For a ship wanting to take in water and pine logs, the most convenient place is under Entrance Island, where we lay in the Investigator; indeed fresh water was not found in any other place; but this anchorage is not tenable against a strong south-east wind.  At the entrance of the southern arm, just within Cape Clinton, a ship may lie at all times in perfect safety; and might either be laid on shore or be hove down, there being 3 fathoms close to the rocks, at each end of the beach; it is moreover probable, that fresh water might be there found, or be procured by digging at the foot of the hills.  In the southern arm the bottom is muddy; but it is of sand in other parts of the port.

Of the country round Port Bowen not much can be said in praise; it is in general either sandy or stony, and unfit for cultivation; nevertheless, besides pines, there are trees, principally eucalyptus, of moderate size, and the vallies of Cape Clinton are overspread with a tolerably good grass.  No inhabitants were seen, but in every part where I landed, fires had been made, and the woods of Cape Clinton were then burning; the natives had also been upon Entrance Island, which implied them to have canoes, although none were seen.  There are kangaroos in the woods; hawks, and the bald-headed mocking bird of Port Jackson are common; and ducks, sea-pies, and gulls frequent the shoals at low water.  Fish were more abundant here than in any port before visited; those taken in the seine at the watering beach were principally mullet, but sharks and flying fish were numerous.

The latitude of the north-west end of Entrance Island, from an observation taken by lieutenant Flinders in an artificial horizon, is 22 deg. 28’ 28” south.

Longitude from twelve sets of lunar distances by the same officer, 150 deg. 47’ 54”; and by the time keepers, 150 deg. 45’ 36”; but from the fifty sets which fix Broad Sound, and the reduction from thence by survey, the more correct situation will be 150 deg. 45’ 0” east.

Dip of the south end of the needle, 50 deg. 20’.

Variation from azimuths with the theodolite, 7 deg. 40’ east; but on the top of the island, where my bearings were taken, the variation appeared to be 8 deg. 30’ east; and 8 deg. in other parts of the port.

The time of high water, as near as it could be ascertained, was ten hours after the moon’s passage over and under the meridian, being half an hour later than in Keppel Bay; and the tide rises more than nine feet, but how much was not known; it is however to be presumed, from what was observed to the south and to the north of Port Bowen, that the spring tides do not rise less than fifteen feet.

TUESDAY 24 AUGUST 1802