134 cook's SECOND VOYAGE OCT. 



want to know the variation. While we were on the 

 N. E. coast, I thought the currents set to S. E. 

 and W. or N. W. on the other side ; but they are by 

 no means considerable, and may as probably be 

 channels of tides as regular currents. In the nar- 

 row channels which divide the shoals, and those which 

 communicate with the sea, the tides run strong ; but 

 their rise and fall are inconsiderable, not exceeding 

 three feet and a half. The time of high water, at 

 the full and change, at Balade, is about six o'clock ; 

 but at Botany Isle we judged it would happen about 

 ten or eleven o'clock. 



