96 
A VOYAGE TO 
1802. 
October. 
Sunday 17* 
[ East Coast. 
Several of the Cumberland Islands were in sight at noon, when our 
situation and the most essential bearings were as under. 
Latitude, observed to the north and south, - 2 °° 23' 56" 
Longitude from bearings, - - *49 334 
Island / 2, station on the north end, - S. 5 E. 
Other isles, large and small, from thence to N. 67^ W . 
Pentecost I. (of capt. Cook), resembling a tower, S. 89 W. 
No reefs were in sight, nor in steering N. N. E. and N. E. by N., 
could any be distinguished from the mast head all the afternoon. 
At half past five we tacked and bore down to the brig ; and then 
anchored in 31 fathoms, speckled sand and small stones, and sent a. 
boat to lieutenant Murray with orders. 
Our latitude here, by an observation of the moon, was 20° 
io' south ; and now hoping we should not meet with any more inter- 
ruption from the reefs, I resolved to send the brig back to Port 
Jackson. The Lady Nelson sailed so ill, and had become so lee- 
wardly since the loss of the main, and part of the after keel, that 
she not only caused us delay, but ran great risk of being lost ; and 
instead of saving the crew of the Investigator, in case of accident, 
which was one of the principal objects of her attendance, it was too 
probable we might be called upon to render her that assistance. A 
good vessel of the same size I should have considered the greatest 
acquisition in Torres’ Strait and the Gulph of Carpentaria ; but cir- 
cumstanced as was the Lady Nelson, and in want of anchors and 
cables which could not be spared without endangering our own 
safety, she was become, and would be more so every day, a burthen 
rather than an assistant to me. Lieutenant Murray was not much 
acquainted with the kind of service in which we were engaged ; but 
the zeal he had shown to make himself and his vessel of use to the 
voyage, made me sorry to deprive him of the advantage of con- 
tinuing with us ; and increased my regret at the necessity of parting 
from our little consort. 
The stores and provisions already supplied to the brig, were 
