East Coast, 8? V. D. s Land.] INTRODUCTION. cci 
This rocky, sandy spot lies in latitude 25 0 17'. It is much fre- Flinders. 
. . 1798. 
quented by aquatic birds, particularly by that species whence it 
obtained the name of Curlew Islet; and since a small shield and 
three wooden spears were found there, it must also be visited occa- 
sionally by men. The larger island, lying to the east, is richly 
covered with grass and wood. Its position is nearly in the middle 
of the entrance to what may be called the upper bay ; and as no 
deep channel past the island could be found on the west, I deter- 
mined to try on the east side ; having much difficulty in believing, 
that a piece of water six or seven miles in extent every way, should 
not have a channel into it sufficiently deep for the Norfolk. 
The anchor was weighed soon after four o'clock, and several 
attempts made to get round the larger island ; but being constantly 
repulsed by shoals, I was at length forced to relinquish the hope of 
penetrating further up Hervey's Bay. We then steered north-west- 
ward, to complete the examination of the west side down to the coast 
seen by captain Cook. 
Aug. 7. At daylight, a sloping hummock, in latitude 24 0 50', 
bore W. i6°N., our distance off the shore under it being one mile 
and a half, and the depth 7 fathoms. At nine, the water shoaled 
suddenly, and obliged us to haul off north-eastward. The coast 
was then seen extending to the W. N. W., and having been laid 
down by captain Cook, the north-eastern course was continued for 
Break-sea Spit, and the examination of Hervey's Bay concluded. 
This inlet is about fifteen leagues across, from the sloping hum- 
mock to the eastern extremity of Sandy Cape, and nearly as much 
in depth. The east side is formed by a great sandy peninsula, of 
which the cape is the northern extremity ; but about half way up, 
there are several white cliffs, and others in the upper bay, which had 
the appearance of chalk. The shores at the head and on the west 
side are more rocky than sandy. The back land is low for some 
miles, and not ill covered with grass and wood; it then rises to hills 
of considerable elevation, amongst which Double Mount was most 
vol. i. D d 
