Sov1h Co(lsf -l INTRODUCTION. lxxiii 
of that reef; and the end of Nuyts' discovery would be between 133' d<e NT k E - 
and 134° to the east of Greenwich. casteaux. 
1793. 
The South Coast was not known, in 1801, to have been visited Conclusive 
by any other than the three navigators, Nuyts, Vancouver, and Remarks> 
VEntrecasteaux* The coast line, from Cape Leeuwin to near the 
longitude of 13s 0 , was generally so well ascertained, and the charts 
of Vancouver and D'Entrecasteaux appeared to be so good, that little 
remained in this space for future visitors to discover. At two places, 
the country and productions near the sea-side had also been examined'; 
though no communication had any where been obtained with the in- 
habitants. It was known also from Nuyts, that at 133 0 or 134° of east 
longitude, commenced a second archipelago; and that* the coast 
began there to assume an irregular form; but in what direction it 
trended, whether to the south-eastward for Bass' Strait, or northward 
ior the Gulph of Carpentaria, was altogether uncertain 
The great point, then, which required to be ascertained, was the 
orm of the land from longitude 133° to 146° east, and from south 
latitude 32° to 38^ ; comprising a space of two hundred and fifty 
leagues in a straight line. What rendered a knowledge of this part 
more particularly interesting, was the circumstance of no consider- 
able river having been found on any of the coasts of Terra Australis 
previously explored : but it was scarcely credible that, if this vast 
country were one connected mass of land, it should not contain some 
large rivers ; and if any, this unknown part was one of two remaining 
Places, where they were expected to discharge themselves into the sea. 
The apparent want of rivers had induced some persons to think 
that Terra Australis might be composed of two or more islands, as 
n ad formerly been suspected by the Dutch, and by Dampier ; whilst 
others, believing in the continuity of the shores, thought this want 
might arise from the interior being principally occupied by a medi- 
* It afterwards appeared, that lieutenant James Grant had discovered a part of it in 
1800, in his way to Port Jackson with His Majesty's brig Lady Nelson. 
VOL. I. L 
