Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/366

 SLING DIRECTIONS. 34! wide, there is a patch of roeks in the centre, which always evil shews: the channel on the north side of these rocks is the S best: the water is very deep, and the tide sets right through, N. West The CORONATION ISLANDS separate York Sound from Brunswick Bay, and are situated in front of Port Nelson. The group consists of seventeen or eighteen islands, besides numerous rocky islets. On the largest island are two remarkable peaks; the easternmost is in 14 �, and longitude 124 � 5'. The island is eight miles long, and from four to two wide; the others are from three tu one mile in length; they are covered with vegetation, and the larger islands are well clothed with trees. The great rise of the tide would render this part of the coast of importance, was it not for the wretched state of the country, and the un- productiveness of its soil, which are great drawbacks upon the advantage of the tide's unusual rise. It is high water at full and change in Port Nelson at twelve o'clock, as it is also in Montagu Sound. Beyond the Coronation Islands there is a string of small, rky islands extending for sixteen miles: the westernmost is Freycinet's Group; the principal island of which Captain De Freycinet has described as resembling an layered bowl and, from this description, we had no difficulty in finding it out; it is in latitude 1 �30', and longitude 124 � 40'. Among the other islands we distinguished the islets Colbert Kersudren, and Buffon. On the last there is a small, grassy, peaked hillock, in latitude 14 � 2if', and 1ongi. ue 124 � 20; We passed out to sea between Freycinet's Group and Kerandren; and within one mile and half of the latter had eighteen fathoms.: it appeared, from the colour of the water, to have a reef projecting to the wastwn.l.

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