TERRA AUSTRALIS 
87 
Barrier Reefs.] 
and the latter part from N. W. ; it was high water at one hour before 
the mom’s passage, and the rise at least three fathoms, or eighteen 
feet. This time of high water coincides with that of Broad Sound ; 
but it is remarkable, that at the Percy Isles, lying between them, it 
should be three hours earlier. The rise in Broad Sound was five 
fathoms, and three, or more, amongst the reefs ; whereas at the 
Percy Isles, there was nothing on the shore to indicate a higher tide 
than two fathoms. 
In the morning we steered E. N. E., with a light air from the 
southward; the brig was a-head, and at half past nine, made the 
signal for immediate danger; upon which the stream anchor was 
dropped in 16 fathoms. The tide ran one mile and a half to the 
E. N. E., and this leading me to expect some opening in that direc- 
tion, I sent the master to sound past the brig ; and on his finding 
deeper water we followed, drifting with the tide. At eleven he 
made the signal for being on a shoal, and we came to, in 35 fathoms, 
broken coral and sand ; being surrounded by reefs, except to the 
westward from whence we had come. On the outside were high 
breakers, not more than three or four miles distant; these terminated 
at E. by S., and between them and other reefs further on, there 
seemed a possibility of finding an outlet ; but no access to it could be 
h d, except by a winding circuit amongst the great mass of banks to 
the southward, which it was not advisable to make upon such an un- 
certainty. I therefore determined to remain at the present anchorage 
till low water, when the reefs would be dry, and the channels be- 
tween them, if any such there were, would be visible: and should 
nothing better then present itself, to steer north-westward, as close 
within the line of the high breakers as possible, until an opening 
should be found. 
The latitude observed to the north and south, at this fifth an- 
chorage amongst the reefs, was 20° 53' 15"; longitude by time 
keeper, 151 0 f east. In the afternoon, I went upon the reef with a 
party of the gentlemen ; and the water being very clear round the 
1802. 
October. 
Saturday 9. 
