requesting him to communicate his remarks on the navigation round
these islands; as he had a better opportunity of making himself
acquainted with it than I possibly could have, to which he
returned the following answer; and, from the abilities of this
officer, I believe his observations are very accurate.

"North-north-west, about five miles from Duncombe Bay, there
is a bank of coarse sand and coral, with sixteen and seventeen
fathoms on it, between which and the anchoring place there are
twenty-five fathoms: there are also soundings north-east from
Phillip Isle, from thirty-five to twenty-five fathoms at least
four leagues off; at which distance it is foulest and shoallest.
The bearings, when at anchor in Duncombe Bay, were Cook's rocks
east-south-east, and the rocks off Point Howe, west-south-west
one quarter west, the landing rock south, distance off one mile;
the depth nineteen fathoms, coarse sand and coral. The best
anchorage in the Cascade Bay is with the great cascade
south-west, and Cook's Point north-east; distance off shore about
a mile and a half; the ground tolerably good. Cascade Bay is a
very good road in the strong south-west wind, and very smooth
water; the landing is easy, as is the access to the island. As
the ebb goes very strong nine hours to the eastward, the most
convenient place for anchoring off Sydney Bay, on account of the
boats, is, with the body of Nepean's Isle east-north-east half
east, or east by north; the flag-staff north-north-east half
east, Point Ross north-west by west, and the west end of Phillip
Isle south-south-east nineteen fathoms; _but here the ground is
rocky:_ the best anchoring is with the middle of Nepean Isle
east-north-east half east, the west end of Phillip Isle south by
east, the outermost breaker off Point Ross north-west by west
half west, the flag-staff north by east half east, and Collins's
Head north-east by east half east, seventeen fathoms clear
ground.

"The tides round the island are very strong, and from the
observations I have been able to make, and the difficulty we
always found in the Supply of getting from Cascade Bay round to
Sydney Bay, (which ever end of the island we tried at) I have
every reason to believe that the flood sets south-south-west, and
the ebb north-north-east: it flows about seven o'clock all round
the island: now as the ebb runs nine hours north-north-east, it
strikes directly against Rocky Point, which divides the tide, the
eas