Page:A Voyage to Terra Australis Volume 1.djvu/400

 

CHAPTER VIII.

 

Departure from Kanguroo Island. Examination of the main coast, from Cape Spencer eastward. The Investigator's Strait. A new gulph discovered. Anchorage at, and examination of the head. Remarks on the surrounding land. Return down the Gulph. Troubridge Shoal. Yorke's Peninsula. Return to Kanguroo Island. Boat expedition to Pelican Lagoon. Astronomical observations. Kanguroo Island quitted. Back-stairs Passage. The coast from Cape Jervis, eastward. Meeting, and communication with Le Géographe. Remarks upon the French discoveries on the South Coast.

 

1802.
March.
Wednes. 24.March 24 in the morning, we got under way from Kanguroo Island, in order to take up the examination of the main coast at Cape Spencer, where it had been quitted in the evening of the 20th, when the late gale commenced. The wind had continued to blow fresh from the southward; but had now moderated, and was at south-west. We steered north-westward from ten o'clock till six in the evening; and then had sight of land extending from N. 62° W. to a low part terminating at N. 17° E. distant three leagues. A hummock upon this low part was named Troubridge Hill, and at first it makes like an island. Nothing was visible to the eastward of the low land; whence I judged there to be another inlet or a strait between it and Cape Jervis. Soon after dusk the wind veered to south-by-east, on which we steered south-westward, and continued the same course until four in the morning;Thurs. 25. when the largest Althorpe Isle being seen to the north-west, the ship was hove to, with her head eastward; and at daylight, before making sail, the following bearings were taken of the lands to the northward, but no part of Kanguroo Island was visible.