d in Broad Sound, it is
preferably 150 deg. 15' 0" east.

_Variation_ from azimuths taken with a theodolite at the same place, 9 deg.
48'; but the bearings on the top of the eminence showed it to be 9 deg. 0'.
The variation on shore, on the _west_ side of the bay, may therefore be
taken at 9 deg. 24' east.

Upon Mount Westall on the east side, and at the south end of Leicester
Island, it was from the bearings 8 deg. 50'. Upon the small islet at the head
of the bay, 9 deg. 25'.

At our anchorage on the west side of the bay, Mr. Flinders took azimuths
when the ship's head was S. E. by E., which gave 6 deg. 31' by one compass;
before he had done, the ship swung to the flood tide with her head W. N.
W., and two other compasses then gave 11 deg. 27' and 11 deg. 4': the mean
corrected to the meridian, will be 8 deg. 46' east.

At an anchorage towards the east side of the bay, the same officer
observed the variation with two compasses, when the head was east, to be
4 deg. 49', or corrected, 7 deg. 21' east.

The difference in Strong-tide Passage, where the land was one mile to the
south-south-east on one side, and the same to the west on the other, was
still more remarkable; for when the head was N. E. by N., an amplitude
gave me 9 deg. 10', or corrected, 10 deg. 34' east.

There might have been an error in any of the ship observations of half a
degree; but I am persuaded that the attraction of the land, sometimes to
the east and sometimes west, as the ship was near one or the other side
of the bay, was the great cause of the difference in the corrected
results; and it will presently be seen, that the effect on a neighbouring
part of the coast was much more considerable.

CHAPTER III.

Departure from Shoal-water Bay, and anchorage in Thirsty Sound.
Magnetical observations.
Boat excursion to the nearest Northumberland Islands.
Remarks on Thirsty Sound.
Observations at West Hill, Broad Sound.
Anchorage near Upper Head.
Expedition to the head of Broad Sound:
another round Long Island.
Remarks on Broad Sound, and the surrounding country.
Advantages for a colony.
Astronomical observations, and remarks on the high tides.

[EAST COAST. THIRSTY SOUND.]

SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 1802

At noon September 4, when the botanical gentlemen returned from their
excursion to Pine Mount, we made sail out of Shoal-water Bay with a
breeze from the eastward. In steering north-west amongst the small
islands, the soundings were between