From appearances on the shore, I judged the rise of tide to be about six feet.  The flood came from the east-north-east, twice in the day, and by the swinging of the ship, ceased at two hours and a half after the moon’s passage; but the time of high water was afterwards found to be later by one hour and a half.

CHAPTER VIII.

Departure from Kangaroo Island. 
Examination of the main coast, from Cape Spencer eastward. 
The Investigator’s Strait. 
A new gulph discovered.  Anchorage at, and examination of the head. 
Remarks on the surrounding land. 
Return down the gulph. 
Troubridge Shoal. 
Yorke’s Peninsula. 
Return to Kangaroo Island. 
Boat expedition to Pelican Lagoon. 
Astronomical observations. 
Kangaroo Island quitted. 
Back-stairs Passage. 
The coast from Cape Jervis, eastward. 
Meeting, and communication with Le Geographe. 
Remarks upon the French discoveries on the South Coast.

[SOUTH COAST. INVESTIGATOR’S STRAIT.]

WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH 1802

March 24 in the morning, we got under way from Kangaroo Island in order to take up the examination of the main coast at Cape Spencer, where it had been quitted in the evening of the 20th, when the late gale commenced.  The wind had continued to blow fresh from the southward, but had now moderated, and was at south-west.  We steered north-westward from ten o’clock till six in the evening, and then had sight of land extending from N. 62 deg.  W. to a low part terminating at N. 17 deg.  E. distant three leagues.  A hummock upon this low part was named Troubridge Hill, and at first it makes like an island.  Nothing was visible to the eastward of the low land; whence I judged there to be another inlet or a strait between it and Cape Jervis.  Soon after dusk the wind veered to south-by-east, on which we steered south-westward, and continued the same course until four in the morning [THURSDAY 25 MARCH 1802]; when the largest Althorp Isle being seen to the north-west, the ship was hove to, with her head eastward; and at daylight, before making sail, the following bearings were taken of the lands to the northward, but no part of Kangaroo Island was visible.

Wedge I. (of Gambier’s Isles), highest part,      N. 641/2 deg.  W.
Althorpe Isle, largest, distant 6 miles,   N. 83 deg. to 78   W.
Cape Spencer, south point,                        N. 44   W.
Furthest extreme of the northern land,            N. 44   E.

The wind fixed itself at south-east, and it took us two days to work back against it as far as Troubridge Hill [SATURDAY 27 MARCH 1802].  The shore is generally low and sandy; but with the exception of one very low point, it may be approached within two miles.  Many tacks were made in these two days from the northern land across to Kangaroo Island, and gave opportunities