122 
28th.—Fine pleasant weather. South- 
east end of Morton Island, west and by 
north five leagues ; this island stands in 
the bay of that name, and is so called 
from a noble fresh-water river which 
runs into the bay, and was only dis- 
covered by Lieut. Oxley, of the royal 
navy, surveyor-general of Australia, 
about eight months ago. This is cer- 
tainly the finest country I ever saw: it 
is scarcely possible to imagine finer 
scenery. The mountains on the main- 
land not being less than from fifteen 
hundred to two thousand feet above the 
level of the sea, divided by sweeping 
valleys and plains, clothed with the 
most delightful verdure ; the hills, to 
their summits, covered with lofty, and, 
no doubt, valuable timber. At two P.m., 
began sounding, which varied to-day 
from thirty-four to sixty-three fathoms. 
29th.—Indian Head west-south-west 
ten miles ; soundings from forty-three 
to eighty-five fathoms. 
30¢h.—Sounded every half-hour, in 
from twelve to thirty-eight fathoms, 
Tunning within a few miles of the main- 
land. Observed the native fires along 
the coast : the appearance of the land 
incomparably fine. At noon, Indian 
Head bore south south-west, fifteen 
miles. 
31st.—At daylight, Sandy Cape south- 
west fifteen miles. Saw Round Hill 
over Bustard Bay, bearing west a quar- 
ter north, seven or eight leagues. At 
noon, Cape Capricorn west north-west 
forty-five miles. At six p.m. Cape Lar- 
cum south-west half-west ; Peaked- 
Island north-north-east. Soundings 
from twelve and a half to seventeen 
fathoms. 
lst September, two p.M.—Passed_be- 
tween Keppel Large Island and the Two 
Clumps of Hummocks ; at twelve, Island 
Head west half-south, four miles ; sound- 
ings from fifteen to twenty fathoms ; 
leads on both sides constantly going. 
At half-past eleven p.m. came-to at the 
Percy Islands, in sixteenfathoms. These 
are a group of beautiful islands, covered 
with the finest verdure, tolerably clear 
of trees, but presenting a great variety 
of flowering shrubs, &c. The whole of 
them seem admirably adapted for pas- 
ture land. We saw no natives, nor do 
I believe there are any, except occa- 
sional visitors from the mainland, for 
the purpose of fishing. It is not at all 
improbable but these islands will be 
shortly colonized, as they are within a 
few days’ sail of Morton Bay, and could 
be cleared .at a trifling expense ; and 
Voyage to Australia, §c. 
‘the dark. 
(Sept. 1, 
probably Morton Bay will one day be- 
come the capital of Australia, on ac=— 
count ofits nobleriver, and the fertility of 
the soil on its banks ‘as well as the salu- 
brity of the climate, which is equal, aif 
not superior, to that of Sydnéy:"Onthe 
second, at day-light, we got under weigh, 
and bade adieu to the Percy Islands; 
soundings from twenty-six ‘to’ twenty- 
nine fathoms. 
3d.— Moderate breezes and fine wea- 
ther. Saw part of the Cumberland 
Islands, south-east and by south, to 
south-west and by west ; at eight, sum- 
mits of Sir James Smith’s Group, south- 
west and by west, distant twenty-five 
miles; nearest of the Cumberland 
Islands north, eighty, and halfwest, 
eight miles. At six p.m. Gloster Island 
south, thirty-five, west, eight miles; Hol- 
born Island, north, fifty-six ; west, four- 
teen miles; soundings from nineteen to 
thirty-seven fathoms. 
4th.— At six a.m., Cape Upstart, 
north, sixty-five; west, sixteen miles. 
At three p.m., saw Palm Island, west- 
north-west ; at four, Cape Cleveland 
south-west and by south seven leagues ; 
Magnetical Island, south . twenty-six, 
half-west, five miles: at five, passing 
within three miles to the eastward of 
the northernmost of the Palm Isles. 
Six p.m. Point Hillock, south twenty- 
two, west nine miles; rocky isle of 
Cape Sandwich, north, sixty-four and 
half west, six miles. At half-past six, 
Point Cooper, five miles; at eight, came- 
to under the lee of the Frankland 
Islands. Soundings, this day and yes- 
terday, from twelve and half to nine- 
teen fathoms. 
6th.—Passed Green Island, within a 
mile and half. Summit of Cape Graf- 
ton south twenty-one and half east, dis- 
tance twelve miles. At half-past four 
shortened sail, and came-to in nineteen 
fathoms: Snapper Isle north sixty-nine 
east. : 
It is impossible to conceive any thing 
more delightful than our passage thus 
far, running down the mainland with 
light six-knot breezes, the water quite 
smooth, and sailing round beautiful 
islands during the day, and anchoring, 
for the most part, every evening; the 
navigation being too little known, in- 
tricate and dangerous, to attempt/itin 
Indeed, so difficult has the 
passage been, and the islands, rocks 
and shoals so numerous, from the first, 
that the junior Lieut. (Roe) had to give” 
directions for steering the ship from the 
fore-topsail yard. yw flt io 
