1815.] Flinders' Voyage to Terra Aitstralis. 223 



at Paris, a true statement of the real discoveries of the French 

 captain will be given, while those that really belong to Captain 

 Flinders will be assigned to their true author. 



After parting with Captain Baudin, the Investigator sailed nearly 

 in a south-easterly direction, along about 50 leag.ues of coast which 

 had been examined by Captain Baudin. It was a low, barren, 

 sandy shore, without a single river, opening, or landing place of 

 any kind. It terminated at Cape Buffon, in south lathude about 

 37° 40', and east longitude about 140" 5'. 



The next portion of coast to Bass's Straits had been explored by 

 Captain James Grant, in the Lady Nelson, in 1800. Except Port 

 Philip, a very large bay about 86 miles long and 30 broad, with a 

 narrow opening of not more than tsvo miles wide ; and Western 

 Port beside ii, which had been examined by Mr. Bass ill his whale 

 boat expedition, the remainder of the south coast presented nothing 

 remarkable. Captain Flinders now made the best of his way to 

 Sidney Cove. Here he remained twelve weeks to refit and provi- 

 sion the ship. It was then agreed between him and Governor 

 King, that he sliould sail north and examine some part of the east 

 coast of New Holland, Torres Straits, and the Gulf of Car- 

 pentaria. 



He sailed from Port Jackson on the 22d of July, 1S02, with 

 the Brig Lady Nelson, commanded by Lieutenant Murray, in 

 company. As he had already surveyed a portion of this coast in 

 the Norfolk, his examination of it did not properly begin till he 

 had passed Hcrvey's Bay, in latitude 25°, south. In latitude 23° 

 50', longitude east 151° 20', he discovered a harbour behind an 

 island, called Facing Island, to which he gave the name of Port 

 Curtis. It communicates by a narrow shallow channel witii Port 

 Keppel on the north side, discovered by Captain Cook ; thus cutting 

 off a considerable portion of land as an island. The country round 

 Port Keppel was the best they had seen since they left Port Jack- 

 son. The natives were stout, healthy, and apparently very good 

 natured ; for they conducted a master's mate and seaman, who 

 had put themselves entirely in their power, in safety back to the 

 ship. 



In latitude 225°, a new port was discovered and examined, to 

 which Captain Flinders gave the name of Port Bower. Shoal 

 Water Bay, on the north of this port, but running us far south, 

 and separated from it by a narrow strait, was next examined, and 

 an accurate cliart of it made out. This place aff<jrds but few temp- 

 tations for a colony. The land is barren and the water shallow. 

 Pines are found here as well as at Port Bower ; but in the latter 

 place they are much more easily got at. 



The next olyect of examination was Broad Sound, which lies a 

 little to the nortli-west of Shoalwater Bay. Here the tides rise to 

 the height of al)ovc HO feet. The best anchoring place is Upper 

 Head, wljcre a ship may lie secure against all winds ; and this is 

 aln)ost the qnly place in the whole sound where a landing may be 

 ••asily effected. The country round the sound is tolerably fertile, 



