286 SURVEY OF THE 1NTERTROPICAL 
1819. leaving Port Keats, were on a muddy bottom ; 
Sept. 13. at sunset we were within six miles of a small 
rocky island of half a mile in extent, surrounded 
by an extensive reef, which was partially dry ; 
the land between S.E. and W.b.S. appeared to 
be a very low sandy coast, and the back lands 
to the south-east are wooded and level. Nearer 
to Lacrosse Island, the coast is not only more 
irregular in its outline, but of a more mountain- 
ous character: on each side of the nearest part 
of the coast, which was eight miles off and bore 
South, the shores fall back and form two bays ; 
the land was, however, so enveloped by the smoke 
of the natives’ fires, that the greater part was very 
indistinctly seen, and therefore very imperfectly 
described. After dark a light breeze sprang up 
from the S.W., and we stood off shore ; but not 
being able to find an anchorage, we continued 
under weigh during the night. 
14. The next morning the land was not in sight : 
as we stood towards the shore, it was soon af- 
terwards discerned, and at noon we were very 
near to our last night’s position, but were pre- 
vented from steering towards Lacrosse Island, 
by a considerable shoal, which extended to the 
N.W., and crossed our course: we anchored 
near it at sunset in ten fathoms. 
The land this day was more visible towards 
