the depth diminished to 5, 4, 3, and 2¾ fathoms. On hauling westward, we got into six feet; but steering the other way, it deepened to seventeen, the east side of the opening being then in a line with the middle of some high, flat-topped land, at the back of the harbour. Keeping in that direction, we carried 3, 4, and 5 fathoms; and had 6 in the narrowest part of the entrance. Within side, the deep water turned on the starbord hand, but in many parts, there was not more than 3 fathoms.

As I proposed to make a new survey of King George's Sound, we landed to take a set of angles upon the small central island; the same which captain Vancouver describes (Vol. I. page 35), as covered with luxuriant grass and other vegetables; and where he planted vine cuttings, water cresses, and the seeds of various fruits. There were no remains of these valuable gifts, although nothing indicated the island to have been visited since his time; and, to our disappointment, the vegetation upon it now consisted of tufts of wiry grass and a few stunted shrubs, supported by a thin layer of sandy soil, which was every where perforated with rat holes.

From the island, we rowed in various directions, sounding the harbour; but the boat could seldom approach the shore within a cable's length, or the eighth part of a mile. On the south-west side there were two small streams, in one of which the water was fresh, though high coloured. Returning to the entrance, we landed on the east side, and found a spot of ground six or eight feet square, dug-up and trimmed like a garden; and upon it was lying a piece