266 Details respecting Baudin's Voyage 



this operation the Naturaliste made for Port Jackson, in 

 hopes ot" finding there the Geographe. 



Captain Baudin, after visiting different parts of Basse's 

 Straits in hope of meeting with the Naturaliste, determined 

 to explore the southern coast of New Hoihmd, which was 

 entirely u«known. He first proceeded to Cape Wilson, 

 from which he took his point of departure, and directed his 

 course west, following the coast to the distance of fifteen 

 degrees of longitude. About the middle of his course he 

 fell in with captain Flinders, who had left England eight 

 months after him, and who was charged to make the same 

 researches as captain Baudin on ail the coasts of New Hol- 

 land. He had cruised along the southern coast from Leeu- 

 win's Land to the point where he fell in with captain Baudin, 

 and two days before meeting him had discovered a large and 

 beautiful island, to which he gave the name of Kangaroo 

 Island. This island is situated in lat. 35'' 50' south, and 

 long. 135° 4', and appears to he about thirty leagues in ex- 

 tenrfrom east to west. Captain Flinders had passed through 

 the channel which separates it from the land, and had seen 

 none of the southern part. 



Captain Baudin, continuing his course, fell in with this 

 island, which he found such as it had been described by 

 captain Flinders : like him he passed on the north side, and 

 did not see the southern part ; but on the north side he 

 found two crulphs which proceeded a 2;reat way inland, and 

 which he entered, to explore the whole extent of them : he 

 however could see only one side, because the other was filled 

 with sand-banks and shoals, which did not permit the vessel 

 to approach the land. 



When he came out of these gulphs he continued his 

 course towards the west as far as the Isles of St. Peter and 

 St. Francis, which were nearly the term of the researches 

 of D'Entrecasteaux on that coast : he then proceeded to the 

 south-east to reach Port Jackson, where he found the Na- 

 turaliste. 



Tliijs discovery of captain Baudin is highly important, as 

 it completes the survey of the southern coast of New Hol- 

 land, which is entirely owing to France. As yet we can 

 form no opinion in regard to the degree of correctness with 

 which it has been explored, because C. Baudin has sent 

 home only a part of the chart wiiich he constructed, and 

 as the chart itself is only a sketch : he has added to it a 

 chart which only indicates his course, with the soundings 

 along that coast ; and he promises to send the other part of 

 the coast by the first opportunity. 



Captain 



