221 
Gulp! i of Carpentaria,'] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
Latitude observed, - - - 12 0 12^-' 
Longitude from survey and time keeper, - 137 21- 
Mount Dundas, bluff north end, dist. 8 miles, S. 85 W. 
Mount Saunders, north end, - - N. 84^ W. 
Cape Arnhem a rising within the extremity, S. 21 W. 
We tacked to the westward in the afternoon, and an island 
came in sight, lying to the north of the tw 7 o mounts, with several 
rocks and islets scattered on its north-east side. At sunset the wind died 
away, and a stream anchor was dropped in 16 fathoms sandy ground ; 
our situation being five miles from the shore under Mount Dundas, 
and three from the nearest rocky islets to the north-west. The flood 
tide set gently to the westward, and induced me to suppose there 
might be a passage within the island and rocks, and in the morning Saturday 12. 
our endeavours were used to reach it; but the winds being light and 
mostly contrary, the evening came before we got through. An an- 
chor was then dropped in 4 fathoms, coarse sand, one mile and a half 
from the sandy shore under Mount Saunders, and three miles from 
the south-west end of the island. The passage is more than two 
miles wide, and our soundings in working through it were between 
4-I and 6 fathoms on a gravelly bottom ; but afterwards we had little 
more in some places than 3 fathoms. 
Two natives, with a canoe, had been seen upon the island ; and 
as our boat stood that way, sounding a-head of the ship, they waved 
and called to the people. The island is about five miles long, and 
between one and two in breadth ; it is low, mostly destitute of wood, 
and the shores in general are sandy ; and not being laid down in the 
Dutch chart I distinguish it, with the islets and rocks to the north 
and north-east, by the name of Melville Isles : the south end which 
forms the passage, lies in i2°8|-' south, and 136° 52' east. In the 
opposite shore, between Mount Saunders and Dundas, is a sandy 
bight where ships would be sheltered from all winds except those 
at north-east, if the water be deep enough for them. The trees upon 
the hills showed a dark -green foliage ; but the low land, especially 
1803 . 
February. 
Friday 11. 
