COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
97 
having its north-west end terminated by a con- 1818. 
spicuous bluff. The coast now took an easterly April 28. 
direction as far as the eye could reach, with a 
channel of from three to eight miles broad be- 
tween it and a range of islands, (which were 
named in compliment to the late Vice-Admiral 
Sir George Hope, K.C.B., then holding a seat 
in the Board of Admiralty.) At noon the tide 
began to ebb, when we anchored near the land 
at about six miles east of Mount Roe. 
The thermometer now ranged between 80° 29. 
and 90°, but the heat was by no means op- 
pressive. 
By the next day at noon we had penetrated 
four leagues within Sir George Hope’s Islands, 
when the water became so shoal that we could 
not approach an opening that was seen in the 
land to the south-eastward ; after trying in se- 
veral directions, the cutter was anchored, and 
Mr. Roe was sent to sound in a south direction 
in search of a passage out ; but, as it appeared 
to be shoal, and some parts were already dry, 
it was decided that we should return by the way 
we came ; since our object was not so much to 
lay down the extent of the banks and directions 
of the channels, as to find rivers, and trace the 
coast line. The opening to the S.E. of our 
anchorage certainly appeared to be sufficiently 
Vol. I. H 
