Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/348

 286 8UI�1Y OP 'I*H. INTRTROpIC.r. ism9. leaving Port Keats, were on a muddy bottom; ISept. is. at sunset we were within six miles of a rocky island of half a mile in extent, surrounded ' by an extensive reef, which was pav. i!ly dry; the land between S.E. and W.b.S. appeared to be a very low sandy coast, and the back lands to the south.east are wooded and level. Nearer to Lacrosse Island, the coast is not only more irregular in its outline, but of a more mountain- ous character: on each side of the nearest part of the coast, which was eight miles off and bore South, the shores fall back and form two bays; the land was, however, so enveloped by the smoke of the natives' fires, that the greater part was very indistinctly seen, and therefore very imperfectly described. After dark a light breeze sprang up from the S.W., and we stood offshore; but not being able to find an anchorage, we continued under weigh during the night. 34. The next morning the land was not in sight: as we stood towards th e shore, it was soon af- terwards discerned, and at noon we were very near to our last night's position, but were pre- , vented from steering towards Lacrosse Island, by a considerable shoal, which extended to the N.W,, and crossed our course: we anchored near it at sunset in ten fathoms. The land this day was more visible towards

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