COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
53 
French, Forestier’s Archipelago, the principal of isis* 
which is Depuch Island. Near this we anchored March 5. 
in five fathoms, sandy ground. Our course from 
Cape Lambert was parallel with the beach, and 
although we were not more than from three to five 
miles from it, yet it was so low that it could not 
be seen from the deck ; and even from the mast- 
head it was but very indistinctly traced ; nor 
indeed is it quite certain that what we did see 
was really the shore of the main land. 
The vessel rode out the night rather uneasily, 
on account of the wind blowing a fresh breeze 
from the S.E., which freshened up when the sun 6 . 
rose, with such strength from the same direc- 
tion, that we were prevented from landing upon 
Depuch Island. We passed the group at one 
mile off ; it consists of six islands, all of which, 
with the exception of Depuch Island, are small 
and of a low sandy character. Hence the coast 
trended to the N.E. by E., but it was soon lost 
to view, for the wind would not permit our 
making better than a N.E. course. Before noon 
we passed within a quarter of a mile of a part 
of the Geographe’s Bank, which was nearly 
dry ; it lies twenty -two miles N.E. from Depuch 
Island. 
Upon comparing my chart with Captain Dam- 
pier’s description of the Rosemary Islands, there 
