Recherche's Archipelago.] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
8-5 
the ship, with the head east-south-east, gave 1802, 
7° 25', which, reduced to what it should be 
with the head in the meridian, is 4 0 26' west. 
The mean, and what I consider to be nearest 
the true variation in this neighbourhood, 
will be - - - 3' 6' west 
This is what I allowed upon the bearings taken with the theodolite 
upon the top of the hill behind the bay, and it appeared to be the 
same upon two small islands, one to the east and the other west, 
where Mr. Thistle took angles ; but at Mondrain Island there seemed 
to be considerable differences. 
Before entering the archipelago, the variation was observed to 
be 9 0 21' west, with the ship's head east-south-east; but at three 
leagues to the east of Termination Island, in the following year, and 
with the head at east-north-east, it was no more than 3 0 50 west. 
From the first, I should deduce the true variation on the west side 
of the archipelago to be 6° 28', and off Termination Island, from the 
second, to be o° 57' west ; both of which coincide with the other 
observations in showing the islands of the archipelago to possess a 
considerable degree of magnetic attraction. 
The rise of tide in Lucky Bay was so trifling, that under the 
circumstances of our stay no attention was paid to it. 
In the morning of the 14th, the wind being then light from Thursday u. 
the northward, we got under way and steered for Mondrain Island. 
In our route eastward from thence, several low rocks and patches of 
breakers were left on each side, besides small islands whose bear- 
ings had been taken from the hill behind Lucky Bay ; the depth of 
water, however, was between 20 and 30 fathoms. The wind was 
then moderate from the south-westward, but the weather so hazy 
that there was much difficulty, and some uncertainty, in recognizing 
the different islands. 
At half past ten we steered more towards the main land, 
that no opening in it might escape unseen ; and at noon, hove to 
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