Recherche's Archipelago.-] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
89 
The basis stone of this, as it appears to be of all the islands as 1802. 
well as of the coast of the archipelago, is granitic ; but at the south Saturday^, 
side of Middle Island there is a thick crust of calcareous rock over 
it, as there is at the south end of Goose Island. It was also on the 
south side of King George's Sound, that the calcareous rock covered 
the granite ; a coincidence which may perhaps afford some light to 
the geologist. 
The latitude of Goose-Island Bay, for so this anchorage was 
named, is 34 0 5' 23" south, and longitude by the two best timekeepers 
corrected 123 0 9' 3o",5 east; the observations being made on the 
middlemost of the three southern beaches. 
The variation from azimuth, observed on the binnacle when 
the ship's head was west-south- west, was o° 54/ west, and in the fol- 
lowing year similar observations taken at anchor one mile to the 
eastward, with the head east, gave 6° 10' west; whence I deduce 
the variation which would have been obtained with the head at north 
or south, to be 3 0 25' west. From the bearings on shore, compared 
with the latitudes and longitudes, it appeared to be 5^° on the centre 
of Goose Island ; and 4° upon the granitic mount of Middle Island. 
No run of tide was observed, notwithstanding the narrowness 
of the channel where the ship lay. 
Goose-Island Bay may be useful as a place of refreshment, but 
the geese were not found to be so numerous at a different season of 
the year : a few hair seals may be procured, probably at all times. 
The wood is a species of eucalyptus, neither abundant nor large ; but 
two or three ships may be supplied with fuel. Fresh water was not 
to be obtained upon either of the islands ; but upon the opposite Cape 
Arid, five miles to the north, I judged there might be small streams 
running down from the hills. The lake of salt will be the greatest 
inducement for vessels to stop in this bay ; they must not, however, 
come to it in the winter season, as there will be occasion to show 
hereafter. 
On the 17th in the morning, the anchor was weighed and we Sunday 17. 
