28 
A VOYAGE TO 
[East Coast. 
1802. broiled; and after the wanderers had satisfied their hunger, and 
Monday^s. undergone a personal examination, they were conducted back to the ‘ 
ship in safety. Some of the gentlemen went to meet the natives 
with presents, and an interview took place, highly satisfactory to both 
parties ; the Indians then returned to the woods, and our people were 
brought on board. 
Tuesday 17. The anchor was weighed at daylight of the 1 7th, but the wind 
and tide being unfavourable, it took the whole day to get into the 
offing; at dusk we came to, in 9 fathoms, mud and sand, having the 
centre of the hummocky island bearing S. 72°E. two leagues. A 
(Atlas, sketch of the island and of Cape Keppel was taken by Mr. Westall 
whilst beating out of the bay. 
Keppel Bay was discovered and named by captain Cook, who 
sailed past it in 1770. A ship going in will be much deceived by 
the colour of the water ; for the shores of the bay being soft and 
muddy, the water running out by the deep channels with the latter 
part of the ebb, is thick ; whilst the more shallow parts, over which 
the tide does not then set, are covered with sea water, which is 
clear. Not only are the shores for the most part muddy, but a large 
portion of the bay itself is occupied by shoals of mud and sand. The 
deep water is in the channels made by the tides, setting in and out of 
the different arms ; and the best information I can give of them, 
will be found by referring to the plan The broadest of these chan- 
nels is about two miles wide, on the east side of the bay ; and our 
anchorage there near Sea Hill, just within the entrance, seems to be 
the best for a ship purposing to make but a short stay. Wood is 
easily procured; and fresh water was found in small ponds and 
swamps, at a little distance behind the beach. This is also the best, 
if not the sole place in the bay for hauling the seine ; and a fresh 
meal of good fish was there several times procured for all the ship’s 
company. 
The country round Keppel Bay mostly consists either of stony 
hills, or of very low land covered with salt swamps and mangroves. 
