20 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
isi8. On rounding Cape Leeuwin, our crew were 
Feb. 1. attacked with a bowel complaint, and symptoms 
of dysentery ; the want of a surgeon to our 
establishment was most anxiously felt, from the 
fear that, by an unskilful or improper use of 
medicines, I might increase, instead of lessen 
the progress of complaints, which from the fa- 
tigues of such a service, in so warm a climate 
and in the unhealthy season, threatened to be 
frequent and severe. One or two of the people had 
complained of this disorder before we left Oyster 
Harbour, but it was not until we had sailed, that it 
assumed any serious appearance. After two days 
it happily began to subside, or I should of neces- 
sity have been obliged to resort to some place 
for relief, for we had, at one time, only four 
seamen to keep watch. 
This sickness prevented our examining any 
part of the West Coast, as we passed it ; our 
course was therefore held at a distance from the 
10 shore, and on the 1 0th the land to the southward 
of the North-West Cape was descried at day- 
light. Its outline was so level, as to appear like 
a thick fog on the horizon ; but, as the sun rose, 
we were undeceived. At seven miles from the 
shore we found no soundings with 80 fathoms ; 
but at eight o’clock, being three miles nearer, 
we had 35 fathoms, sand, coral, and shells. The 
