At three in the afternoon of the 31st we reached in again with the coast, about four leagues beyond our situation on the preceding day.  The depth at two miles off shore was 7 fathoms on a coral bottom; the northern extreme bore N. 58 deg.  W., and a low point on the other side, named Point Bell, S. 45 deg.  E., seven miles.  To seaward, a flat rock bore W. 3 deg.  S., one mile and a half; it is the largest of four which were called Sinclair’s Rocks, and lie scattered at the distance of two or three miles off the coast.  We stood off at this time; but so little could be gained upon the south-east winds that when we came in next morning [MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 1802] it was almost exactly in the same spot, and Point Bell was not passed until late in the afternoon; the weather, also, was adverse to the examination, being so hazy that the highest land could not be seen beyond three or four leagues.

At half-past six in the evening, when we tacked to stand off for the night, Point Bell bore N. 68 deg.  W. four miles.  It lies in 32 deg. 161/2’ south and 133 deg. 5’ east; and there is a broad, flat rock, surrounded with breakers, one mile to the westward.  The main coast beyond the point forms some bights, and is divided betwixt sand and rock, as before described:  its general trending is nearly east.  A small island, somewhat elevated, lies six miles to the south-east of Point Bell, and has a ledge of rocks and islets extending from it a league to the north-eastward, and a separate islet one or two miles to the east:  these obtained the name of Purdie’s Isles.  After we had tacked in 9 fathoms, a wave was perceived to break upon a sunken rock within less than half a mile of the ship; and I think it would be dangerous to pass between Point Bell and Purdie’s Isles.

TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 1802

At noon of the 2nd February no land was in sight.  The weather was still hazy, and the wind at south-east; but in the afternoon it favoured us two points, and we got sight of a higher and larger island than any before seen on this part of the coast.  At half-past four, being then near a smaller isle and several rocks, we tacked towards the large island which was six or seven miles to the southward; and soon after eight in the evening got to an anchor in a little sandy bay on its north side.  The depth was 6 fathoms in passing the north-west point of the bay, but 10 within side, on a fine sandy bottom, where the anchor was dropped.  At daylight [WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 1802] we found ourselves hall a mile from the shore, and the extremes bearing from N. 32 deg.  W., round by the west and south, to S. 77 deg.  E.; and at the distance of two miles we were sheltered by four small islands, extending from N. 41 deg. to 88 deg.  E. The master was sent to sound in the bay; but the bottom was everywhere good, and nothing found to injure the cables.  The scientific gentlemen landed upon their respective pursuits; and I followed them to take angles for my survey, and see what could be procured for the ship’s company.