68 
A VOYAGE TO 
[East Coast. 
1802. 
September. 
Monday 20. 
Tuesday 21. 
Upper Head, bearing S. 28° 22' W. 
Double Mount, - - - S. 53 20 E. 
Pine Mount, - - S. 61 ,5 E. 
These bearings place the inner end of Thirsty Sound in latitude 22® 
16'; and curtail the distance of thirty miles from Pier Head in 
captain Cook’s chart, to twelve miles and a half. 
On the 21st, the botanical gentlemen went over in the launch 
to the east side of Thirsty Sound, the main land having been always 
found more productive in the objects of their pursuit, than any island 
however large. I went to examine along the west side of Long 
Island ; but had not proceeded two miles before an opening pre- 
sented itself amongst the mangroves. It led to the eastward, and 
then separated into two branches ; and in following that which trended 
north-east I came into Thirsty Sound, and landed five miles above 
the inner entrance, at an islet in mid-channel, which had been set 
from Pier Head and is laid down by captain Cook. 
No less than five different pieces of land were found to be cut 
off from the south end of Long Island, by winding channels amongst 
the mangroves ; and I now saw the prospect of a passage through 
the middle, leading out at the bight between the north point and Pier 
Head. A woody and rather elevated islet obscures the inner end of the 
opening, and seems to have prevented captain Cook’s observing this 
separation when going up Thirsty Sound in his boat. I found in it 
a good bottom, with 3 to 5 fathoms water, and room for a ship to 
swing, or sail through as far as the outer opening to sea ; but another 
island lies in the outlet, the bottom is rocky, and the regular depth 
at low water is not so much as 3 fathoms on either side. 
Having taken a second set of angles, and passed out by the 
new opening, I steered northward along the east side of Long Island ; 
but although the land be high and rather steep, there was seldom so 
much as 3 fathoms at a mile distance. I landed at the north end of 
the island, to ascertain better the forms and positions of the North- 
point Isles ; and then, steering southward along the west side. 
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