252 MAGNETICAL ISLAND. 



wind shifted to the southward, and at 8 when it 

 moderated, the barometer again rose to 30* 17- 

 It is these sudden breezes that are so fatal to ships 

 caught off the outer barrier without an opening to 

 get within its shelter. No traces of natives were 

 seen ; but the supply of water was as abundant as 

 before, and we took the opportunity of completing 

 our stock. 



On the 8th in the eveninof we left for Matynetical 

 Island, about half a mile off the west side of which 

 we anchored next day in 5 fathoms. The depth 

 from thence shoals in gradually to the head of the 

 bay. A small rocky islet, to which our observations 

 refer, bore south half a mile, in lat. 19" 7' 10" S. 

 and long. 4*^ 29' 12" West of Sydney. On this I 

 found a greyish kind of slate ; but on Magnetical 

 Island I discovered no local attraction affecting' the 

 needle, so as to warrant the name bestowed by 

 Cook. It is a high piece of land, with an ill-defined 

 peak in the centre, 1770 feet high. 



A description and view of it have been given in 

 the first volume. We remained there five days, in 

 order to rate the chronometers, and to examine the 

 head of Halifax Bay, where a large estuary had 

 been reported by Captain King ; but of this we 

 could see nothing', and came to the conclusion that 

 he must have been deceived by mirage. The land 

 certainly was low in that direction, and trending in 

 to the southward appeared afterwards to wind round 



