1^6 NEW HO L L A N D. 



tarn parvis at que tarn mdlis^ qu^B ratio, quanta vis, quam inextri- 

 cabilis perfeBio I 



These reefs are compofed of various kinds of coral; The 

 Tubipora mufica is mentioned among them, and they give fhelter 

 to numbers of beautifvil fliells, and MoUuJca ; among the former; 

 are the Cbama, fome fo large that two men can fcarcely move 

 them. 



Within the reef, from the inlet to York Cape, the whole 

 channel is filled with fmall illes, rocks, or coral r:Ocks. 



Tork Cape is in Lat. lo' 37' fouth, the land trends from it faft to 

 the weft; theTea to thenorth-eaft is full of illands, one beyond the 

 other. Thefe captain Cook called Prince of Wales's I/lands, and) 

 fiippofes they reach quite to New Guinea. The paffage between 

 Kndeavour New Holland he called Endeavour Streights ; exulting in having 

 been the firft who proved the entire infulation of this vaft land. 

 The length of the ftreights was ten leagues, the breadth about 

 five, except at the north-eaft end, where they were contradled 

 by the illes to two leagues ; the depth from four to nine fathoms, 

 and the tide rofe twelve feet. He now hoifted Britijh colours, 

 took poiTeflion of the country in the name of his Majefty, 

 and called the ille on which the ceremony w^as performed, 

 PoJJeJJion I/land; moft of the iflands were well clothed with, 

 herbage and w-ood, apparently well inhabited ; and the natives 

 of both fexes quite naked. 



Captain Cook now j3urfued his voyage to New Guinea, 



The diftance between the oppofite point of Nezv Guinea, and 



the moft northern of New Holland is only two hundred and 



ii ten 



