50 AERIVE AT PORT CURTIS. 



Nov. 4i(A.— Sailed from Moreton Bay for Port 

 Curtis in company with the Bramble. The wind 

 being- at north, we had to beat out through the 

 narrow channel leading- between the banks of the 

 north entrance, probably never before attempted by 

 a square-rigg-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 great breeding places of the 

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

 anchored five 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 got 

 under weigh, 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 charge of the master, the signal to 

 " anchor immediately" was made, and we brought 

 up as required, being then about the middle of the 

 north channel. 



We remained heije 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 anchorage inside, at a spot 

 convenient for landing 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 lengths distance from the shore. 



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