Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia eBook

Philip Parker King
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 567 pages of information about Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia.

Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia eBook

Philip Parker King
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 567 pages of information about Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia.

The interval between Cape Latouche-Treville and Depuch Island, was not seen by us.  The following brief description of it is taken from M. De Freycinet’s account of Commodore Baudin’s voyage.

LAGRANGE BAY, to the east of Cape Bossut, is a bight, the bottom of which was not seen.  CAPE BOSSUT is low and sandy, as well as the neighbouring land; and, with the exception of a small grove of trees a little to the north of Cape Duhamel, the country is sterile everywhere.

The CASUARINA REEF is a bank of sand and rocks, parts of which are dry, on which the sea occasionally breaks.  The channel between it and the shore is narrow and shoal, the depth being two and a half fathoms.  The dry part of the reef extends from east to west for about two miles.

Between CAPES DUHAMEL and MISSIESSY, the coast is sandy and sterile, with rocky projections:  GEOFFROY and DESAULT BAYS are of the same character.

With the exception of two intervals, one of which is to the west of Cape Missiessy, and the other to the east of the Bancs des Planaires, the French saw the coast between Capes Missiessy and Keraudren, but at a great distance.  It appeared low and sterile.

The BANCS DES PLANAIRES appeared to have a considerable longitudinal extent; it was not ascertained whether they joined the mainland:  some parts seemed to be dry at low water.

There is a bank with only fourteen feet water over it, situated nearly North-East from Cape Keraudren in 19 degrees 41 minutes latitude.

North, a little westerly, from CAPE LARREY, between which and Cape Keraudren there is a bay with an island (POISSONNIER) in the entrance, is BEDOUT ISLAND.  It is in latitude 19 degrees 29 minutes, longitude 116 degrees 32 minutes, East of Paris, or 118 degrees 52 minutes East of Greenwich.  It is low and sandy.

The BANC DES AMPHINOMES is very extensive, and appeared to be connected with the main; it is composed of coral, rocks, and sand.

The coast to the South-West of Cape Larrey is, as well as the Cape itself, of a remarkable red colour.  The country appeared to be sterile.

TURTLE ISLANDS, two in number, lie West-North-West from Cape Larrey:  the south-westernmost is merely a flat sandy islet (PLATEAU DE SABLE) the other is surrounded by a reef of coral, upon which the sea breaks.  The Casuarina (M.  De Freycinet’s vessel) had nine fathoms within half a mile of it; the reef appeared to be steep, and the island to afford a landing in fine weather.

The land is equally low and sandy as far as CAPE THOUIN and CAPE COSSIGNY.

The GEOGRAPHE REEFS extend for more than twelve miles, and perhaps are joined to the land.  Their southern parts dry at low water.  The Geographe sailed through them, so that it is probable they are detached in numerous reefs.

At FORESTIER ISLANDS we saw the coast again.  The main is here very low, but from the shoalness of the water we were not able to penetrate behind Depuch Island.  It is very uncertain whether the coastline that is laid down upon the chart is correct:  it was scarcely visible from the deck, and was so low that it might have merely been the dry parts of extensive reefs.  The high land retires for fifteen or twenty miles, and forms an amphitheatre or deep bay, with some hills of considerable elevation in the distance.

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Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.