COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
255 
point of land, which afterwards proved to be the 
eastern head of a deep opening. 
To the northward of this point was an island, 
and farther on to seaward a dry sand bank. As 
we approached the point, we were obliged to haul 
off, for there was evidently a shoal communication 
between it and the island, and every appearance 
of its being connected with the sand-bank in the 
offing. The dark colour of the water on the other 
side of this line of communication induced me to 
stand round the sand bank; when, as was ex- 
pected, we entered a deep channel leading towards 
the most distant parts of the bight, which after- 
wards turned out to be the mouth of a river. The 
sand-bank was called Haul-round Islet, and the 
island Entrance Island. In passing between the 
latter and a reef on the western side of the channel, 
about half or three-quarters of a mile from the 
shore, we had fourteen fathoms mud; after 
which it gradually decreased in depth ; having 
reached the mouth of the river we anchored in 
three fathoms, about four miles within Entrance 
Island. The remainder of the day, which was 
far advanced, was spent in making preparations 
for our examination of the river ; at low water the 
tide had fallen ten feet, and the cutter took the 
ground ; but, as it was on soft mud, it was of lit- 
tle consequence. 
1819. 
Aug 1 . 4. 
