From my station on the western hills of the new inlet, across to Spencer’s Gulph, the distance was not more than thirty miles; but as I did not ascend the highest part of the range, the water to the westward could not be seen.  Had the Hummock Mount been within my reach, its elevation of near fifteen hundred feet would probably have afforded an extensive view, both across the peninsula and of the country to the northward.

[SOUTH COAST. GULPH OF ST. VINCENT.]

In honour of the noble admiral who presided at the Board of Admiralty when I sailed from England, and had continued to the voyage that countenance and protection of which Earl Spencer had set the example, I named this new inlet the GULPH OF ST. VINCENT.  To the peninsula which separates it from Spencer’s Gulph I have affixed the name of YORKE’S PENINSULA, in honour of the Right Honourable Charles Philip Yorke, who followed the steps of his above-mentioned predecessors at the Admiralty.

WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH 1802

On the 31st at daylight we got under way to proceed down the gulph, and having followed the eastern shore in going up, I wished to trace the coast of the peninsula in returning; but the wind being nearly at south, it could only be done partially.  At two in the afternoon we tacked in 3 fathoms from the eastern shoals, and at sunset in the same depth one mile from the western side; our distance from the head of the gulph being then about ten leagues, and the furthest land of the peninsula bearing S. 3 deg.  E. The western hills come down nearly to the water-side here, and have the same pleasant appearance as at the head of the gulph, being grassy, with clumps of wood scattered over them; the coast-line is somewhat cliffy, and not so low as the eastern shore.

THURSDAY 1 APRIL 1802

During the night the wind veered round to east, and at three in the morning to north-east; and a fire being seen on the eastern shore, the fore top sail was laid to the mast.  At daybreak we made sail west for the land of the peninsula; and at half-past nine it was less than five miles distant, being very low and sandy.  The northern extreme then in sight appeared to be the same land set in the evening at S. 3 deg.  E.; the other extreme was not far from Troubridge Hill, on the west side of the entrance to the gulph; and near it was an extensive bank, part of it dry, which I called Troubridge Shoal.  The bearings taken at this time were,

Northern extreme of the west shore, N. 2 deg.  E.
Southern extreme, distant 7 miles, S. 42 W.
Troubridge Shoal, dry part S. 13 deg.  W. to 9 E.
Cape Jervis, S. extreme of high land, S. 18 E.
Mount Lofty, N. 85 E.

We now hauled the wind to the south-east, and weathered the dry part of Troubridge Shoal; but passed amongst several patches of discoloured water in soundings from 4 to 31/2 fathoms.  At noon, when our latitude observed on both sides was 35 deg. 9’ 38” and longitude by time keepers 138 deg. 41/2’, the shoal was distant three leagues to the west-north-west; Cape Jervis bore S. 12 deg., and Mount Lofty N. 72 deg.  E.