OO ARRIVE AT PORT CURTIS. 



Nov, 4:th. — Sailed from Moreton Bay for Port 

 Curtis in company with the Bramble. The wind 

 beino- at north, Ave had to beat out throuo'h the 

 narrow channel leadino- between the banks of the 

 north entrance^ probably never before attempted by 

 a square-rig'g'ed vessel. 



On Nov, 7 th, we rounded Breaksea Spit^ and 

 passed Lady Elliott's Island^ — low^ of coral for- 

 mation^ and one of the g'reat breeding- places of the 

 sea-birds of this portion of the coast. Next day we 

 anchored ^ve miles off the south entrance of Port 

 Curtis^ and sent in two boats to sound. On their 

 return with a favourable report^ the ship was g'ot 

 under weig'h^ and ran in under the head sails to 

 round Gatcombe Head^ by the channel laid down 

 in Flinders' chart; but^ while following- a boat 

 ahead in charg^e of the master^ the sig*nal to 

 '' anchor immediately'' was made^ and we broug-ht 

 up as required^ being* then about the middle of the 

 north channel. 



We remained here until the boats had sounded 

 the remainder of the approach to the port suffi- 

 ciently to enable Capt. Stanley to move the vessel 

 without risk to a safe anchor a g*e inside^ at a spot 

 convenient for landino' at all times to obtain the 

 requisite observations for determining* an astronomi- 

 cal position^ and sufficiently central as a starting- 

 point for boat operations. This was effected on the 

 10th of November^ when we anchored in 5 fathoms^ 

 mud, at three cables leng-ths distance from the shore. 



