Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/114

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60 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL ?sls. These dangerous reefs were named Rowley's ?!? ?6. Shoals, in compliment to the discoverer of the westernmost, (the Imperieuse) the situation of which is assigned by me to be 13' 30" to the east- ward of Captain'Rowley's account: the middle shoal, seen by us last evening, is certainly the one that Captain Clerke saw; but the third or north-eastemmost, distinguished by the Met, maid's name, seems to be a new discovery. On the north' end of the Imperieuse shoal, rocks were distinguishable, and some were also seen near its centre above the level of the sea: all other parts were under water. On the middlemost shoal no rocks were uncovered; but on the south-east end of the Mermaid's Shoal, several were observed. These reefs are of a coral formation, and are very dangerous to ap- proach at night, from their vicinity being ?mfa- thomable to the depth of 170 fathoms; still, how- ever, the surf that constantly breaks upon them may be heard at a great distance, and wilt generally be sufficient to warn the navigator of his danger. 23. On ?he 9-3d we passed the meridian of Cape Van Diemen, in latitude 10 �. The same evening some land was indistinctly seen bearing ?. South. The ensuing daylight discovered to us several islands in the S.S.E., having previously