TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
9 
Hervcy's Bay.] 
through to the bay ; but it did not generally contain more than isos, 
fourteen feet water, and was therefore impassable for the Inves- wednes. 28. 
tigator. The bottom of this, and of the former small channel, as also 
the shoaler banks of the Spit, were of coral, mixed with coral sand. 
At three in the morning, on a breeze springing up at S. W. by Thurs. 29. 
S., we stretched south-eastward; and a vessel having been observed 
over night off Indian Head, this tack was prolonged till seven 
o'clock; when seeing nothing of her, we stood back for the Spit, 
and coasted close along its east side as before, in from 10 to 5 fathoms 
water. At forty minutes after noon we passed over the tail of the 
Spit, in latitude 24 0 24' ; the water then deepening suddenly from 6 
and 7, to 22 fathoms, and the white patches on Sandy Cape bearing 
S. 8° E. In standing N. W. by W. we crossed a bank in 1 1 fathoms, 
and on tacking, passed another part of it with only 5 ; the water upon 
it was not discoloured, nor had it been observed either by captain 
Cook, or by me in the Norfolk : it lies about 6 miles W. N. W. from 
the end of Break-sea Spit. 
The first rendezvous appointed for lieutenant Murray, was the 
anchorage near Sandy Cape ; but the wind being unfavourable, we 
did not reach it till four on the following afternoon ; at which time Friday 30. 
the anchor was dropped in 7 fathoms, sandy bottom, with the outer 
extremity of the cape bearing S. 79 0 E., and the nearest part distant 
two miles. A vessel was seen on the outside of the Spit, which 
proved to be the Lady Nelson ; and the master being sent with a 
boat to assist her through the passage, she anchored near us at 
sunset, and lieutenant Murray came on board. The account he gave 
of his separation, and the delay in arriving at the rendezvous, con- 
vinced me both of the Lady Nelson being an indifferent vessel , and of 
the truth of an observation before made upon the currents : that they 
run much stronger to the southward at the distance of six, and from 
that to twenty leagues off the coast, than they do close in with the 
s hore. Mr. Murray not being much accustomed to make free with 
the land, had kept it barely within sight, and had been much retarded. 
C 
VOL. II. 
