Nuyts' Archipelago.'] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
113 
being the entrance to a river. No land was visible to the north-east; 1802. 
and besides quantities of grass and branches of trees or bushes float- Saturday 5 *?, 
ing in the water, there was a number of long, gauze- winged insects 
topping about the surface, such as frequent fresh-water lakes and 
swamps. In order to form a judgment of how much fresh, was 
mixed with the salt water, or whether any, I had some taken up for 
the purpose of ascertaining its specific gravity ; but before the 
experiment could be made, the depth diminished to 3 fathoms, and 
low land was distinguished nearly all round. We then veered ship; 
and at seven o'clock came to an anchor in 6 fathoms, off" a small 
beach on the north side of the western and smallest island, being 
sheltered at all points except between S. 58 0 and N. 8o° W. 
The specific gravity of the water taken up proved to be 1,034,, 
or ,008 greater than the water of the Southern Indian Ocean, west- 
ward of the Island Amsterdam ; although the temperature in which 
it was weighed, was higher by 14°. This circumstance, with the 
shallowness of the inlet and the land having been seen to close round 
so nearly, made me give up the intention of attempting to proceed 
any higher up, since no river of importance was to be expected. 
Great flocks of sooty petrels were observed coming in from 
sea to the island, and at the first dawn next morning, a boat was Sunday 7. 
sent to collect a quantity of them, and to kill seals ; but the birds 
were already moving off", and no more than four seals, of the hair 
kind, were procured. The botanists preferred going on shore to 
the more eastern land, which, though low, was much more exten- 
sive than the island nearer to the ship ; and in fact, it was not 
yet ascertained whether it were not a part of the main. I went to 
the higher island with a theodolite to take bearings ; and as the 
survey had shown that no dependence was to be placed in any 
observations taken on board the ship during the last five days, I 
took with me the necessary instruments for determining the latitude 
and longitude. 
Granite was found to compose the rocks of the shore, and 
seemed to be the basis of the island ; but it was covered with a crust 
