Meantime, however, the violence of the waves carried away the two vessels, and twenty-five of the crew were forced to spend several days on shore, unable to obtain any but brackish water. They could not succeed in killing any sort of game, and their only nourishment was a species of samphire, containing a quantity of carbonate of soda and acid juice. A sloop which had been driven on shore by the force of the waves had to be abandoned, together with guns, sabres, cartridges, cables, tackle, and many other valuable articles. "But the worst part of this last misfortune," says the narrative, "was the loss of Vasse, of Dieppe, one of the most able of the crew of the _Naturaliste_. Swept away by the waves three times in his efforts to re-embark, he was finally swallowed up without the possibility of assistance being rendered to him, or even the fact of his death being ascertained--so violent were the waves, and so dark the night!" The foul weather continued, the wind blew in hurricanes, fine rain fell uninterruptedly, and the _Naturaliste_ was lost to view in a thick fog which prevailed until Timor was reached. Upon reaching Rottnest Island--which he had named as a place of rendezvous to Captain Hamilton in case of separation--Baudin, to the surprise of every one, gave orders to make for Shark's Bay, upon the coast of Endracht Island. The coast of this part of New Holland is a succession of low and almost level sandy barren lands, with grey or reddish soil, intercepted here and there by slight ravines. The coast is almost perpendicular, and is protected by inaccessible reefs; it well deserves the name of "the iron coast," which was bestowed upon it by the able hydrographer, Boullanger. From Dirk Hartog Island (where Endracht Land commences), Doore Islands, Bernier Islands (where troops of kangaroos were met with), and Dampier roadstead, were successively sighted, as far as Shark's Bay, which was thoroughly explored. [Illustration: Native hut in Endracht Land. (Fac-simile of early engraving.)] Upon leaving Endracht Land, which offers no attractions, De Witt Land--extending from the North West Cape to Arnheim Land, over ten degrees of latitude and fifteen of longitude--was thoroughly surveyed. Much the same incidents and dangers were met with by the explorers as they successively named Hermit and Forester islands, the latter with volcanic soil. The Basseterre, in Geography channel--low lands, which were avoided with difficulty--with Bedont and Lacepede Islands, Capes Borda and Mollien, Champagny d'Arcole, Freycinet, Lucas, and other islands, were seen and named. "Amidst these numberless islands," says the narrative, "there was little to please the navigators. The sun shines unprotected by any clouds, and, except during the nocturnal storms, there is no movement even of the water. Man appears to have fled from this ungrateful soil, for no trace of his presence is to be seen."