Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/345

 COAST9 OF AtTRALIA.  the land on the north side, we tacked and stood ll. across to the opposite shore. The land in the s,pt,  bight was visible in patches, as far as south. east, and the loom of it as far as south-west: three smokes, one bearing south, another $. S.W., and another south-west, proved the contiguity of the main; which is so low, that when we were very near it was scarcely distinguishable, on account of the haze and smoke with which it was enveloped. At lOh. 4Ore. we were about a mile and a half from a reef, which was dry for more than a mile in extent, and nearer to us was a patch of breakers: in standing towards these shoals, .our soundings had been regular between nine and ten fathoms; but at this time they unexpectedly shoaled at one east, from eight to three fathoms: the course was altered in time to prevent the cutter's striking. We were now obliged to steer off, and after running six miles to the N.W.b.W.; we steered west to observe the latitude, which was found to be 14 � 34" S. The land was now visible as far .as S.W.b.W.| five minutes after noon the soundings decreased from ten to four and three-quarters fathoms; and, within fifty yards of us, the water was rippling upon the edge of a shoal, which extends to the north-west and is probably dr at low water; we were then Digitized , Goog[e

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