Latitude, observed to the north and south,               85 deg.  7’  5”. 
Longitude by time keepers,                              116  50. 
Point Nuyts, with Cape Chatham behind,                N. 75 W.
Steep point, near the smoke,                          N. 15 W.
Furthest visible extreme ahead,                       N. 84 E.

Soon after two o’clock we passed at the distance of five miles from a steep point which has a broad rock lying near it.  This point, being unnamed and somewhat remarkable, I call Point Hillier; it lies in 35 deg. 4’ south and 117 deg. 9’ east.  The coast extends from thence nearly east-by-south, without any considerable projection except at the furthest extreme then visible; and on coming up with it, at half-past five, it proved to be the Cape Howe of Vancouver.  There is another Cape Howe upon this same coast, named by Captain Cook, which makes it necessary to distinguish this by a descriptive adjunct, and I shall therefore call it West Cape Howe.  The situation of this projecting cliffy cape is in 35 deg. 81/2’ south and 117 deg. 40’ east.  Beyond it the land trends north-by-east, four miles, into a sandy bight, in which there is a small islet; and further along the shore, which then stretches eastward and again becomes cliffy, there are two others.  When the cape bore N. 10 deg.  W. four miles, the highest of the Eclipse Isles was in sight, bearing E. 4 deg.  N.; but “the small detached islet,” which Captain Vancouver says (Vol.  I p. 32) “lies from Cape Howe S. 68 deg.  E., three leagues,” could not be seen; though it should have lain nearly in our track.*

[* This islet, seen by Captain Vancouver in the evening, must have been the highest of the Eclipse Isles; but from the apparent difference of its situation, was thought not to be the same on the following morning.  The change in the variation of the compass, which had taken place on altering the direction of the ship’s head, seems to have been the cause of this apparent difference.]

[SOUTH COAST. KING GEORGE’S SOUND.]

(Atlas Plate XVII.  View 3.)

The wind blew fresh at this time, and a current of more than one mile an hour ran with us, so that, by carrying all sail, I hoped to get sight of King George’s Sound before dark.  At seven we passed close on the south side of the Eclipse Isles; but Bald Head at the entrance of the sound had so different an appearance from what I had been led to expect, being a slope in this point of view, that the steep east end of Break-sea Island was at first taken for it.  The error was fortunately perceived in time; and at eight o’clock we hauled up round the head, with the wind at west, and made a stretch into the sound.  It was then dark; but the night being fine, I did not hesitate to work up by the guidance of captain Vancouver’s chart; and having reached nearly into a line between Seal Island and the first beach round Bald Head, we anchored at eleven o’clock in 8 fathoms, sandy bottom.