106 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPIC AL 
i8is. Another opening was observed to the westward 
May 10. 0 f t k e r i ver we last examined, and as it bore a 
similar appearance, the name of Alligator Rivers 
was extended to it. 
11. The next morning we resumed our course to 
the westward ; and, after coasting along a low 
shore, anchored at night in the S.W. corner 
of the gulf, in three and a half fathoms ; the land, 
from being so low, was scarcely distinct, but it 
12 . appeared to be sandy. The next day we passed 
a considerable opening, or, as it was thought to 
be, a bight ; for many patches of land were ob- 
served on the horizon; The wind blew so fresh 
from the eastward, that I did not venture to run 
into it, but steered towards some land to the 
northward, that formed the northern boundary 
of the opening, and which proved to be that which 
had been seen by us from Popham Bay ; and as 
it afterwards proved to be an island, it was 
called after the title of the noble Viscount, now 
First Lord of the Admiralty. 
The Gulf, which we have- now explored, is that 
which was discovered by three Dutch vessels 
that sailed from Timor in 1705,' and to which 
they gave the name of The Great Bay of Van 
Diemen. They entered it, but did not reach its 
bottom, having been, very likely, prevented by 
the strong tides which in the entrance ol Dun- 
das Strait are altogether uncommon. From 
