Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/114

 60 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL sls. These dangerous reefs were named Rowley's ! 6. Shoals, in compliment to the discoverer of the westernmost, (the Imperieuse) the situation of which is assigned by me to be 13' 30" to the east- ward of Captain'Rowley's account: the middle shoal, seen by us last evening, is certainly the one that Captain Clerke saw; but the third or north-eastemmost, distinguished by the Met, maid's name, seems to be a new discovery. On the north' end of the Imperieuse shoal, rocks were distinguishable, and some were also seen near its centre above the level of the sea: all other parts were under water. On the middlemost shoal no rocks were uncovered; but on the south-east end of the Mermaid's Shoal, several were observed. These reefs are of a coral formation, and are very dangerous to ap- proach at night, from their vicinity being mfa- thomable to the depth of 170 fathoms; still, how- ever, the surf that constantly breaks upon them may be heard at a great distance, and wilt generally be sufficient to warn the navigator of his danger. 23. On he 9-3d we passed the meridian of Cape Van Diemen, in latitude 10 �. The same evening some land was indistinctly seen bearing . South. The ensuing daylight discovered to us several islands in the S.S.E., having previously

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