30 KEACH POINT PEAUCE. 



veyed us many miles into various parts of the con- 

 tinent that had never hefore been seen by a civilized 

 being. 



Another opening of far greater magnitude, and 

 promising in all probability to lead far into the in- 

 terior now lay before us, at a distance of 140 miles 

 further on the coast to the south-west By the even- 

 ing we had lost sight of the land near Port Patterson, 

 and were steering towards the opening that pro- 

 mised so much. A gap in the coast line, 28 

 miles wide, with a strong tide passing to and fro, 

 failed not to give birth to endless speculation as 

 we approached the spot. I had always looked for- 

 ward to the examination of this unexplored portion 

 of the North-west coast, as one of the most in- 

 teresting parts of our survey. 



In consequence of light north-west and westerly 

 winds, our approach was tantalizingly slow, and we 

 did not enter the opening until the evening of the 

 9th, when we passed four miles from the north point, 

 called by Captain King, Point Pearce. His visit to 

 this part of the coast was in September 1^19, and 

 under very adverse circumstances ; his vessel had 

 but one anchor left, and the strong easterly winds 

 then prevailing, with thick hazy weather, rendered 

 his progress into the opening both difficult and 

 hazardous : after a trial of two davs, and havino- 

 several narrow escapes from getting on shore, he 

 bore away to examine the coast to the south-west, 

 where he was repaid for his disappointment by the 

 discovery of Cambridge Gulf. 



