Port Lincoln.] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
141 
the foot. A boat was sent to make the experiment this evening, at 1802. 
the back of the beac'i ; but the water which flowed into the pit was Thuds', 
quite salt; and notwithstanding the many natives huts about, no 
fresh water could be found. 
Boston Island at the entrance of the port being also woody and 
of some elevation, the boat was sent next morning to search there Friday 26. 
for water; and in the mean time I landed with the botanists, and 
ascended Stamford Hill to ascertain the nature of this inlet and take 
angles. The port was seen to terminate seven or eight miles to the 
west-south- west ; but there was a piece of water beyond it, ap- 
parently a lake or mere, from which we might hope to obtain a 
supply, if no more convenient watering place should be found. 
Betwixt Cape Donington at the entrance, and Surfleet Point, was a 
large cove with a sandy beach at the head, capable of sheltering a fleet 
of ships, if the depth should be sufficient, as it appeared to be, to 
receive them: this was named Spalding Cove. Wood was not 
wanting there, but no stream of water could be distinguished. On 
the north side of the port, higher up, was a projecting piece of land, 
with an island lying off it nearly one mile in length. This island, 
which was named Grantham Island, contracts the width of that part 
to one mile and three quarters ; whereas above and below it the 
width is from two to three miles. 
The eastern entrance to the port, between Boston Island and 
Cape Donington, is one mile and a half wide; the western entrance, 
betwixt the island and what was called Kirton Point, is larger, and 
appeared to be as deep as the first, in which we had from 7 to 9 
fathoms. From Kirton Point, northward, the shore curves back to 
the west, and makes a semicircular sweep round the island, forming 
an outer bay which was named Boston Bay. It is terminated by 
Point Boston, a low point one mile and a half from the north end of 
the island ; but whether the water between them be deep, was 
not ascertained. From Point Boston the shore takes another sweep 
to the west and northward ; and comes out again three or four 
vol. 1. Y y 
