254 Account of Peron's Peninsula. 



ground for an anchorage/ (with plenty of firewood on shore^ and an 

 inexhaustible stock of sea turtle on the shoals and shores.) The 

 landing is, however, difficult at times. M. Arago says, " The point 

 of Dampier's Bay, where we are now lying, aiFords a secure anchor- 

 age, though the south-west winds blow here with violence ; but the 

 sea never runs very high. Landing is extremely difficult, on account 

 of the sand-banks, which stretch into the sea for a league ; indeed it 

 is scarcely practicable, except at high water. Accordingly, a boat 

 that was sent ashore the day after our arrival, (August 1818,) was 

 swamped half a league from the land, and it was not without infi- 

 nite trouble that we got the still ashore, and the tents that were to 

 form our camp." But these sand-banks do not appear any where 

 else in Dampier's Bay, but at the south cove called Seal's Bay, so 

 that it is probable the landing may be easier elsewhere. 



Pearl oysters are found in the greatest abundance among the 

 surrounding small islands, and might recompence advantageously the 

 researches of a pearl fisher. At seven in the morning the French 

 used to collect their oysters : the reefs were studded with them, 

 and, as the tide was out, they were not obliged to go into the 

 water. 



The prodigious number of whales proves that a commercial spe- 

 culation in a fishery would be successful, and the subject is adverted 

 to by the French voyagers, in several places in their works, with 

 much confidence.* The amazing shoals of these fish struck the 

 French with astonishment. During the three months of July, Au- 

 gust, and September, they literally crowd the harbours, and en- 

 danger the boats. 



Although turtle are plentiful all the year round, yet the month 

 of August is the season when the shoals and sand-banks to the 

 east of Faure island are covered with sea turtle, from which cir- 

 cumstance they were named Turtle Shoals. Some of these animals 

 weighed from 250 to 300 lbs. 



Faure Island lies about two miles to the east of Cape Petit, and 

 is nine miles long, six or seven broad, and 21 in circumference. 

 There are several easy landing places in the little bays on its east- 

 ern side. An indistinct view of the unexplored coast of the con- 

 tinent is obtained from the highest point on the island. 



Supposing a party were to be stationed on board a vessel, for the 

 express purpose of sinking a well and cutting a tank on the penin- 

 sula, the employment of stills to distil salt water for drink, would 

 only be necessary during the first summer season, by which time 

 one or more wells and a cistern might be finished. The French, 

 with one still, distilled eighty pints per diem, which was sufficient 

 for the thirty men they had on shore, and it was not disagreeable, 



" " Voyage de De'convertes aux Terres Australes." Par Peron. 2d Ed, 8vo. 

 Palis, 1«24. Vol. I. Pp. 238, 395, Also " Navigation et Geographic." Par 

 L. Freycinet. 4to. Paris, 1815. 



