Gulph of Carpentaria,] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 138 
q fathoms, and the land barely within sight from the mast head. 1S0<2 - 
We then stood off; and the water being smooth, anchored on Sunday u. 
muddy ground, in 4,- fathoms, which became g~ at low water. The 
flood tide here set S. S. W., till midnight ; and the ebb N. by E., till 
we got under way in the morning. 
On the 15th, we ran before a north-east wind towards the fur- Monday 15. 
thest land seen from the mast head. The soundings were 3-, 3, and 
soon after seven o’clock, fathoms ; which made it necessary to steer 
further off, though the land was distant six or eight miles, and 
scarcely visible from the deck. We kept in 3 fathoms, steering 
various westward courses, until noon; when the latitude was if 
go' 9", and longitude 140 0 23'. The land was distant seven or eight 
miles to the southward, and the furthest part distinguished from the 
mast head was at S. by W. ~ W. ; it was low and sandy as ever, and 
with less wood upon it than any part before seen. A sea breeze at 
N. N. W. scarcely permitted us to lie along the shore in the after- 
noon ; but the ground being soft, and soundings regular, though 
shallow, we kept on until five o’clock ; and then tacked in fathoms, 
having reached within three miles of the land. At eight o’clock, the , 
anchor was let go in 4 fathoms, on a bottom of mud and shells. 
The coast to which we approached nearest this evening, was 
sandy and very barren ; but there were some natives collected upon 
the hillocks, to look at the ship ; so that even here, and at the end of 
the dry season, fresh water may be had. These people were blacK 
and naked, and made many wild gestures. Between this part and 
the land set at S. by W. ~ W. at noon, there was a bight falling back 
as far as the latitude 17 0 42', or perhaps further, which appeared 
to be the southern extremity of the Gulph of Carpentaria ; for the 
coast from thence took a direction to the northward of west. Shoals 
extended a great way out from the bight ; and were almost dry to 
a considerable distance. 
In the morning our route was pursued along the shore, at the Tuesday 16. 
distance of six to nine or ten miles ; the course being N. W., close 
