233 
English Company' s Islands .] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
would not blow quite a month longer, and he was rather late. I 
rewarded his trouble and that of his companions with several pre- 
sents, principally iron tools, which they seemed anxious to possess ; 
and he begged of me an English jack, which he afterwards carried 
at the head of his squadron. He also expressed a desire for a letter, 
to show to any other ship he might meet ; and I accordingly wrote 
him a note to captain Baudin, whom it seemed probable he might 
encounter in the Gulph, either going or returning. 
So soon as the prows were gone, the botanical gentlemen and 
myself proceeded t© make our examinations. The place where the 
ship was anchored, and which I call Malay Road, is formed by two 
islands: one to the S. W., now named Pobassoo’s Island, upon which 
was a stream of fresh water behind a beach ; the other to the north, 
named Cotton’s Island, after captain Cotton of the India directory. The 
opening between them is nearly half a mile wide ; but the water being 
shallow, the road is well sheltered on the west side, and the oppo- 
site main coast lies not further off to the east than three miles ; so 
that N. E. is the sole quarter whence much swell can come. I landed 
upon Cotton's Island ; and ascending a high cliff' at the south-east 
end. saw Mount Saunders and the northernmost Melville Isle over 
the land of Cape Wilberforce. Cotton's Island extends six or seven 
miles to the north, and beyond it, to the north-east, was another large 
island, which I called Wigram’s, whose south-east part is also a high 
cliff. Further off were two small isles ; and at a greater distance 
another, named Truant Island, from its lying away from the rest. 
Pobassoo’s Island intercepted my view to the S. W. ; but on mov- 
ing back to a higher station, two other islands were seen over it, 
close to each other ; to the furthest and largest I gave the name of 
Inglis, and to the nearer that of Bosanquet. In the west also, and 
not more than three miles distant, was an island of considerable size, 
which was distinguished by the name of Astell. The general trend- 
ing of all these islands is nearly N. E. by E., parallel with the line 
of the main coast and of Bromby's Isles. In the Dutch chart, if they 
vol. II. H h 
1S03. 
February. 
Saturday 19» 
