The latitude of Finch’s Island, from a meridian observation to the north and south, is 14 deg. 43’ 31” S.

Longitude from six sets of distances of the sun east of the moon, taken by myself, 136 deg. 38’ 47”, and from twelve sets by lieutenant Flinders (see Table V. of Appendix No.  I), 136 deg. 23’ 38”; but there being no observations of the moon at Greenwich within two or three days, the longitude from survey and the position of Caledon Bay afterwards fixed, is preferred, and is 136 deg. 36’ 53” E.

Dip of the south end of the needle, 39 deg. 22’.

Variation of the theodolite, 3 deg. 6’ east.

The variations of the surveying compass, from amplitudes taken near different parts of Groote Eylandt during the circumnavigation, were these:—­

Near the main, opp. the S.W.  Pt., head E. by S., 0 deg. 43’, cor. 2 deg. 44’ E.
Near the south-west point, S. E., 1 9 , cor. 2 36
Off the east side, N. E. by N., 2 57 , cor. 4 4
Near the north-east isles., N. W. by W., 3 33 , cor. 1 58
Off the north end, S. W. by W., 5 51 , cor. 4 14

Whether the small variation near the north-east isles arose from any peculiar attraction, or from some oversight in taking the amplitude, I cannot determine; if from the latter, it would appear that the variation is a degree and a half less on the south-west, than on the east and north sides of Groote Eylandt.

Scarcely any run of tide was perceptible in North-west Bay, nor did the rise appear to exceed four or five feet at any part of the island, though it runs with some strength off the projecting points.  The irregularity in different places was such, that the time of high water could not be ascertained; but I think there is only one full tide in the day, and that the flood comes from the northward.

MONDAY 17 JANUARY 1803

Early on the 17th we worked out of the bay, and stretched off to sea with a W. N. W. wind; at noon the latitude was 13 deg. 27’ 10”, and the furthest extreme of Chasm Island bore S. 26 deg.  W. After a calm in the afternoon, the sea breeze came in, and we steered south-westward till nine o’clock; when a bower anchor was let go in 14 fathoms, two or three miles from the north end of Winchilsea Island.  In the morning [TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 1803] we lay up south-west, on the starbord tack, and weathered the island, leaving a rock one mile and a half on the other side.  I wished, by a good bearing of Connexion Island, to join the survey completely round Groote Eylandt; and at nine o’clock it was set at S. 271/2 deg. to 47 deg.  W., two leagues.  The wind then came ahead, and we tacked towards two small isles, where the anchor was dropped at ten, one mile and a half from their south side, in 16 fathoms, sand and shells.  Our latitude here was 13 deg. 43’