POINT SWAN. 95 



chorage in 5 fathoms, S. 56° W. 2 miles, and 

 4 J W. SO'' S. from the entrance point of the 

 inviting opening, we were now ahout to explore, 

 with an interest rather stimulated than decreased 

 by the want of success that attended our exami- 

 nation of Roebuck Bay. This point was named 

 by Captain King, Point Swan, in honour of Captain 

 Swan of the Cygnet, under whom Dampier first 

 discovered it ; and was an appropriate tribute 

 of respect and admiration, from one distinguished 

 no less than Dampier himself, by the possession 

 of those qualities of firmness, patience, judgment 

 and perseverance, which make up the character 

 of the scientific and adventurous navigator, to him 

 by whom he had been preceded in Australian 

 discovery. The country between Point Swan and 

 Cape Leveque has a very sandy and barren aspect ; 

 the hillocks near the latter partook of its prevailing 

 red colour. 



January 27. — We proceeded this morning in the 

 direction of Point Swan, and remarked, as we 

 approached it, the heavy tide race which used 

 Captain King so roughly, and which subsequent 

 surveying operations enabled us to account for, from 

 great irregularity in the bottom, changing almost at 

 once from 40 to 17 fatlioms. We waited, having 

 no wish to experience the full effect of the current, 

 for slack water, and thus passed round it quietly 

 enough ; we anchored in a small bight, S. 20° W. 

 1 J miles from Point Swan, in seven fathoms, which, 



