TERRA. AUSTRALIS. 
Towards Timor.} 
347 
the height to be more than 9000 feet, had it been seen in the horizon; 
but it was perceptibly above, and this land is therefore probably not 
much inferior to the peak of Teneriffe. I did not measure its alti- 
tude above the horizon with a sextant, or the elevation might have 
been more nearly ascertained. 
The westward current had hitherto not exceeded half a mile 
an hour; but the next day it was one mile, and on the day following 
one and a quarter to the W. S. W. We had then regained the trade 
wind, and our situation at noon was io° 3- south and 125 0 15' east; 
the northern part of Timor was obscured by haze, the nearest land 
visible bore N. 75 0 W. about eight leagues, and the southern extreme 
W. 5 0 S. On the 9th, the round hill upon Rottee came in sight, and 
bore S. 78° W. at noon, when our latitude was io° 32^' south and 
longitude 124* o' east. We carried all sail to gain Samow Strait 
before dark ; but it was eight o’clock when we hauled round the 
low south-west point of Timor, in soundings from 6’ to 14, fathoms, 
within a quarter of a mile of the reef. There were lights on both 
shores, which were useful in directing our course up the strait; but 
having unfavourable winds, the northern outlet was not quite 
reached at noon next day ; and it was near five in the evening before Thursdayio. 
we anchored abreast of Fort Concordia. This was the thirtieth day of 
our departure from Wreck Reef, and two days might be deducted 
from them for the deviations and stoppages made for surveying ; 
the indifferent sailing of the schooner was also against making a 
quick passage, for with all the sail we could set, so much as six 
knots was not marked on the log board ; yet notwithstanding these 
hindrances, and the much greater of my six-weeks voyage in the 
boat to Port Jackson and twelve days stay at Wreck Reef, the 
Bridgewater had arrived at Batavia only four days before we an- 
chored in Coepang Bay. Had not the unfortunate accident happened 
to the Porpoise, I have little doubt that we could, with the superior 
sailing of that ship, have reached the longitude of Java Head on the 
fortieth, perhaps on the thirty-fifth day of our departure from Port 
Jackson. 
ism. 
November. 
Sunday 6, 
Tuesday 8. 
Wednes, 9 . 
