cts; and the opening of _twelve miles wide_, seen near the same place
by Vlaming's two vessels, and in which they could find no anchorage,
strongly corroborated Dampier's supposition.

Later information had demonstrated, that the supposed strait could not
lead out into the Great Ocean, eastward, as the English navigator had
conjectured; but it was thought possible, that it might communicate with
the Gulph of Carpentaria, and even probable that a passage existed from
thence to the unknown part of the South Coast, beyond the Isles of St.
Francis and St. Peter.

But whether this opening were the entrance to a strait, separating Terra
Australis into two or more islands, or led into a mediterranean sea, as
some thought; or whether it were the entrance of a large river, there
was, in either case, a great geographical question to be settled,
relative to the parts behind Rosemary Island.

If Tasman's chart were defective at De Witt's Land, it was likely to be
so in other parts of the same coast; where there was no account, or
belief, that it had been examined by any other person further north than
the latitude 161/2 deg.. An investigation of the whole North-west Coast, with
its numerous islands and shoals, was, therefore, required, before it
could enter into the present improved systems of geography and
navigation.

The chart of the West Coast, as far south as Rottenest, was founded upon
much better authority; but for its formation from thence to Cape Leeuwin
there were no good documents. In this part, there was room even for
discovery; and the whole coast required to be laid down with more
accuracy than had been attainable by the Dutch navigators.

As to the soil and vegetable productions upon several points near the
sea, from Rottenest, northward to 161/2, there was tolerably good general
information; the inhabitants, also, had been seen; and, at one place,
communication with them had been obtained. The accounts did, certainly,
not give any flattering prospect, that much interesting knowledge was
likely to be acquired under these heads, unless a strait, or inland sea,
were found; but the accounts were not only confined as to place, but,
with the exception of Dampier's, were very imperfect; and the great
extent of the coasts, in the richest climates of the world, excited hopes
that a close investigation would not only be of advantage to natural
history, but would bring to light something useful in the mineral or
vegetable