Gulph of Carpentaria.'] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
179 
as a projection of the main land, and called Cape Maria. To the 
west of it is marked a large bay or bight, called Li m men’s Bogt, 
where the coast turns north-eastward to a projecting cape without 
name, which has a shoal, forty miles in length, running out from it ; 
and between this shoal and Cape Maria, is laid down a small island. 
In these particulars, the old chart was found to be correct as to the 
general matter of fact, but erroneous in the forms and positions. 
Fires were seen at night, upon the island ; and early in the 
morning I landed with the botanical gentlemen, to examine the pro- 
ductions and take bearings. My attention was attracted by some- 
thing like a native’s hut, which proved to be an ant hill composed of 
red earth, about eight feet high, and formed like a haycock ; the 
inhabitants were the same feeble race of insect as before seen at the 
Prince of Wales’ Islands, and the least pressure was sufficient to 
crush them. From the highest hill on the south side of the island, 
I set the furthest visible extremity of the main land to the eastward, 
near which is a low islet, at S. 21 0 50' E.; from thence if extended 
past the projecting part of the hills toN. 8o° W., where it was lost 
in Limmen’s Bight ; but re-appearing 16° further north, it was dis- 
tinguishable to N. 33® W. 
The length of the island is about seven miles, N. E. and S. W., 
by a variable breadth from one to four miles ; and its northern ex- 
tremity, to which I continue the name of Cape Maria, lies in 14° 50' 
south, and 1 35 0 59-' east. A slaty rock seemed to form its basis ; 
the surface is hilly, well covered with wood, and grass grows up 
from amongst the loose stones ; and notwithstanding its barren soil, 
the appearance from the ship was green and pleasant. That men 
were upon the island was shewn by the fires, and it was corrobor- 
ated by the fresh prints of feet upon the sand ; but they eluded our 
search, and we did not find either canoes or habitations. 
On returning to the ship at nine o’clock, we stretched south- 
ward for the main coast, with the wind at west. When within five 
or six miles, the water shoaled to 3- fathoms ; and the ship being 
1802. 
December. 
Friday 31, 
1S03. 
January. 
Saturday 1. 
