SAILING DIRECTIONS. 
343 
forms rapid eddies and whirlpools, that render its ap- 
proach dangerous. In mid-channel is a group of isles ; and, 
off the easternmost, a reef projects to the eastward for more 
than half a mile, round which a vessel must pass; here 
the channel is not more than half a mile wide. Munster 
Water, on the western side, communicates with Hanover 
Bay by a narrow strait, with very good anchorage in it 
in four and five fathoms mud; it is, however, an incon- 
venient place to go to, if a vessel is bound any farther 
up the river. Rothsay Water is a very considerable arm; 
and was conjectured to communicate with Prince Frederic’s 
Harbour, and, if so, would insulate the land between 
Capes Torrens and Wellington. We did not enter Rothsay 
Water; and the tides and whirlpools were too rapid and 
dangerous to trust our small boats without running a 
very great risk. At the entrance of this arm, on the south 
shore, there appeared to be a shoal-bank. Half-way Bay 
offers very good anchorage out of the strength of the tides, 
with abundance of room to get under weigh from. The 
northernmost point of the bay. Sight Point, has a small islet 
off it (Lammas Islet) where the observations were taken to 
fix the longitude of Careening Bay. (See vol. ii p. 55.) The 
two bays on the opposite, or north-east shore, are shoal, 
and not fit for any vessel drawing more than six or seven 
feet; and the shores are so lined with mangroves, as in most 
parts to defy all attempts at landing. After passing them, 
the shores approach each other within three-quarters of a 
mile, but the south-west shore is fronted by a rocky shoal, 
which narrows it to less than half a mile; here the tide 
runs very strong, and forms whirlpools. On passing the 
point, the river opens into a large, spacious reach, which was 
called St. George’s Basin ; and two conspicuous islands in it 
were called St. Andrew and St. Patrick’s Islands. At the 
A. 
Sect. IV. 
N.'West 
Coast. 
