Feb. 1, we sailed out of Port Jackson with a fair wind; and on the following noon, the observed latitude was 35 deg. 42’, being 14’ south of account.  I prevailed on Mr. Reed to stand in for the land, which was then visible through the haze; and at sunset, we reached into Bateman Bay.* When the two rocky islets in the middle of the bay bore S. by W. 1/4 W., a short mile, we had 8 fathoms water, and 6 fathoms a mile further in.  The north head is steep with a rock lying off it; but Bateman Bay falls back too little from the line of the coast to afford shelter against winds from the eastward.  The margin of the bay is mostly a beach, behind which lie sandy, rocky hills of moderate elevation.

[* The bearings in the following account are corrected, as usual, for the variation; but I am sorry to say that the steering compasses of the schooner proved to be bad, and there was no azimuth compass on board.]

In the morning of the 3rd, we steered S. by W. along the shore; and saw, in latitude about 35* 58’, and eight or nine miles from the south point of Bateman Bay, a small opening like a river running south-westward.  It was here that Mr. Bass found a lagoon, with extensive salt swamps behind it, and observed the latitude 36 deg. 00’.  At noon, the east point of the opening bore N. 1/4 W. seven miles, and the top of Mount Dromedary was visible above the haze; but no observation could be taken for the latitude.

Soon after noon, land was in sight to the S. S. E., supposed to be the Point Dromedary of captain Cook’s chart; but, to my surprise, it proved to be an island not laid down, though lying near two leagues from the coast.  The whole length of this island is about one mile and a quarter, north and south; the two ends are a little elevated, and produce small trees; but the sea appeared to break occasionally over the middle part.  It is probably frequented by seals, since many were seen in the water whilst passing at the distance of two miles.  This little island, I was afterwards informed, had been seen in the ship Surprise, and honoured with the name of Montague.

When captain Cook passed this part of the coast his distance from it was five leagues, and too great for its form to be accurately distinguished.  There is little doubt that Montague Island was then seen, and mistaken for a point running out from under Mount Dromedary; for its distance from the mount, and bearing of about N. 75 deg.  E., will place it in 36 deg. 17’, or within one minute of the latitude assigned to the point in captain Cook’s chart.

(Atlas Pl.  VI.)