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eing intermixed with much heath； much of the kind we have growing on our commons in England。 Of trees or shrubs here are divers sorts； but none above ten feet high； their bodies about three feet about； and five or six feet high before you come to the branches； which are bushy； and composed of small twigs there spreading abroad； though thick set and full of leaves； which were mostly long and narrow。 The colour of the leaves was on one side whitish； and on the other green； and the bark of the trees was generally of the same colour with the leaves； of a pale green。 Some of these trees were sweet…scented； and reddish within the bark； like sassafras； but redder。 Most of the trees and shrubs had at this time either blossoms or berries on them。 The blossoms of the different sorts of trees were of several colours； as red； white； yellow； etc。； but mostly blue； and these generally smelt very sweet and fragrant； as did some also of the rest。 There were also besides some plants； herbs； and tall flowers； some very small flowers growing on the ground； that were sweet and beautiful； and； for the most part； unlike any I had seen elsewhere。
There were but few land fowls。 We saw none but eagles of the larger sorts of birds； but five or six sorts of small birds。 The biggest sort of these were not bigger than larks； some no bigger than wrens； all singing with great variety of fine shrill notes； and we saw some of their nests with young ones in them。 The water…fowls are ducks （which had young ones now； this being the beginning of the spring in these parts）； curlews； galdens； crab…catchers； cormorants； gulls； pelicans； and some water…fowl； such as I have not seen anywhere besides。
The land animals that we saw here were only a sort of raccoons； different from those of the West Indies； chiefly as to their legs； for these have very short forelegs； but go jumping upon them as the others do （and like them are very good meat）； and a sort of guanos； of the same shape and size with other guanos described； but differing from them in three remarkable particulars； for these had a larger and uglier head； and had no tail； and at the rump； instead of the tail there； they had a stump of a tail； which appeared like another head； but not really such； being without mouth or eyes； yet this creature seemed by this means to have a head at each end； and； which may be reckoned a fourth difference； the legs also seemed all four of them to be fore…legs； being all alike in shape and length； and seeming by the joints and bending to be made as if they were to go indifferently either head or tail foremost。 They were speckled black and yellow like toads； and had scales or knobs on their backs like those of crocodiles； plated on to the skin； or stuck into it； as part of the skin。 They are very slow in motion； and when a man comes nigh them they will stand still and hiss； not endeavouring to get away。 Their livers are also spotted black and yellow； and the body； when opened； hath a very unsavoury smell。 I did never see such ugly creatures anywhere but here。 The guanos I have observed to be very good meat； and I have often eaten of them with pleasure； but though I have eaten of snakes； crocodiles； and alligators； and many creatures that look frightfully enough； and there are but few I should have been afraid to eat of if pressed by hunger； yet I think my stomach would scarce have served to venture upon these New Holland guanos； both the looks and the smell of them being so offensive。
The sea…fish that we saw here （for here was no river； land or pond of fresh water to be seen） are chiefly sharks。 There are abundance of them in this particular sound； that I therefore gave it the name of Shark's Bay。 Here are also skates； thornbacks； and other fish of the ray kind （one sort especially like the sea…devil）； and gar…fish； bonetas； etc。 Of shell…fish we got here mussels； periwinkles； limpets； oysters； both of the pearl kind and also eating oysters； as well the common sort as long oysters； besides cockles； etc。 The shore was lined thick with many other sorts of very strange and beautiful shells for variety of colour and shape； most finely spotted with red； black； or yellow； etc。； such as I have not seen anywhere but at this place。 I brought away a great many of them； but lost all except a very few； and those not of the best。
There are also some green turtle weighing about two hundred pounds。 Of these we caught two； which the water ebbing had left behind a ledge of rock which they could not creep over。 These served all my company two days； and they were indifferent sweet meat。 Of the sharks we caught a great many； which our men ate very savourily。 Among them we caught one which was eleven feet long。 The space between its two eyes was twenty inches； and eighteen inches from one corner of his mouth to the other。 Its maw was like a leather sack； very thick； and so tough that a sharp knife could scarce cut it； in which we found the head and bones of a hippopotamus； the hairy lips of which were still sound and not putrified； and the jaw was also firm； out of which we plucked a great many teeth； two of them eight inches long and as big as a man's thumb； small at one end； and a little crooked； the rest not above half so long。 The maw was full of jelly； which stank extremely。 However； I saved for awhile the teeth and the shark's jaw。 The flesh of it was divided among my men； and they took care that no waste should be made of it。
It was the 7th of August when we came into Shark's Bay； in which we anchored at three several places； and stayed at the first of them （on the west side of the bay） till the 11th； during which time we searched about； as I said； for fresh water； digging wells； but to no purpose。 However； we cut good store of firewood at this first anchoring…place； and my company were all here very well refreshed with raccoons； turtle； shark； and other fish； and some fowls； so that we were now all much brisker than when we came in hither。 Yet still I was for standing farther into the bay； partly because I had a mind to increase my stock of fresh water； which was begun to be low； and partly for the sake of discovering this part of the coast。 I was invited to go further by seeing from this anchoring…place all open before me； which therefore I designed to search before I left the bay。 So on the 11th about noon I steered further in； with an easy sail； because we had but shallow water。 We kept； therefore； good looking out for fear of shoals； sometimes shortening； sometimes deepening the water。 About two in the afternoon we saw the land ahead that makes the south of the bay； and before night we had again sholdings from that shore； and therefore shortened sail and stood off and on all night； under two topsails； continually sounding； having never more than ten fathom； and seldom less than seven。 The water deepened and sholdened so very gently； that in heaving the lead five or six times we should scarce have a foot difference。 When we came into seven fathom either way； we presently went about。 From this south part of the bay we could not see the land from whence we came in the afternoon； and this land we found to be an island of three or four leagues long； but