the Alligator rivers. These consist of three rivers lying close to each other, and falling into Van Diemen’s Gulf, in long. 132° 30' E. The south river, or middle one of these, is the most considerable, and navigable for vessels of 100 tons, to a distance of thirty-six miles from its mouth, where it assumes the same appearance as the Liverpool. The tide was found to ebb off from their banks, leaving a considerable space between high and low water marks. They seem to afford nothing of importance, and, as their names indicate, are rather a retreat for alligators than likely to prove of any beneficial purpose.
“Formal possession was taken of this part of the coast in 1824, by Captain Bremer, of H.M.S. Tamar. The ceremony was first performed at Port Essington; but from its not affording water, the settlers were removed to Melville Island, and the foundation of a town established oo the borders of Apsley Strait, which separates Bathurst from Melville Islands. We are indebted to Lieutenant Roe, the present surveyor-general of the settlement at Swan River, for a very useful survey of Port Cockburn, the harbour of the settlement. In this chart, which includes Apsley Strait, the entrance to Port Cockburn is very clearly defined, as well as the limits of the extensive flat, called the Mermaid’s shoal, extending to the west from Cape Van Diemen.
“The portion of coast lying between the meridians of 122° and 130° E. is contained in the next sheet of Captain King’s survey. This presents a far more interesting, and varied appearance, than the foregoing. Several portions of it are given in separate plans on a larger scale, the first of which is Cambridge Gulf. This is an inlet about sixty miles in depth, and eleven in width, terminating in a narrow creek, but entirely destitute of fresh water, and, like much of the preceding coast line, is incomplete in that particular. Vansittart Bay, Admiralty Gulf, and the Buccaneer’s Archipelago, form three distinct and separate portions of this chart. The latter of these was so named by Captain King, from its having been visited by Dampier in 1688, and Point Swan commemorates the name of his commander. In each of these charts there is much wanting in the coast line to complete them, and a considerable opening of fifteen miles in width remains entirely unexplored.
“The principal rivers of the north-west, and indeed of the whole coast of Australia, are found here. A very remarkable circumstance is presented in Prince Regent’s River, by its running in a strait line a distance of forty-nine miles between high precipitous cliffs. It was explored to this extent by Captain King, and amply repaid him the trouble by its magnificent scenery. The cliffs on each side rise to the height of three and four hundred feet, and a magnificent cascade was found on one of its banks, of a hundred and forty feet in height; the further examination of this river was abandoned for want of time. Roe’s river, and another falling into Port Warrender, are also considerable streams, which fall into the coast near Prince Regent’s river. To the south-west of this latter river, are some