SAIL FOR SWAN RIVER. 119 



to the north of it ; trending in a N. 11" E. direction. 

 It had a sandy appearance and was fronted with a 

 rocky ledge at low water, with one or two remarkable 

 bare sand patches, four or five miles from the Point. 

 We had a shoal cast of nine fathoms, (eight at low 

 water), ten miles west from Point Pearce. In the 

 afternoon we stood to the westward, in very even 

 soundings of 15 fathoms. 



On the 13th we saw the white cliffs of Cape Ruil- 

 hieres, which, like Point Pearce, we found to be 

 four miles and a half west of its assigned position. 

 On the 14th and 15th we were beating to the west- 

 ward with a light and variable wind. Our progress 

 was slow, the monsoon being light ; we therefore 

 stood to the northward, to find a more steady breeze, 

 and in order, whilst making our westing, to get 

 some soundings over a large dotted space in the 

 chart, bearing the name of the Great Sahul Shoal. 

 We desired also to ascertain the extent of the bank 

 of soundings extending off this part of the Australian 

 continent, which here approaches to within 245 

 miles of the south end of Timor. The soundings 

 varied, according to the boards we made over it, 

 from SO to 60 fathoms; the bottom in the lesser 

 depth being a kind of coral, with bits of iron-stone 

 mixed with sand ; whilst in the greater depth, it 

 was a green sandy mud. 



On the 17th at 8, p. m., whilst standing to the 

 north-west, near the centre of the eastern part of 

 the supposed Sahul Shoal, the water shoaled sud- 



