120 
A VOYAGE TO 
[South Coast. 
CHAPTER VI. 
Prosecution of the discovery of the unknown coast. Anxious Bay. An- 
chorage at Waldegrave's and at Flinders' Islands. The Investigator's 
Group. Coffin's Bay. Whidbey's Isles. Differences in the magnetic 
needle. Cape Wiles. Anchorage at Thistle's Island. Thorny Passage. 
Fatal Accident. Anchorage in Memory Cove. Cape Catastrophe , and 
the surrounding country. Anchorage in Port Lincoln, and refitment 
of the ship. Remarks on the country and inhabitants. Astronomical 
and nautical observations. 
February. ^ T da y break in the morning of Feb. 9, when the anchor was 
Tuesday 9. weighed from Petrel Bay to prosecute the examination of the 
unknown coast, we were unexpectedly favoured with a refreshing 
breeze from the westward ; and our course was directed for Cape 
Bauer. At noon, the latitude from mean of observations to the 
north and south, which differed only 1', was 32 0 43' 17"; but although 
our distance from the land could not be more than three leagues, 
no part of it was distinguishable ; the haze was very thick, 
but it was of a different nature, and had none of that extraordi- 
nary refractive power which the atmosphere possessed during the 
prevalence of the eastern winds. At one o'clock, Olive's Island was 
indistinctly perceived ; and at two we came in with Point Westall, 
and then steered south-south-eastward along the coast at the dis- 
tance of four or five miles. At six, a bold cliffy head, which I 
named Cape Radstock, in honour of admiral Lord Radstock, bore 
N. 75 0 E., six or seven miles ; and the land seemed there to take 
another direction, for nothing beyond it could be perceived. The 
wind was at west-south- west ; and we kept on the starbord tack 
till eight o'clock, and then stood off for the night. 
