Spencers Gulph] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 157 
contracted rapidly, and there was much shoal water, it was under 1802. 
very easy sail, and with an anchor ready to be let go. At four o'clock, tSJ 9. 
in attempting to steer close over to the western side, we came sud- 
denly into 2^ fathoms ; the ship was instantly veered to the east- 
ward, and on the water deepening to 7, we let go the anchor and 
veered out a whole cable ; for the wind blew a fresh gale right up 
the gulph, and between S. 4 0 W. and 30 0 E. there was no shelter from 
the land. At sunset, a second anchor was dropped under foot. 
We had reached near five leagues above Point Lowly, at the 
entrance of the narrow part of the gulph ; but the shores were low on 
both sides, and abreast of the ship not so much as four miles asunder. 
At the back of the eastern shore was the ridge of mountains before 
mentioned, of which Mr. Westall made the sketch given in the (piateXVii. 
Atlas; and the highest peak toward their northern extremity, after- View 10 ) 
wards called Mount Brown, bore N. 32°E. On the western side, 
upwards, there was moderately high, flat-topped land, whose eastern 
bluff bore N. 36 0 W., about three leagues, and there the head of the 
gulph had the appearance of terminating ; but as the tide ran one 
mile an hour past the ship, we still flattered ourselves with the 
prospect of a longer course, and that it would end in a fresh-water 
river. 
Early on the following morning, Messrs. Brown, Bauer, and Wednes. 10. 
Westall, with attendants, set off upon an excursion to the eastern 
mountains, intending, if possible, to ascend to the top of Mount 
Brown ; and I went away in a cutter, accompanied by the surgeon, 
to explore the head of the gulph, taking with me Arnold's pocket 
time keeper. After crossing the middle shoal upon which we had 
2 j fathoms in the ship, the water deepened to 10, but afterwards 
diminished to 2, on approaching the mangroves of the western side. 
Keeping then upwards, I had from 7 to 10 fathoms in the mid-chan- 
nel ; but found shoal water extending a mile, and sometimes more 
from the shore, and no possibility of landing until we came near the 
broad, flat-topped hill. From the eastern bluff of this hill, Mount 
vol. i. 3 A ' 
