266 



BOUNTIFUL ISLANDS. 



wind, to examine the coast back, to Van Diemen*s 

 Inlet. 



I also resolved to ascertain if the supply of water 

 that Flinders found on Sweers Island was still to be 

 obtained; and on our way thither determined on visit- 

 ing Bountiful Islands, where we arrived accordingly 

 on the morning of the 6th. The greatest depth we 

 had in crossing the Gulf was 15 fathoms, the nature 

 of the bottom being a fine dark sandy mud. 



Bountiful Islands form the eastern part of a group 

 called Wellesley Islands, and were so named by 

 Flinders from the great supply of turtle he found 

 there. As, however, it was two months before the 

 season of their visiting the shores, we only caught 

 twelve, for the most part females. Near the islands 

 was noticed the same shrubby thick compact kind 

 of sea-weed, that had previously been seen on the 

 parts of the North-west coast frequented by the 

 turtle. Flinders speaks of finding here in one turtle 

 as many as IjQ^O eggs ; and such is their fecundity 

 that were it not for the destruction of the young by 

 sharks and birds of prey, these temperate seas 

 would absolutely swarm with them. 



Our anchorage was in 7 fathoms, three-quarters 

 of a mile S. E. from the highest hill, which I called 

 Mount Flinders ; it stands close to the beach, 

 near the east end of the island, and is in lati- 

 tude 16° 40' 0" S., long. T 45' 25" E. of Port 

 Essington. 



Bountiful Islands, two in number, are distant a 



