On arriving abreast of the peaked hill above-mentioned, a considerable shoal, connected with the mainland, appeared to separate us from it; in crossing it we had three fathoms, and as soon as we passed over it the water deepened instantly to thirteen fathoms.  We then bore up and steered through the channel between the islands and the main, which was both narrow and deep towards Channel Point; close to which we had sixteen fathoms, and then hauled up round Peron’s South Island.

The land from Channel Point trends to the South-South-East, and forms a tolerably deep bight of low, sandy land, terminated by Cliff Head, a high rocky projection well furnished with trees.  In this bay there is probably an opening, but it is small and lined with mangroves.  After passing Channel Point the depth rapidly decreased, and as we crossed a shoal which runs off from the south-east end of Peron’s South Island and extends deeply into the bay, we carried from two and three-quarters to three and a half fathoms.  On clearing it we steered South-South-West, and after dark anchored in five fathoms, mud, Cliff Head bearing South 71 degrees East (Magnetic.)

The bay between the two projections received the name of Anson Bay, after the noble family of that name.  During the night we had a remarkable copious fall of dew.

September 3.

The next day at eleven o’clock we were off Cape Ford:  from this cape the coast trends in a South 48 degrees West direction for five miles to a low projecting point, near the extremity of which a clump of trees, remarkable for their rounded form and singular appearance, was conspicuous:  hence it extends South 5 1/2 degrees West to a distant point; the intervening coast being of moderate height and thickly wooded to the brink of a range of dark red cliffs, two miles in length, rising immediately from the beach; upon which eight natives and a child were observed watching our movements.  Our course was held parallel with the shore at about three miles distance.  At sunset we tacked off for the night; and the south extreme at dark bore South by West 1/2 West.

The sea hereabout abounds with fish of various sorts, upon which several sharks were feeding most rapaciously.  From midnight to daybreak the weather was fine with scarcely a breath of wind; afterwards a light land breeze set in; which at noon was succeeded by the usual sea breeze from the west.

September 4.

At noon the next day our latitude was 13 degrees 33 minutes 41 seconds South.  At five o’clock we passed a point (Cape Dombey) off which there is a reef of rocks of circular shape, and of small extent:  to the southward of it the coast forms a bay, lined with mangroves, in which there is a small opening; but the breeze was then too fresh to allow of our venturing into it to examine it more closely.  At eight o’clock we anchored off a projecting point which appeared to form the eastern head of a deep opening:  this projection, on account of a remarkable tree standing above the bushes near to its extremity, was called Tree Point.