[* Mr. Wales deduces from captain Cook’s observations in the Endeavour, that the error of his chart here, is 35’ west (Astron.  Observations, p. 131).]

Wednesday I., distant 11/2 to 3 miles, S. 89 deg.  E. to 21 deg.  W.
Hammond’s Isle, dist. 4 or 5 miles, S. 52 W. to 71 W.
Hawkesbury I. (of Edwards), highest part, N. 52 W.
Mount Augustus (of Bligh), N. 2 W.
A small isle, distant three leagues, N. 24 E.
Mount Ernest, peak, N. 36 E.
Double Isle, passed at 2 p.m., N. 701/2 E.
Breakers on a reef, distant 31/2 miles, N. 64 to 30 W.

[MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER 1802]

This evening and all the next day, the wind blew so strong that it was impossible to land; nor did I think it prudent to quit the anchorage, though anxious to commence the survey of the Gulph of Carpentaria.  Upon Hammond’s Island some fires were seen; but Wednesday Island showed no signs of being inhabited, unless some whitish, conical figures like sentry boxes, were huts; there were bushes and small trees scattered over both islands, but their general appearance was rocky and barren.

The tide here ran nine hours to the westward, at the strongest two-and-half knots; and three hours north-eastward, but scarcely perceptible; which deviation from the regular order was probably caused by the current setting westward.  So far as the soundings taken every hour could ascertain the rise, it was at least two fathoms, and high water took place four or five hours after the moon’s passage over and under the meridian, and was completed by the three hours tide.  According to this, it would be high water here, and low water at Murray’s Islands at the same time, which would present a remarkable analogy between this strait and that of Bass to the southward; this however is certain, that the tide set E. by S. one knot and a quarter, at Murray’s Islands, at four in the morning; and that two days afterward, at Wednesday Island, it set from one-and-half to two-and-half knots W. by S., from one till seven in the morning.  I will not venture to say that the latter part of the flood comes from southwest at the Prince of Wales’ Islands, though appearances bespoke it; because captain Cook, who had better opportunity for observation, found it setting from the east, in Endeavour’s Strait.  He also gives the time of high water at one or two hours after the moon, which comes nearer to what I observed at Murray’s Islands.

From azimuths with the surveying compass when the head was S. E. by E., the variation was 3 deg. 32’, or corrected to the meridian, 4 deg. 52’ east.

TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 1802