164 LEAVE iioutman's abroliios. 



the open sea. This reef extended two miles and a half 

 to the N.N.W. and fourmiles and a half to the south- 

 ward. Our observations were made on a sand-hill 

 36 feet high, immediately over the bay, which they 

 placed in lat 32° 18' 5'' S. long. 2° 9' W. from Swan 

 Kiver. 



May 23. — From Record Hill we had perceived 

 that the sea was quite clear to the north and 

 west beyond the reef, and being satisfied that 

 we had reached the extremity of Houtman's Abrol- 

 hos,* we weighed in the morning, and passed about 

 a mile and a half from the reef to the north of the 

 island in 26 fathoms ; and hauling up S. S. W., 

 along the western side of the reefs, gradually 

 deepened the water to 42 fathoms over a rocky 

 ground, Record Hill bearing N. 70° E. six miles 

 and a half. We then had no bottom with 50 and 

 60 fathoms until noon, when we had 122 fathoms, 

 sand and coral ; Record Hill then bearing N. 52° E. 

 eleven miles and a half, just barely visible from the 

 poop. It is singular that we should have had bottom 

 at that distance from the group, whereas, when we 

 had not proceeded half so far from the southern por- 

 tion we had no bottom with 200 fathoms. 



To ascertain if there were any more reefs to the 

 westward, we now steered W. S. W., sounding occa- 

 sionally with 200 and 220 fathoms unsuccessfully. 



* Their extent in latitude therefore nearly corresponded with 

 the old chart ; and the apparent confusion in the shape given 

 them, no doubt arose from their extremes only having been seen 

 and then extended towards each other. 



