Kanguroo Island] TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
173 
The variation observed from two compasses on board, with the 1802. 
head south-westward, was 6° 31' east ; but when the ship swung to March ' 
a tide coming from east-north-east ; the change in the bearings of 
different objects showed the variation to be about 4 0 less. - The true 
variation I deduce to be 4° 13' east ; which is an increase upon what 
was observed on the west side of Cape Spencer, of 2 0 ; although the 
distance be no more than twenty-four leagues, and the previous in- 
crease from Cape Catastrophe had been almost nothing. It seems 
probable that the existence of magnetic bodies in the land to the 
north-westward, and perhaps also in Kanguroo Island and Cape 
Jervis, was the cause of this change in the direction of the needle. 
From appearances on the shore, I judged the rise of tide to 
be about six feet. The flood came from the east-north-east, twice in 
the day, and by the swinging of the ship, ceased at two hours and a 
half after the moon's passage; but the time of high water was after- 
wards found to be later by one hour and a half. 
VOL. I. 
