On Thursday morning the master was sent to examine the north side of the harbour for water and wood; and we got the ship under way to beat up to the entrance, the wind blowing still from the westward.  At eleven o’clock the anchor was dropped in 6 fathoms half a mile from Point Possession; and as I was doubtful of the master’s success, I went in a boat, accompanied by lieutenant Flinders, to examine Oyster Harbour.  We carried 7 and 6 fathoms from the ship towards the entrance until Michaelmas and Break-sea Islands were closing on with each other; after which the depth diminished to 5, 4, 3, and 23/4 fathoms.  On hauling westward we got into six feet; but steering the other way, it deepened to seventeen, the east side of the opening behind then in a line with the middle of some high, flat-topped land, at the back of the harbour.  Keeping in that direction, we carried 3, 4, and 5 fathoms; and had 6 in the narrowest part of the entrance.  Within side the deep water turned on the starboard hand, but in many parts there was not more than 3 fathoms.

As I proposed to make a new survey of King George’s Sound, we landed to take a set of angles upon the small central island; the same which captain Vancouver describes (Vol.  I. page 35), as covered with luxuriant grass and other vegetables, and where he planted vine cuttings, water-cresses, and the seeds of various fruits.  There were no remains of these valuable gifts, although nothing indicated the island to have been visited since his time; and, to our disappointment, the vegetation upon it now consisted of tufts of wiry grass and a few stunted shrubs, supported by a thin layer of sandy soil, which was every where perforated with rat-holes.

From the island we rowed in various directions, sounding the harbour; but the boat could seldom approach the shore within a cable’s length, or the eighth part of a mile.  On the south-west side there were two small streams, in one of which the water was fresh, though high-coloured.  Returning to the entrance, we landed on the east side, and found a spot of ground six or eight feet square, dug up and trimmed like a garden; and upon it was lying a piece of sheet copper, bearing this inscription:  “August 27, 1800.  Chr.  Dixson—­ship Elligood”; which solved the difficulty of the felled trees and the disappearance of captain Vancouver’s bottle.  On digging in this place I found that fresh water of a high colour, but well tasted, might be obtained; wood was abundant, and the depth of the entrance admitted of the ship being made fast to the shore; so that this was a situation adapted to our purpose of refitment, provided the ship could be got over the bar.  This point I was desirous to ascertain in my way on board, but the strength of the wind prevented it.