May.] 



GREAT FISH BAY. 



317 



boundary of the Cape district and the southern boundary of the Por- 

 tuguese district, there is an immense waste of country, extending over 

 about eight hundred miles of latitude, and more than twice that distance 

 of longitude, almost entirely unknown to civilized man. I ardently hope 

 and trust that my country will be the first to engage in exploring this 

 interesting region of the world, and open its boundless stores of riches 

 to her adventurous sons. I, for one, should glory in leading the way, 

 being perfectly willing to encounter all the personal hazard which 

 might attend a solitary pilgrimage across the continent for the purpose 

 of opening a permanent and lucrative trade with the different tribes 

 and nations. If the general government withhold its patronage from 

 such a laudable undertaking, a joint-stock company of able capitalists 

 would be all-sufficient for effecting the purpose, and would be morally 

 certain of golden returns. 



May \%th. — The coast between this place and Cape Frio, or Cold 

 Cape, where we arrived on Wednesday, the 13th, is low and sandy, 

 with moderately elevated hills a few miles inland. There are also 

 many shoals and reefs, running into the sea, from one to two miles 

 off-shore. In many places the depth of water does not exceed ten 

 fathoms, over a bottom of sand and coral, five or six miles from the 

 land. Cape Frio is in latitude 18° 22' S., long. 11° 59' E. Varia- 

 tion, per azimuth 19° 54' westerly. 



The land of Cape Frio is high, and continues so for six or seven 

 leagues to the northward ; but the shore is low and sandy, as it is to 

 the southward. This cape, however, affords no shelter to ships. 

 There is said to be a river called L'Angra Fria, or Cold Creek, a few 

 miles to the north of the cape ; but at the time of our passing this 

 place there was no river open. 



May Yith. — We continued steering to the north until Sunday, the 

 17th of May, when we arrived at Great Fish Bay ; and at eleven, 

 A. M., anchored in three fathoms of water, near the shore, on the 

 south-west side of the bay, sandy bottom. The north point of Tiger 

 Peninsula, which forms the west side of the bay, is in latitude 16° 30' 

 $., long. 11° 38' E. The coast between this bay and Cape Frio is 

 a barren sandy desert, and entirely free from dangers one mile from 

 the beach ; but the bank of soundings extends a long way to the west- 

 ward. The River Nourse, which was said to have been discovered in 

 1824, by L'Espiegle, was closed at the time we passed this part of 

 the coast. 



Fish Bay is formed on the west by Tiger Peninsula, which is very 

 low, and seven leagues in length from north-by-west to south-by-east. 

 The greatest breadth of the bay is at its entrance, which is more 

 than two leagues. The peninsula is all sand, and the isthmus by 

 which it is joined to the mainland is not more than one-quarter of a 

 mile broad. The eastern shore of the bay is formed of high barren 

 hills, of a brown sandy appearance. The depth of water at the en- 

 trance of the bay is sixteen fathoms, gradually decreasing as you 

 advance to the south, towards the head of the bay, to fifteen, ten, 

 seven, five, and three fathoms, sandy bottom near the head of the 

 bay. There are no dangers in turning up this bay, if you give either 



