The Gulf which we have now explored is that which was discovered by three Dutch vessels that sailed from Timor in 1705, and to which they gave the name of The Great Bay of Van Diemen.  They entered it but did not reach its bottom, having been very likely prevented by the strong tides which in the entrance of Dundas Strait are altogether uncommon.  From the nature of the Alligator Rivers there is no doubt but that there are others of a similar character that empty themselves into the Gulf between the easternmost Alligator River and Sir George Hope’s Islands, although they are, probably, of smaller size and of less importance.  At midnight the cutter, drifted by the tide, passed close to the easternmost point of Melville Island near to which two bright fires were burning.

May 13.

The next morning at eight o’clock we were within two miles of Cape Fleeming, the north-easternmost extremity of the island; and, bearing up along the north coast of Melville Island, passed close to Point Jahleel.  On a sandy beach to the westward of the last point two natives were walking, but they passed on without noticing our presence.  Eight miles to the South-West of Point Jahleel is Brenton Bay, which we had nearly passed before it was observed:  the vessel was brought to the wind.

May 14.

But it was the next morning before we succeeded in fetching into the opening.  It terminates in an inlet which probably runs some little distance into the interior of the island.  It is about five miles deep, but the depth is so trifling that we were prevented from running into it far enough to obtain shelter from the wind.  In the evening we anchored in a picturesque bay which, although open to the north, offers a tolerable shelter during the easterly monsoon:  the beach is sandy, but is probably shoal and of rocky approach.  The country appeared verdant, and the hills are thickly wooded; at the bottom of the bay a shoal opening trends in between two hills, over which, in the evening, seven natives were observed to cross in a canoe.  This was called Lethbridge Bay.  On the western side of the bay is a range of cliff like the pipe-clay cliff of Goulburn Island, the upper half being red, and the lower half white; and four miles off the west point of the bay are two patches of rocks on which the sea breaks; these were called the Madford Shoals.

May 15.

Twenty-five miles west from Lethbridge Bay is a projecting point from which the coast takes a north-westerly direction.  In passing a breaker that lies off the point our cook fell overboard, but the boat was quickly lowered and picked him up; for some time his life was despaired of, but a little attention, and the warmth of the sun’s heat, at last restored him.

On each side of the point which is formed behind Karslake Island is a bay; and at the bottom of each there appeared to be a shoal opening.  The coast is here higher than usual, and is thickly wooded; but the coastline to the northward is formed of high cliffs without much wood, and of a remarkable white colour.