Mount Adolphus, the flat top, S. 33 deg.  W.
Two rocks on its south side, S. 17 W.
Western York Isle, the north end, S. 69 W.
A low distant isle (from the mast head), S 1/2 E.

I purposed anchoring between the flat-topped island and the western isle; but several rocks being seen there, and the night coming on, we bore away to leeward of the rocks and came to in 13 fathoms, soon after seven o’clock.  The tide was setting to the westward, and so continued till half past nine, when it turned to the east, and ran till half past three in the morning [MONDAY 24 OCTOBER 1803]; if the rise by the shore corresponded with the stream, it was high water three hours and a half after the moon’s passage; which would be five hours later than at Murray’s Islands, and one hour earlier than it had appeared to be at those of the Prince of Wales (see Ch.  V, 1 November).  A fresh breeze from south-east raised a swell here, but the anchor held all night; and before getting under way next morning, I set the following bearings of the land.

Flat-topped I., distant three miles                 S. 42 deg. to 2 deg.  E.
Flat-topped I., centre of Mount Adolphus,                 S. 32  E.
C. York, outer of three islets near the E. extreme,       S.  2  E.
Western York I., distant 11/2 miles                   S. 18 to 88  W.
Northern double I., imperfectly from aloft,         N. W. by W.1/2 W.

On passing the north end of the western isle at seven o’clock, I took altitudes for the time keeper, and from thence deduced the longitude of Mount Adolphus to be 142 deg. 40’ east; we then hauled up for Cape York, with soundings between 14 and 10 fathoms, leaving on the starbord hand a rock which lies S. 78 deg.  W. five miles from the north end of the western isle.  At half past eight, two rocks close to the northern extremity of the Cape were distant four or five miles, the Prince of Wales’s Islands were coming in sight, and the following bearings were taken.

Western York Isle, north end, N. 70 deg.  E. C. York, north extreme, S. 58 E. C. York, hill at the north-west extreme, S. 11 W. Possession Isle, apparently, of capt.  Cook, S. 26 deg. to 33 W. Northern double Isle, centre, North.

On the largest of the Prince of Wales’ Islands was a hill forming something like two horns at the top; we steered a direct course for this hill, and perceived a bight or opening two miles to the south of it, by which the sea may probably have a communication with the water before observed within the great island.  From abreast of Horned Hill we followed the line of the shore northward, in soundings from 4 to 7 fathoms at one or two miles off; and soon after ten o’clock hauled west into the opening between this land and Wednesday Island, to pass through the middle of the group.  Our soundings were variable between 5 and 3 fathoms, until approaching Hammond’s Island; when there not appearing to be depth enough on its south side, I steered out northward, leaving a rock on the starbord hand within which there was only 2 fathoms.