NEW SOUTH WALES. 281 



and shot her into the entrance with great ve- 

 locity. 



Having advanced within the entrance, the 

 harbour began to expand itself in a kind of large 

 basin. Its shores were broken into points, be- 

 tween some of which the great strength of the 

 flood tide led them to expect it would branch 

 off into arms. The land lying immediately up- 

 on its borders was low, but not flat; and tho^e 

 points near whicn the sloop passed were clothed 

 with an unusual degree of verdure. The sun being 

 down, the vessel was anchored for the night, and 

 the next day they proceeded with their researches. 

 This harbour, or inlet, which was named by 

 the Governor, Port Dalrymple, in compliment 

 to Alexander Dalrymple, Esq. takes its course 

 from the S. E. between two chains of rounded 

 mountains, stretching inland from the sea with 

 an almost imperceptible increase of elevation; 

 and, seemed to unite, at the distance of between 

 thirty and forty miles, in a body of rugged moun- 

 tains more loftv than themselves. These two 

 chains in their relative positions formed an 

 acute angle, being at their greatest distance 

 asunder, as measured along the sea ooast, only 

 sixteen miles. 



As these gentlemen were limitted in point of 

 time (twelve weeks having been deemed by the 

 Governor sufficient for the execution of this 

 service), the fear of losing a wind favourable 

 for the prosecution of the principal object of the 

 voyage, that of sailing through the strait, deter- 



o o 



