PELSART GROUP.

On the south west point of the island the beams of a large vessel were discovered, and as the crew of the Zeewyk, lost in 1728, reported having seen the wreck of a ship on this part, there is little doubt that the remains were those of the Batavia, Commodore Pelsart, lost in 1627.  We in consequence named our temporary anchorage Batavia Road, and the whole group Pelsart Group.  It was the wreck of this Dutch ship that led to the discovery of this part of the continent of Australia, Commodore Pelsart himself having crossed over to it in a boat in search of water.

VISIT TO THE MAIN.

April 8.

In the afternoon we got underweigh, with a fresh south wind.  The low neck over which the boat was hauled, and which appeared like a gap from the offing, bearing west, led clear to the northward of the two fathom patch.  We steered across East by South 1/2 South for the main, losing sight of the island from the Beagle’s poop (height 15 feet) at the distance of five miles and a half.  Three miles further brought us in sight of the land, forming a high level range, with a knob or lump on its south extreme.  Some five or six miles to the south-east were seen isolated peaks, which we rightly supposed to be the Wizard Hills of Captain King, whilst the lump above spoken of proved to be Mount Fairfax, the level range being Moresby’s Flat-topped Range.  As we neared them the Menai Hills began to show themselves.

Our soundings, after leaving the island, deepened quickly to 30 and 35 fathoms.  Six miles from it the depth decreased to 23 fathoms.  We stood off and on during the night, the current setting North-North-West a mile an hour.  The space between the Abrolhos and the main bears the name of Geelvink Channel, after Vlaming’s ship, the first that ever passed through (A.D. 1680).

The chief object of the Beagle’s visit to the main was to ascertain the position of a good anchorage, before spoken of as reported at Swan River to be under the south-west end of Moresby’s Flat-topped Range.  The favourable account which Captain Grey had given of the country behind the range made the knowledge of a good anchorage in its neighbourhood of vast importance.  Captain King missed this portion of the coast by crossing over to the Abrolhos, which he places some five miles too much to the westward, the lowness of the island deceiving him, as indeed it at first did us.  The reef off the south-west end, however, he has rightly fixed.

April 9.

At daylight the ship was in 24 fathoms, fifteen miles from Wizard Hills, bearing South 70 degrees East.  As we neared the shore, steering North-East by North we saw a low point, running out west from the south end of Moresby’s Range, fronted by heavy breakers, particularly to the north-west.  Behind, the water was quite smooth, and promised a snug anchorage.  We passed round the reef in 13 1/2 fathoms, at the distance of a half, and three-quarters of a mile;