124 A VOYAGE TO [South Coast 
1802. In the morning, we were surprised to see breaking water 
sSXTs. a °0"t one mile from the ship, and as much from the shore. It was 
not far from the place where the last tack had been made in the 
evening, and the master found no more than six feet water close to it; 
so that we were fortunate in having escaped. The botanical gentle- 
men landed early ; and I followed them to make the usual observa- 
tions for the survey. 
From my first station, at the north-east end of the island, the 
largest of the Top-gallant Isles bore S. 6y°K., four or five miles. 
It is of little extent, but high and cliffy ; and there are three rocks 
on its south side resembling ships under sail, from which circum- 
stance this small cluster obtained its present name. To the south- 
west, I distinguished several small islands, of which the northern- 
most and largest is remarkable from two high and sharp-pointed 
peaks upon it, lying in latitude 33 0 57' and longitude 134 0 13'. This 
cluster, as it appeared to be, received the name of Pearson's Isles; but 
it is possible that what seemed at a distance to be divided into several, 
may form two or three larger islands, or even be one connected land. 
Another island, about one mile long and of moderate height, was 
discovered bearing S. 72° W., about four leagues. It was surrounded 
with high breakers, as was a smaller isle near it; and the two were 
called Ward's Isles. These three small clusters, with Waldegrave's 
Isles, and this larger island, which was named Flinders', after the 
second lieutenant, form a group distinct from Nuyts' Archipelago ; 
and I gave it the name of the Investigator's Group. 
The form of Flinders' Island is nearly a square, of which each 
side is from three to five miles in length. Bights are formed in the 
four sides ; but that to the north seems alone to afford good anchor- 
age. In its composition this island is nearly the same as that of 
Waldegrave's largest isle ; but between the granitic basis and the 
calcareous top, there is a stratum of sand stone, in some places twenty 
feet thick. The vegetation differed from that of other islands before 
visited, in that the lower lands were covered with large bushes; and 
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