Pclicw's Group.-] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 165 
Of men was sent on shore to watch them ; but he returned immedi- 
ately, on finding the beach to be not sand, but pieces of coral bleached Wednes. is. 
white by the sun, which bore no traces of turtle. 
I landed early in the morning, with the botanical gentlemen, Thurs. 16. 
to take bearings ; and amongst them set the craggy north end of the 
Western island, which I call Cape Pellew, at S. 87° W., distant three 
or four miles. It lies in latitude 16 0 30^', longitude 137 0 2', and there 
is a rock lying half a mile off to the N. E. ; indeed these two small 
isles and another rock may be considered as also lying off, and apper- 
taining to it. The basis of the easternmost and largest isle was found 
to be the same close-grained sand stone as at Vanderlin's Island; 
but the surface consisted of loose pieces of coral, with a slight inter- 
mixture of vegetable soil, producing a few shrubs and small bushes: 
there were no traces either of men or turtle. 
On our return to the ship, we steered for the opening between 
the Capes Vanderlin and Pellew; the wind was from the north-west- 
ward, and this being now the most settled quarter for it, we anchored 
under the western island, in 4^ fathoms soft bottom, half a mile from 
the shore; with the extremes bearing N. 25 0 E. one mile, and S. 23 0 W. 
two miles. An outer rocky islet near Cape Vanderlin bore N. 70° E., 
and a small island within half a mile of the ship covered five points 
in the south-eastern quarter; to the south there was very little land 
visible, but no sea was to be feared from that side ; and the sole direc- 
tion in which we were not sheltered, was between N. N. E. and E. N. E, 
The botanical gentlemen landed abreast of the ship, and lieu- 
tenant Flinders went to commence a series of observations for the 
rates of the time keepers on the small isle, thence called Observation 
Island. My attention was attracted by a cove in the western shore, 
upon the borders of which, more abundantly than elsewhere, grew a 
small kind of cabbage palm, from whence it was called Cabbage-tree 
Cove. This presented the appearance of a complete little hai hour , 
and supposing it to afford fresh water, was just such a place as I 
wished for the ship, during the time necessary for making an exami- 
