ITS SHALLOWNESS. 
163 
have alluded. At this time there was an open sea from 
W. N.W. to N. by E. A meridian altitude gave our lati- 
tude 35° 25'. The land to our left was bold and precipi- 
tous ; that to the right was low and wooded ; and there 
was evidently a considerable space between the shores of 
the lake and the base of the ranges. The country to the 
eastward was hidden from us by the line of cliffs, beyond 
which, from E. S.E. to W. S.W. there was an open sea. 
We had kept the lead going from the first, and I was sur- 
prised at the extreme shallowness of the lake in every part, 
as we never had six feet upon the line. Its bottom was one 
of black mud, and weeds of enormous length were float- 
ing on its surface, detached by the late gales, and which, 
from the shallowness of the lake, got constantly entangled 
with our rudder. 
We tried to land on the eastern point, but found the wa- 
ter too shallow, and were obliged to try the western shore. 
In passing close under the head, we observed several 
natives upon it, who kindled a large fire as soon as they 
saw they were noticed, which was answered from every point ; 
for, in less than ten minutes afterwards, we counted no 
fewer than fourteen different fires, the greater number of 
which were on the side of the ranges. 
As we were standing across from one shore to the other, 
our attention was drawn to a most singular object. It 
started suddenly up, as above the waters to the south, and 
strikingly resembled an isolated castle. Behind it, a dense 
column of smoke rose into the sky, and the effect was 
m 2 
