1802.
April.
Thurs. 15.
In the evening we got sight of a projecting, and somewhat elevated part, which lies ten leagues to the south-eastward of Cape Lannes, and appears to be the Cape Buffon of the French navigators. The intermediate coast is similar to that between Encounter Bay and Cape Bernouilli; with the sole difference that the hummocks upon the sandy bank are somewhat higher: nothing inland appeared above them.
The wind was again favourable in the night for making a long stretch to the southward; and it was prolonged to the next day at noon,Friday 16. when our distance from the coast was judged to be ten leagues; but no part of it was in sight, and we had then got out of soundings, there being no bottom at 200 fathoms. The latitude was 37° 57′ south, and longitude from six sets of distances of stars east and west of the moon, 139° 39′, but by the time keepers corrected, 139° 45′ east. Not more than seven or eight leagues from this situation, there should lie an island according to the account given by captain Turnbull of the Britannia south whaler, who saw it in his passage out to Port Jackson. Having thick weather at the time, he was not able to ascertain its latitude or longitude, otherwise than by the log; and as it was not in sight from our mast head, its position must be considered as very uncertain.
The variations observed this day, with the same compass always on the binnacle, were as under:
| By | morning's amplitude, | ship's head | S.E. by S. | 2° | 39′ | east. |
| morning's azimuth, | – | S.S.E. | 2 | 2 | ||
| evening's azimuth, | – | N.E. | 2 | 2 |
The mean, reduced to the meridian, will be 4° 5′ east. Nine leagues to the north, and half the distance nearer to the land, an amplitude had been taken with the ship's head in the meridian, which gave 4° 8′ east.
On the three preceding days many tacks had been made from the shore, and I had frequently taken bearings just before the helm was put down; and so soon as the ship was round and the