Volume I Part 16 (2/2)
SHOAL SOUNDINGS
We anchored in the evening in 16 fathoms, the bank distant 3 1/2 miles in a South by East direction: half a mile nearer to it, we found only 4 fathoe 12 feet The flood strea to the South-South-West, and ended at South-east by East The ebb set West by North, and the utth of streah-water at 10 o'clock PM, and the streaed at the same time The tide was therefore two hours later here than in the entrance to King's Sound, from which it would appear that the tidal wave approaches this coast froht progress towards Port George the Fourth, during the forenoon; the water deepening to 20 and 30 fatho to the South-east frole Bank, which supplies another fact in support of the opinion I have before advanced, and which gives a north-westerly trend to these ledges The wind failing, and the ebb-tide drifting us again to the ard, in sight of Beagle Bank, the anchor was dropped 4 1/2 miles East by North of it, and in a depth of 12 fathoms, to which we had suddenly shoaled fros in an East by North direction froht ere able to make 17 miles, in an East by North direction, when a contrary tide, and an acco cal the run had varied from 35 to 39 fathorey colour A twilight star placed our position 17 s at daylight
April 7
The wind being still very light, ere compelled to wait for the flood-tide, which did not favour us till a quarter past six in theThe last direction of the ebb streae, in 18 fathoms, one mile fro down the sea-face of the Chaht to our recollection Captain Heywood, by whom this part of the Australian continent had been seen, and of whose earlier career a notice will be found in Sir John Barrow's interesting narrative of the Mutiny of the Bounty
TRAFALGAR AND WATERLOO
The soundings during the entire day, ranged from 27 to 30 fathoms, and the character of the bottom was similar to that last described Our observations for latitude did not verify our position by the chart, though all its bearings and distances appeared relatively correct The discrepancy may perhaps be ascribed to the effect of refraction, as ere prevented by the land fro on both horizons The hbourhood, were two hills, naar, and Mount Waterloo, to record in one heotten in the other: although assuredly the time will come when the peaceful triumphs of science and civilization, of which these nahly valued, and far ar e, resting longitudinally upon the horizon, with its point towards the south-east
A other memoranda for the improvement of the chart of this coast, it should be noted that the reef extending to the North-West from Jackson's peaked Island, appears to join the s near it in that direction, and to which, froave the name of The Brown Islands
THE BROWN ISLANDS
As there was every probability of the shi+p being detained in this neighbourhood for so for traces of Lieutenants Grey and Lushi+ngton's party, and as the examination of Collier Bay, where we still hoped to find an opening leading into the interior, would prevent the necessity of our return to this part of the coast, I applied to Captain Wickham, for permission to proceed with the thaleboats on that service A wound on the foot had in soree unfitted me for any very active duty, but I felt satisfied that the opportunity--perhaps the last I lected
BRECKNOCK HARBOUR
April 8
By daylight on the 8th, the boats had left the shi+p, and were standing to the southward a the islands Our party consisted of Mr Helph the eastern part of Port George the Fourth, we entered Roger Strait, which led into a large sheet of water, for a beautiful harbour; we landed to obtain a better view of it, on a small island at the southern entrance of this strait This islet looked truly inviting, being clothed with long rich grass, which to our cost we found concealed boulders of granite; this was the first time we met with this prihts it was evident ere in an old red sandstone region Strange to say the attraction on this island rendered our compasses quite useless; we noticed on its North-West side a portion of the wreck of a srove inlet in the South-East corner of this harbour, over which the land was low, forhts We now pushed on for an island lying in the entrance of the harbour, bearing West by North 6over this part (of e afterwards called Brecknock Harbour, as Captain King had named the entrance of it Caave a depth of 7 fathoms, over an even muddy bottom; but towards and in the entrance it increased to 13 fathoms
ENTRANCE ISLE
The islandlanded on, we called fro its steep southern side we had a very co of small islets bore north one mile; there extended 2 miles in a west direction, from the north point of the harbour; both these and Entrance Isle escaped Captain King's notice, owing to the distant view he had of this part of the coast A point bearing South-West distant 3 miles, was the extreme of theWe found the sandstone of this Island not of the sa it One boat was e the entrance of the harbour, which we found to be 2 miles across, and from 9 to 15 fathoms deep; thehalf a mile outside its points, with a clear channel nearly a mile wide, on either side of it
About a quarter of athe south side of this island, there is a singular needle-shaped rock, 20 feet high, e, which is covered at high-water As it no a fresh breeze from seaward, and the afternoon was far advanced, we spent the remainder of the day in a further examination of the entrance We werethe approach to this fine harbour quite free fro vessels of any size; there were no reefs or islets seaward of it to add to the anxiety of the navigator, or lessen the value of our discovery; the ireatly enhanced, should Lieutenants Grey and Lushi+ngton have the good fortune to discover any land fit for colonization in its neighbourhood Our labours here closed with observations for a boat rate, for the chronorees 27 1/4 minutes South on a sandy beach at the eastern side of Entrance Isle
SLATE ISLANDS
April 9
We rounded the extreme point to the South-West seen from Entrance Isle at sunrise; the rocks on this point were arranged quite in the form of a fort, froroup of islands now ca from Battery Point South-West by South about 4 ular formation They extended one mile North-West from a point of land; between the two bays, crossing theSlate Islands,a headland, na South by West 1/2 West distant 8separated froh land by a low neck
We passed a bay 2cove on its south-eastern side It was past noon and ere glad to see the stagnant calned around, dispelled by the seabreeze which now darkened the horizon Our course, during the afternoon was South by East along a low rocky coast, but as we had to contend with a three-knot tide, we did not get farther than a s South by East 9 miles from Point Hall, by the close of the day, which was the only spot we had seen the whole of the afternoon capable of affording shelter for the boats
FRESHWATER COVE
We were agreeably surprised to find a strea into the head of this cove, as the parched appearance of the low hills over it did not lead us to expect such good luck, in re, I hastened to the south point of the cove, to secure the necessary data for the chart, before the surrounding objects were veiled in darkness We again appeared to be in a sterile white sandstone region, where, with the exception of a few land birds, there was a total absence of aniumtrees common in this part, were not to be seen Our view to the southas very li; they consist of six s on an extensive coral flat, that we afterwards observed to be dry at loater, and which extended to a large low sandy island, lying six , in his distant view of this neighbourhood The eastern and largest of the Montgomery Isles stands on the extreh, and bore South-West by South 7 miles from this point of Freshwater Cove The latitude we obtained in the course of the night gave a result of 15 degrees 49 ht we continued pursuing our South by East course, following the saht rocky shore, as that of yesterday afternoon We passed inside a reef fronting the shore froe was about half athe flood-tide in our favour, we proceeded rapidly, and at the end of four ed to East-North-East for twoa chain of high rocky islets Deferring our exa about a mile in the rear of these islets, we kept on our South by East course, in the direction of soh land now seen for the first tiht us to a sles