Western Coasts.] INTRODUCTION. Ixiii 
Next morning he saw the main coast, and ran northward along it ; d«f«r. 
discovering, in 26° 10', an opening two leagues wide, but full of rocks 16 " - 
and foul ground. Aug. 6, he anchored (in Dirk Hartog's Road) at the 
entrance of a sound, which he named Shark's Bay, in latitude 
25° 5 south. He remained there eight days, examining the sound, 
cutting wood upon the islands, fishing, &c. ; and gives a description 
of what was seen in his usually circumstantial manner.* 
An animal found upon one of the islands is described as " a sort 
" of raccoon, different from that of the West Indies, chiefly as to 
' the legs ; for these have very short fore legs ; but go jumping 
** upon them" (not upon the short fore, but the long hind, legs, it 
is to be presumed), « as the others do ; and like them are very good 
" meat " This appears to have been the small kangaroo, since found 
upon the islands which form the road ; and if so, this description is 
probably the first ever made of that singular animal, 
Leaving Shark's Bay on Aug. 14, captain Dampier steered north- 
ward, along the coast ; but at too great a distance to make much 
observation upon it, until he got round the North-west Cape. On- the 
22nd, he saw an extensive cluster of islands ; and anchored, in lati- 
tude ao° 21', under one of the largest, which he called Rosemary 
Island. This was near the southern part of De Witt's Land ; but 
besides an error in latitude of 40', he complains that, in Tasman's 
chart, « the shore is laid down as all along joining in one body, or 
" continent, with some openings like rivers; and not like islands, as 
»« really they are."—" By what we saw of them, they must have 
" been a range of islands, of about twenty leagues in length, stretch- 
" ing from E. N. E. to W. S. W. ; and for ought I know, as' far as to 
" those of Shark's Bay ; and to a considerable breadth also, for we 
" could see nine or ten leagues in amongst them, towards the con- 
" tment or main land of New Holland, if there be any such thing 
* For the full account of Dampier's proceedings and observations, with views of the 
land, see his Voyages, Vol. III. page 81, et seq. 
