EXMOUTH GULF. 377 



The necessary chronometric and magnetic ob- 

 servations were completed, and a supply of tur- 

 tle taken on board by the evening of the 26th, 

 when after leaving a paper in a bottle, recording 

 our visit and describing the nature of the coast 

 eastwards, we left with the intention of exploring 

 Exmouth Gulf, which was the only remaining por- 

 tion of the north-western shore of the continent that 

 had not been visited by Captain King or ourselves. 

 But as we were forced away from the land by south- 

 erly winds as we approached the N. W. Cape, and 

 as there was no certainty of procuring water, 1 have 

 been obliged to content myself with the report of a 

 whaler who went in there and found it to be the 

 mouth of a large inlet conveying a vast body of 

 water into the interior, occasionally, I imagine, even 

 as far as the neiohbourhood of the north-east shore of 

 Shark's Bay, as Capt. Grey speaks of finding there 

 extensive plains of mud and sand, at times evidently 

 flooded by the sea and presenting no limit in a 

 north-east direction. 



Continuing our passage we arrived at Swan 

 River on November 23rd. 



