The rocky south head of Bustard Bay, from the survey between the preceding and following noons, should lie in 24 deg. 9’ south, and the time keepers placed it in 151 deg. 52’ east; or 5’ south and 10’ east of captain Cook’s situation; nor did the form of the Bay correspond to his chart.* The variation observed a few miles from the anchorage, was 8 deg. 20’ east, with the ship’s head N. W. by N., or 6 deg. 52’ reduced to the meridian; nearly as had been found in the morning, when it was 6 deg. 56’ corrected.  This is a full degree less than it was on the east side of Sandy Cape, and captain Cook’s observations show a still greater diminution.

[* The latitude 24 deg. 4’ was observed on board the Endeavour, at anchor here; by whom is uncertain, but it was not by captain Cook or Mr. Green.  In the Astronomical Observations of the voyage, p. 134, Mr. Wales, in deducing the position of Bustard Bay, takes no notice of this observation, and omits the latitude.]

TUESDAY 3 AUGUST 1802

At daylight we proceeded along the coast; but the wind being very light, were no more than abreast of the north head of Bustard Bay at noon; and the ship being drifted by the tide toward some rocks lying off the head, a boat went to sound amongst them for a passage; in the mean time an air sprung up at north; and having got the ship’s head to the eastward, we stretched off from the rocks.  This north head lies in latitude 24 deg. 0’, as laid down by captain Cook, and bears from the south head N. 44 deg.  W., twelve miles; it is moderately high, and behind it is a mass of hummocky, barren hills, which extend far to the westward.  A reef lies out as far as two miles from the north head; but within the outer rock above water our boat had 14 fathoms, and there was room for a ship to pass.

Not being able to weather the reef before dark, we worked to windward during the night; bearing down frequently to the Lady Nelson, to prevent separation.  At daylight [WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST 1802], the wind had shifted gradually round, from north to the south-westward; and at noon the north head of Bustard, Bay was brought to bear S. 16 deg.  E., four leagues, our latitude being then 23 deg. 48’, and longitude 151 deg. 40’.  A low island was seen from the mast head, bearing north at the supposed distance of six leagues, of which captain Cook does not make any mention;* and the furthest visible part of the main land was a conspicuous hill, named Mount Larcom, in compliment to captain Larcom of the navy.  It bore W. 1/2 deg.  N., ten or eleven leagues; but the coast line between it and the north head of Bustard Bay, seemed to be much broken.

[* A cluster of low islands, about fifteen leagues from the coast, was seen in the following year by Mr. Bunker, commander of the Albion, south whaler.  He described the cluster to be of considerable extent, and as lying in latitude 233/4 deg., and longitude about 1521/2 deg.; or nearly a degree to the eastward of the low isle above mentioned.  It is probably to these islands, whose existence captain Cook suspected, that the great flights of boobies he saw in Hervey’s Bay retire at night.]