d stood in towards the shore. When we had approached the land
about four miles to the north of the Gascoyne a party of natives came
down, without their spears, in the most friendly manner, making signs to
us to land. We had however but little time to spare, and could not afford
to give them any provisions: knowing also the small dependence that can
be placed upon them in a first interview, I thought it most prudent to
decline their invitation.

COMPLETE OUR WATER.

We accordingly continued our route and in the course of the evening made
the river, where we completed our water, and halted for the night. We saw
nothing more of the natives here, but I feel convinced that in the event
of a settlement being formed at this point no difficulty would be found
in establishing and maintaining the most friendly relations with them.

ANCHOR TO THE NORTH OF THE GASCOYNE.

March 24.

The morning did not promise very well, but soon after sunrise the wind
shifted so much to the westward that we were able to run along shore, and
in the course of the day we made altogether about forty-five miles,
tracing the greater part of the remaining unknown portion of the shores
of Shark Bay. On leaving the Gascoyne, a low point bore due south of us,
distant about twelve miles, which I named Point Greenough after George
Bellas Greenough, Esquire, the president of the Royal Geographical
Society; and between this point and the river lay a deep bay, the shores
of which were low and thickly studded with mangroves, through which many
saltwater creeks ran up into the country. Two of these creeks I had
examined on a previous occasion, and therefore now paid no attention to
them.

EXAMINE THE COAST TO THE SOUTHWARD. ITS CHARACTER.

After passing Point Greenough the shore trended south by east and for the
next eight miles preserved its low character, being still thickly wooded
with mangroves; but at this point a remarkable change takes place as the
mangroves suddenly cease, and the low range of hills which extends
southward along the coast parallel to the shore increases a little in
height. In about another mile the mangroves again commence, the coast now
trending south-east; and about five miles further it runs south-east by
east, forming a bay about four miles deep, the bottom of which is
tolerably clear of mangroves.

CONTINUE OUR COURSE TO THE SOUTHWARD.

Having crossed this bay we ran south-east by south parallel to the shore;
the mangroves n