We returned on board the ship at noon; but I deferred getting under way till next morning, on account of the wind blowing fresh, and some business to be executed which could not be attended to whilst among the reefs.  This gave an opportunity of making further observations by the time keepers, from which it appeared that they gave only 8’ 36.3” of longitude west from Upper Head, with the rates there found; whereas by the survey, we had made 12’ 37”.  The time keeper No. 520, taken alone, gave 11’ 35.8”; and when the correction, afterwards found necessary in the Gulph of Carpentaria, is applied, the difference becomes 12’ 41”, almost exactly as by survey.  The previous positions of the ship amongst the reefs, and wherever I had not any bearings of fixed points, have therefore been deduced from this time keeper.

The latitude of the anchorage, from observations to the north and south., was 20 deg. 45’ 28’ S.

Longitude from a chain of bearings, connected with the fixed station in Broad Sound, 149 deg. 34’ 12” E.

Variation of the theodolite, observed on the north-west beach of l2, 7 deg. 39’ east; but it differed on the north head of the island, from 7 deg. to 9 deg. 23’ east, in the space of a few yards.

The variation amongst the Barrier Reefs has not been mentioned; but five azimuths and amplitudes were taken between the 6th, p.m. and the 15th a.m.  When corrected to the meridian, the extremes were 7 deg. 53’ and 7 deg. 11’; and the mean, in latitude 20 deg. 44’, longitude 150 deg. 32’, will be 7 deg. 30’ east.

SUNDAY 17 OCTOBER 1802

At daylight on the 17th, the breeze was moderate at E. by N., with fine weather; and in steering northward, close to the wind, we passed three miles to leeward of a dry bank of rocks and sand.  Several of the Cumberland Islands were in sight at noon, when our situation and the most essential bearings were as under.

Latitude, observed to the north and south, 20 deg. 23’ 56”
Longitude from bearings, 149 331/4
Island l2, station on the north end, S. 5 E.
Other isles, large and small, from thence to N. 671/2 W.
Pentecost I. (of capt.  Cook), resembling a tower, S. 89 W.

No reefs were in sight, nor in steering N. N. E. and N. E. by N., could any be distinguished from the mast head all the afternoon.  At half past five we tacked and bore down to the brig; and then anchored in 31 fathoms, speckled sand and small stones, and sent a boat to lieutenant Murray with orders.