Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/107

 French, Forestier's Archipelago, the principal of 1818. which is Depuch Island. Near this we anchored in five fathoms, sandy ground. Our course from Cape Lambert was parallel with the beach, and although we were not more than from three to five miles from it, yet it was so low that it could not be seen from the deck; and even from the mast- head it was but very indistinctly traced; nor indeed is it quite certain that what we did see was really the shore of the main land. The vessel rode out the night rather uneasily, on account of the wind blowing a fresh breeze from the S.E., which freshened up when the sun rose, with such strength from the same direc- tion, that we were prevented from landing upon Depuch Island. We passed the group at one mile off; it consists of six islands, all of which,. with the exception of I)epuch Island, are small and of a low sandy character. Hence the coast trended to the N.E. by E., but it was soon lost to view, 'for the wind would not permit our making better than a N.E. course, Before noon we passed within a quarter of a mile of a part of the Geographe's Bank, which was nearly dry; it lies t.wenty-two miles N.E. from Depuch Island. Upon comparing my chart with Captain Dam. pier's descriptio of the Rosemary Islands, ther

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