^Vessel’s Islands .] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
247 
thirty miles out from the main coast ; but this is not more than half 
their extent, if the Dutch chart beat all correct. 
At noon, when Cunningham’s Island bore from S. i° to 26° E., at 
the distance of two miles, the furthest visible part of Wessel’s 
Islands bore N. 53° E. ; it was not distant, for the weather was 
squally with rain, and both prevented us from seeing far and obscured 
the sun. To the westward, we had land at the distance of three or 
four miles ; and from its north-east end, which is named Point Dale , 
three small isles with rocks extended out to the bearing of N. 
i6°E., which we could not weather without making a tack. At 
three they were passed ; and at six in the evening the outer islet 
bore S. tqTE., four leagues, and the most western part of the land 
of Point Dale, S. 36’° W. ; but whether this last were an island or a 
part of the main, was still doubtful. 
For the last several days the wind had inclined from the east- 
ward, and at this time blew a steady breeze at E. by S., with fine 
weather ; as if the north-west monsoon were passed, and the 
south-east trade had resumed its course. We had continued the 
survey of the coast for more than one-half of the six months which 
the master and carpenter had judged the ship might run without 
much risk, provided she remained in fine weather and no acci- 
dent happened ; and the remainder of the time being not much more 
than necessary for us to reach Port Jackson, I judged it imprudent 
to continue the investigation longer. In addition to the rottenness 
of the ship, the state of my own health and that of the ship’s com- 
pany were urgent to terminate the examination here ; for nearly all 
had become debilitated from the heat and moisture of the climate, 
from being a good deal fatigued, — and from the want of nourishing 
food. I was myself disabled by scorbutic sores from going to the 
mast head, or making any more expeditions in boats ; and as the 
whole of the surveying department rested upon me, our further stay 
was without one of its principal objects. It was not, however, with- 
out much regret that I quitted the coast ; both from its numerous 
1803. 
March. 
Sunday g. 
i 
