East Coast, Sf V. D 's Land.] INTRODUCTION. cxcvii 
left the river and the Glass Houses for a future examination, and Flinders. 
proceeded up the bay with the afternoon's flood. On the 1 8th at noon, 
we had passed two low islands surrounded with shoals, and were at 
anchor in 6 fathoms, abreast of a third. The south point of the open- 
ing from Moreton Bay then bore N. 77° E., ten miles; and the ob- 
served latitude being 27 0 27^', confirmed the observation taken 
without side on the 14th. Next day, we beat up against a southern 
wind to a sixth island; but the shoals then became more numerous, 
and the channels between them so narrow, that it was very difficult 
to proceed further. 
The latitude observed upon the sixth island was 27 0 35', being 
thirty-four miles south of Cape Moreton at the entrance of the 
bay. Above this island, the east and west shores, from being 
nine or ten miles apart, approach each other within two miles, and 
the space between them takes the form of a river ; but the entrance 
was too full of shoals to leave a hope of penetrating by it far into 
the interior, or that it could be of importance to navigation. Under 
this discouragement and that of a foul wind, all further research at 
the head of Glass-house Bay was given up; and I returned on board 
to seek in Pumice-stone River for a place to stop the leak, and the 
means of visiting the Glass Houses. On the 22d, we got into the 
river after many difficulties, arising principally from shoals in the 
entrance, which could only be passed at high water. The place 
chosen for laying the sloop on shore was on the east side, five 
miles above Point Skirmish, at a small beach, close to which the 
depth was 7 fathoms. 
July 25. The leaky plank being secured, and the sloop restowed 
and completed with water, we proceeded two miles further up the 
river, amongst mangrove islets and muddy flats. Next morning I 
landed on the west side, as far above the sloop as the boat could 
advance ; and with my friend Bongaree and two sailors, steered 
north-westward for the Glass-house peaks. After nine miles of 
laborious walking, mostly through swamps or over a rocky country. 
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