[* See Hawkesworth’s Voyages, Vol.  III. p. 224.]

The base line for my survey of the Sound was of 2.46 geographic miles, measured round the curve of the long beach between the two harbours.  The other stations whence bearings were taken with the theodolite were—­in the Sound, four; at the entrance of and within Princess-Royal Harbour, three; and in Oyster Harbour, four; at each of which a point with a circle is marked in the plan.  The soundings were either taken in the ship, with simultaneous cross bearings, or in boats, generally accompanied with notices of known objects in a line, or the angles between them taken with a sextant.

There are many small but no very essential differences between my plan and that of captain Vancouver.  The most important to navigation is that in the soundings going into Oyster Harbour; I could find only thirteen feet over the bar, whereas he marked seventeen; a difference, however, which may not improbably have taken place between 1791 and 1801.

CHAPTER IV.

Departure from King George’s Sound. 
Coast from thence to the Archipelago of the Recherche. 
Discovery of Lucky Bay and Thistle’s Cove. 
The surrounding country, and islands of the Archipelago. 
Astronomical and nautical observations. 
Goose-Island Bay. 
A salt lake. 
Nautical observations. 
Coast from the Archipelago to the end of Nuyts’ Land. 
Arrival in a bay of the unknown coast. 
Remarks on the preceding examination.

[SOUTH COAST. FROM KING GEORGE’S SOUND.]

JANUARY 1802

In running along that part of the South Coast which lies to the west of King George’s Sound, I had endeavoured to keep so close in with the land that the breaking water on the shore should be visible from the ship’s deck; by which means our supposed distance would be little subject to error, and no river or opening could escape being seen.  This close proximity could not, however, be obtained in every part, especially where the coast retreated far back; but it was always attempted where practicable and unattended with much danger or loss of time; and when it could not be done, I was commonly at the mast head with a glass.  All the bearings were laid down so soon as taken whilst the land was in sight, and before retiring to rest I made it a practice to finish up the rough chart for the day, as also my journals of astronomical observations, of bearings, and of remarks.  When we hauled off from the coast at night, every precaution was taken to come in with the same point in the morning, as soon after daylight as practicable; and when the situation of the ship relatively to the land of the preceding evening was ascertained, our route along the coast was resumed.  This plan, to see and lay down everything myself, required constant attention and much labour, but was absolutely necessary to obtaining that accuracy of which I was desirous; and now, on recommencing the survey from King George’s Sound to the eastward, I persevered in the same system; and it was adhered to, although not particularly mentioned, in all the succeeding part of the voyage.