On the east side of Cape Leeuwin the land falls back north-eastward three or four leagues, and afterwards curves to the south-east, forming a large bight which appeared to be wholly exposed to the southern winds.  The coast-line round the upper part of this bight was not distinguishable; but the hills at the back showed more of bare sand than of vegetable covering.  At ten o’clock a low, black projection, forming the eastern point of the bight, bore east three miles; and the depth was 15 fathoms upon a coarse sandy bottom.  We then veered round to the south-eastward, following the direction of the coast, with the wind at west-south-west and weather somewhat squally; and at noon, our situation and principal bearings were as follow: 

Latitude observed, 34 deg. 32 2/3’ S.
Longitude by time keepers, 115 30 E.
C. Leeuwin, furthest visible part, N. 55 W.
The low, black point, N. 4 W.
Furthest extreme of the coast ahead, S. 53 E.

The shore abreast was seven or eight miles distant; and behind it ran a continuation of the same ridge of sandy hillocks which surrounds the bight, and it extended to the southern extreme.  Over this ridge were perceived, here and there, the tops of some higher and less sandy hills, standing a few miles inland; but the general aspect of the country was that of great sterility; nor was there, as yet, any appearance of its being inhabited.

Soon after four we passed the noon’s extreme at the distance of four miles.  It is a steep, rocky cape, named in the French chart, Point D’Entrecasteaux; and is one of the most remarkable projections of this coast.  I make its latitude, from the bearings, to be 34 deg. 52’ south, and longitude by time keepers 116 deg. 1’ east.  A low rock lies two or three miles to the east-south-east, from the point, and a patch of breakers nearly the same distance from the south; and soon after passing the point, two other rocks, white and rather high, were seen lying from it five leagues to the south-east.  At a quarter past seven, when the night closed in

The two white rocks bore N. 20 deg.  E. Furthest extrem of the land, like a steep head, N. 71 deg.  E.

TUESDAY 8 DECEMBER 1801

The wind was then at south-west, and we stretched onward until one in the morning, before tacking to the north-west for the land.  At daylight the ship was found to have been carried to the eastward, and neither Point D’Entrecasteaux nor the two white rocks were in sight; but in the N. 19 deg.  E., about eight miles, was a head not far from the extreme set in the evening.  It afterwards proved to be a smooth, steep rock, lying one mile from the main; and is the land first made upon this coast by captain Vancouver, who called it Cape Chatham.  Its latitude is very nearly 35 deg. 3’ south, longitude 116 deg. 29’ east, and it was sketched by Mr. Westall.  (Atlas Plate XVII.  View 2.)