Barrier Reefs.'] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
85 
in upon the North Coast, before we should get into the Gulph of 
Carpentaria. 
At this anchorage, the tide came from between S. W. by S. and 
W. by S., till midnight; and at two in the morning the ship rode 
north, and afterwards N. E. byE., to the flood; which seemed to 
imply two openings in the reefs, and one of them near the high 
breakers. The depth of water changed from 35 to 32 fathoms, in 
the night ; but a part of the difference might arise from irregularities 
in the bottom. 
We got under way at daybreak, and stretched south-east to 
gain the wind ; at nine, a reef was passed on each beam ; and at 
noon, when we tacked to the northward in 20° 58' south and 150° 48' 
east, there were five others, distant from two to five miles, bearing 
from S. 20 0 W., round by the east and north to N. 25°W.; but 
apparently with passages between most of them. Upon these reefs 
were more of the dry, black lumps, called negro heads, than had 
been seen before ; but they were so much alike as to be of no use in 
distinguishing one reef from another ; and at high water, nearly the 
whole were covered. 
In the afternoon, a very light wind at north-east left no pro- 
spect of weathering the reef before dark, upon which the high 
breakers had been seen ; we therefore tacked to the E. S. E., and 
anchored at sunset in 34 fathoms, fine white sand, not far from our 
noon’s situation ; a reef, partly dry, was then distant one mile and a 
half, and bore E. - S. to S. E. The flood tide here ran something 
more than one mile an hour, and came from between north and north- 
west, the ship tending to it at one in the morning. 
At seven, when the flood had done running, the two vessels 
were lying up E. N. E., with a light breeze from the northward; but 
a rippling which extended a mile from the reef, caused us to tack 
until a boat was sent to sound upon it ; for the Lady Nelson was so 
leewardly, that much time was lost in waiting for her. At ten we 
passed through the rippling, in from 14 to 34 fathoms ; and at noon 
1802. 
October. 
Wednes. 6. 
Thursday 7 - 
Friday 8. 
