102 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1818 . The next morning we were underweigh, and 
May"' t - steering along the coast to the westward towards 
a low but extensive island ; and, as we ap- 
proached, we found that it fronted a very con- 
siderable opening in the land, extending into 
the interior under the eastern base of Mount 
Hooper. The channel between the island and 
the main appearing clear, we did not hesitate to 
pass through, and within half a mile of the island, 
where the channel was evidently the deepest, we 
sounded in eight and nine fathoms. As soon as 
we entered the opening, it assumed a similar 
appearance to that of the river we examined 
yesterday, but it was very much more consider- 
able, and excited very sanguine hopes in our 
minds. Besides the low island above-mentioned, 
there is another of smaller size between it and 
the west point of entrance ; so that there are 
three entrances. The islands were called Barron 
and Field Islands, after my friend, then presiding 
as Judge of the Supreme Court of New South 
Wales. 
As we proceeded, the depth continued to be so 
even, and to shoal so gradually, that we ran up 
it for six miles, when, as it was near noon, we 
anchored and landed on the eastern bank, to ob- 
serve the sun’s meridional altitude ; but, from 
the muddy state of the banks, we had great 
