WEDNESDAY 19 JANUARY 1803

In the morning we had a north-east wind, and after passing round a shoal which runs one or two miles from the south-west end of the Bustard Isles, hauled up to weather Bickerton’s Island; but owing to a tide setting to leeward it was not accomplished before two in the afternoon.  Soon after three we got to anchor one mile from the south side of Burney’s Island, in 41/2 fathoms, mud and shells; and I went on shore with the botanists.

This island is moderately high, rocky, and barren, yet thickly covered with the eucalyptus and casuarina.  From the highest rock on the south-east side, I took bearings of the objects in sight; and amongst them set

Wedge Rock, the north extreme, at N. 83 deg. 50’ E.
Chasm Island, north extreme, S. 79 55 E.
Pandanus Hill, the last station, S. 53 5 E.

I afterwards got through the wood, intending to set the objects lying to the north and westward; but no clear place could be found for placing the theodolite.  A small bay was observed on the north-west side of the island, which might be convenient for boats; and from the steep declivity of the land round it, there seemed a probability that fresh water might be procured at this season.  The stone of this island is the same as that of the Bustard Isles; and the Indians had visited both.  A set of azimuths, observed at the same station whence the bearings were taken, gave variation 2 deg. 50’ east; but on board the ship, with the head N. E. by E., Mr. Flinders observed 0 deg. 23’ east, with three compasses, which would be 2 deg. 0’ corrected; whence it should seem, that the stone of the island had some attraction on the south end of the needle.

[NORTH COAST. BLUE-MUD BAY.]

THURSDAY 20 JANUARY 1803

In the morning, we steered S. W. to take up the survey of the main coast at Cape Barrow, between which and Isle Woodah was an opening where no land was visible; but meeting with shoal water, and the wind being light, a stream anchor was dropped until the boat had time to sound.  On her return, we steered for the north side of the opening, with a depth which increased from 4 fathoms to 17 off the south end of Woodah.  A higher island, two or three miles long, then showed itself to the N. N. W.; and on the water shoaling to 31/2 fathoms, the anchor was dropped at four in the afternoon, one mile and a half from its south side, on a bottom of blue mud.  The main land was in sight to the westward, forming a large bay with Isle Woodah, and Bickerton’s Island covered the entrance, so that the ship was in complete shelter.

On landing with the botanical gentlemen, I ascended a hummock at the east end of the island, where alone the view was not impeded by wood.  Many of my former fixed points were visible from thence, and the main land was traced round to the northward, to a hill named Mount Grindall, near which was another round hill upon an island; and behind them the main extended eastward, nearly as far as over the middle of Isle Woodah.  Amongst the numerous bearings taken from this eastern hummock, the following six were most essential to the survey.