COASTS OP AUSTRALIA, 
163 
but gradually veered round to the southward; 
and at nine o’clock was very light from S.E. 
During the night we made short tacks. At 
four o’clock in the morning, (13th,) the latitude 
by the moon’s meridional altitude was 32° 16' 
17", and soon afterwards Rottnest was in sight 
in the N.N.E. At six o’clock the sky was 
clouded, and the weather threatened to be bad ; 
the mercury fell to 29.69 inches, upon which 
all sail was made off the land, as appearances 
indicated a westerly gale : but after an interval 
of two hours, during which we had a fresh 
breeze from N.W.b.W., the weather cleared up, 
and we steered towards Rottnest Island. The 
next morning the brig was anchored off the north- 
east end of the island in thirteen fathoms gra- 
velly sand ; and in the afternoon I went on shore, 
in a bay, on the east or leeward side, where we 
found the water smooth and the landing more 
practicable than upon the north side, where a 
tremendous surf was rolling in upon the beach. 
We disturbed a great many seals, but only 
killed three; and were much disappointed in 
finding that these animals were not of the fur 
I species, as in M. de Freycinet’s account of the 
1 island they are said to be ; they were evidently 
the same description as those noticed at King 
George’s Sound. The traces of a small kan- 
M 2 
1822. 
Jan. 12. 
13. 
