156 A VOYAGE TO [South Coast 
1802. Having obtained the observations, we steered for the outermost 
TiSy's. of tne northern hummocks, with soundings gradually increasing to 
12 fathoms; but shoaling on a sudden to 7, upon coral, we hauled 
to the wind and tacked instantly ; finding, however, that the depth 
did not further decrease, I let the ship go entirely round, and con- 
tinued the former north-eastern course, with soundings from 7 to 9 
fathoms. 
At noon, the furthest hummock seen from the anchorage was 
distant four or five miles; it stands on a projection of low sandy 
land, and beyond it was another similar projection to which I gave 
the name of Point Lowly. This was the furthest visible part of the 
western shore ; but the eastern land there approached within seven 
or eight miles, and extended northward, past it, in a chain of rugged 
mountains, at the further end of which was a remarkable peak. 
Our situation and bearings at this time were as follow : - 
Latitude, observed to the north and south, - 33° g 14" 
Longitude by time keepers, - - 137 413- 
Middle Mount, - - - S. 75 W. 
Mount Young, - - - s - 8 7 w - 
Point Lowly, the extreme, - - N. 43 E. 
High peak on the eastern land, - N. 25 E. 
Our prospect of a channel or strait, cutting off some consider- 
able portion of Terra Australis, was lost, for it now appeared that 
the ship was entered into a gulph ; but the width of the opening 
round Point Lowly left us a consolatory hope that it would termi- 
nate in a river of some importance. In steering for the point we came 
into 4 fathoms, but on hauling to the eastward found 8, although 
a dry sand bank was seen in that direction. The depth afterwards 
diminished to 6, on which the course for Point Lowly was resumed; 
and we passed it at the distance of a mile and a half, in 9 fathoms 
water. Here the gulph was found to take a river-like form, but the 
eastern half of it was occupied by a dry, sandy spit and shoal water. 
We continued to steer upwards, before the wind ; but as the width 
