238 
A VOYAGE TO 
[ North Coast. 
1803. 
February. 
Thursdays^ 
Friday 25. 
and we had no time to follow, or to wait his pleasure to come down ; 
for a good deal of delay had been caused by the tide, and the island 
was found to extend several miles further than was expected, to 
another steep head, from which I was desirous to obtain a set of 
bearings. At five o’clock, when we reached the head it rained fast, 
which deterred me from attempting the steep ascent, and we pushed 
onward ; but the island, instead of terminating here, extended four 
miles further in a west direction, to a low point, where sunset and 
the bad weather obliged us to stop for the night. No wood could 
be found to make a fire, nor had we any tent ; and from the rain, 
the cold, and musketoes, and our want of dinner, the night passed 
uncomfortably. 
At day-light, I took bearings from the low south-west point, 
whilst Bongaree speared a few fish. 
Mallison’s I., the high south-east head, bore S. n" io' E. 
, west extreme - - S. u 30 W. 
A probable island, dist. 5 miles, S. 47*50' W. to West. 
The main coast was close at the back of, and perhaps joined the 
Probable Island ; and to the south of it were other lands, apparently 
insulated, between which and Mallison’s Island was an opening of 
four miles wide, which I marked for our next anchorage. 
Bongaree was busily employed preparing his fish, when my 
bearings were concluded. The natives of Port Jackson have a preju- 
dice against all fish of the ray kind, as well as against sharks ; and 
whilst they devour with eager avidity the blubber of a whale or 
porpoise, a piece of skate would excite disgust. Our good natured 
Indian had been ridiculed by the sailors for this unaccountable 
whim, but he had not ’been cured ; and it so happened, that the fish 
he had speared this morning were three small rays and a mullet. 
This last, being the most delicate, he presented to Mr. Westall and 
me, so soon as it was cooked ; and then went to saunter by the 
water side, whilst the boats’ crew should cook and eat the rays, 
although, having had nothing since the morning before, it may be 
