Off C. Bridgewater.'] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 20S 
shrubs and small trees did not more than half cover the sandy surface. 1802 - 
it April. 
We pursued the round of the coast at the distance of four or five Monday 19. 
miles, having three reefs in the top sails on account of the squally 
weather. At ten o'clock, in a clear interval, land was seen bearing 
S. 51 0 E. ; and a thick squall with rain coming on, in which the 
wind shifted suddenly from north-north-west to south-west, we were 
forced to haul close up, and let out the third reefs in order to wea- 
ther the coast. A constant succession of rainy squalls prevented us 
from knowing how the land lay for some time, nor could an obser- 
vation for the latitude be obtained ; but at half past noon our anxiety 
was relieved by distinguishing the furthest extreme, a bold, cliffy 
cape, bearing S. 72^° E., broad on the lee bow. 
This high projection was the Cape Bridgewater of captain 
Grant. A hill upon it slopes to the edge of the cliffs by which the 
cape is begirt toward the sea ; and on the land side it descends so 
low, that the connection of the hill with the main could not be clearly 
discerned. To the northward, and nearly in a line with the first, 
are two other hills almost equal to it in elevation. As we passed Cape 
Bridgewater, a second cliffy head opened at S. 73^° E. and a further 
round the last, at N. S<f E. These are the Capes Nelson and Sir JV. 
Grant, though differing considerably in relative position from what 
they are laid down in captain Grant's chart. 
At two o'clock, the weather having become somewhat finer, 
I ventured to bear away along the coast ; and presently a small 
island with two hummocks on it, and a rock nearer to the shore were 
visible : these are Lawrence' 's Isles. The bearings of the land at four were, 
C. Bridgewater, top of the hill, dist. 4 leagues, N. 44" W. 
Cape Nelson, the south-west extreme, - ■ N. 21 W. 
Cape Sir W. Grant, east part of the cliffs, - N. 12 E. 
Lawrence's double Isle, dist. 3 leagues, - - N. 25 E. 
Before six we hauled the wind offshore ; having set the double isle at 
N. 43 0 W., six or seven miles, and seen the land indistinctly as far as 
east-north-east. 
