COASTS OF AUSTRAJ.1A. 
231 
twenty miles, has also been sufficiently explored ; 
but between the latter island and Port George 
the Fourth, a distance of five hundred and ten 
miles, it yet remains almost unknown. The 
land that is laid down is nothing more than an 
archipelago of islands fronting the main land, 
the situation of which is quite uncertain. Our 
examinations of these islands were carried on as 
far as Cape Villaret, but between that and De- 
puch Island the coast has only been seen by the 
French, who merely occasionally saw small de- 
tached portions of it. At present, however, all 
is conjecture; but the space is of considerable 
extent, and if there is an opening into the in- 
terior of New Holland, it is in the vicinity of this 
part. Off the Buccaneer’s Archipelago, the tides 
are strong, and rise to the height of thirty-six 
feet. Whatever may exist behind these islands, 
which we were prevented by our poverty in an- 
chors and other circumstances from exploring, 
there are certainly some openings of importance ; 
and it is not at all improbable that there may 
be a communication at this part with the interior 
for a considerable distance from the coast. 
The examination of the western coast was per- 
formed during an almost continued gale of wind, 
so that we had no opportunity of making any 
very careful observation upon its shores. There 
