This rocky, sandy spot lies in latitude 25 deg. 17’.  It is much frequented by aquatic birds, particularly by that species whence it obtained the name of Curlew Islet; and since a small shield and three wooden spears were found there, it must also be visited occasionally by men.  The larger island, lying to the east, is richly covered with grass and wood.  Its position is nearly in the middle of the entrance to what may be called the upper bay; and as no deep channel past the island could be found on the west, I determined to try on the east side; having much difficulty in believing, that a piece of water six or seven miles in extent every way, should not have a channel into it sufficiently deep for the Norfolk.

The anchor was weighed soon after four o’clock, and several attempts made to get round the larger island; but being constantly repulsed by shoals, I was at length forced to relinquish the hope of penetrating further up Hervey’s Bay.  We then steered north-westward, to complete the examination of the west side down to the coast seen by captain Cook.

Aug. 7.  At daylight, a sloping hummock, in latitude 24 deg. 50’, bore W. 16 deg.  N., our distance off the shore under it being one mile and a half, and the depth 7 fathoms.  At nine, the water shoaled suddenly, and obliged us to haul off north-eastward.  The coast was then seen extending to the W. N. W., and having been laid down by captain Cook, the north-eastern course was continued for Break-sea Spit, and the examination of Hervey’s Bay concluded.

This inlet is about fifteen leagues across, from the sloping hummock to the eastern extremity of Sandy Cape, and nearly as much in depth.  The east side is formed by a great sandy peninsula, of which the cape is the northern extremity; but about half way up, there are several white cliffs, and others in the upper bay, which had the appearance of chalk.  The shores at the head and on the west side are more rocky than sandy.  The back land is low for some miles, and not ill covered with grass and wood; it then rises to hills of considerable elevation, amongst which Double Mount was most remarkable.  The smokes in different places bespoke the country to be inhabited in the scanty numbers usual on other parts of the east coast; but none of the people were seen.

Aug. 7, at ten in the evening, we passed the end of Break-sea Spit in 13 fathoms, and hauled up south-east; but the winds were so unfavourable, that on the 14th our latitude was no more than 29 deg. 19’.  I kept the land barely within sight, in order to obtain the greatest advantage from the southwardly current; for, contrary to captain Cook’s observation, it was found to be strongest at the distance of six, and from thence to twenty leagues.  Close in with the shore, more especially in the bights which fall within the general line of the coast, an eddy had been found setting to the northward.

Light northern winds favoured us for two days; but returning to the south-west, and sometimes blowing strong, it was the 20th in the evening before the sloop was secured in Port Jackson, although the current had set us 210 miles on the way.