King George's Sound.] TERRA AUSTRAL! 8. 
55 
north side of the harbour for water and wood, and we got the ship isoi. 
under way to beat up to the entrance; the wind blowing still from ^ursdayio. 
the westward. At eleven o'clock, the anchor was dropped in 6 
fathoms, half a mile from Point Possession; and as I was doubtful 
of the master's success, I went in a boat, accompanied by lieutenant 
Flinders, to examine Oyster Harbour. We carried 7 and 6 fathoms 
from the ship towards the entrance, until Michaelmas and Break-sea 
Islands were closing on with each other ; after which the depth 
diminished to 5, 4, 3, and 2 J- fathoms. On hauling westward, we 
got into six feet ; but steering the other way, it deepened to seven- 
teen, the east side of the opening being then in a line with the middle 
of some high, flat-topped land, at the back of the harbour. Keeping 
in that direction, we carried 3, 4, and 5 fathoms ; and had 6 in the 
narrowest part of the entrance. Within side, the deep water turned 
on the starbord hand, but in many parts, there was not more than 
3 fathoms. 
As I proposed to make a new survey of King George's Sound, 
we landed to take a set of angles upon the small central island; 
the same which captain Vancouver describes (Vol. I. page 35), as 
covered with luxuriant grass and other vegetables ; and where he 
planted vine cuttings, water cresses, and the seeds of various fruits. 
There were no remains of these valuable gifts, although nothing 
indicated the island to have been visited since his time; and, to our 
disappointment, the vegetation upon it now consisted of tufts of 
wiry grass and a few stunted shrubs, supported by a thin layer of 
sandy soil, which was every where perforated with rat holes. 
From the island, we rowed in various directions, sounding the 
harbour ; but the boat could seldom approach the shore within a 
cable's length, or the eighth part of a mile. On the south-west side 
there were two small streams, in one of which the water was fresh, 
though high coloured. Returning to the entrance, we landed on 
the east side, and found a spot of ground six or eight feet square, 
dug up and trimmed like a garden ; and upon it was lying a piece 
