SAILING DIRECTIONS. 
279 
over with only two and a half fathoms on it when the summit 
of Mount Cook bore S. 66° W. (magnetic), and the outer 
extreme of Point Monkhouse S. 18° W. (magnetic.) One 
mile off shore the shoal soundings continued with two and a 
half fathoms until it bore S. 59° VV. (magnetic), when the 
depth was three, and three and a half fathoms. 
ENDEAVOUR RIVER. The entrance of this river, in 
latitude 15° 27 4", and longitude 145° 10' 49''% forms a 
very good port for small vessels; and, in a case of distress, 
might be useful for large ships, as it proved to our cele- 
brated navigator Captain Cook, who, it is well known, re- 
paired his ship there after having laid twenty-three hours 
upon a coral reef. 
The entrance is formed on the south side by a steep hill, 
covered with trees growing to the edge of its rocky shore. 
The north side of the entrance is a low sandy beach of two 
miles and a quarter in length : at its north end a range of 
hills rises abruptly, and extends for six or seven miles, when 
it again suddenly terminates, and is separated from the 
rocky projection of Cape Bedford by a low plain of sand. 
The entrance of Endeavour River is defended by a bar, 
* The situation of the observatory at Endeavour River was 
found by lunar distances, taken during iny visits to that place in 
1819 and 1820, as follows — 
. Latitude by meridional altitudes of the sun, 
taken in the artificial horizon, being the mean 
of twenty-seven observations .... 15° 27' 4". 
Longitude by twenty-five set of distances 
(G W. of D )j containing one hundred and 
’ seventeen sights, with the sextant . . . 144° 52 ' 16". 
Longitude by thirty set of distances ( Q E. of D )» 
containing one hundred and fifty sights, with 
the sextant . . . . . . . 145° 29' 23". 
, Mean, of fifty-five sets . 
A. 
Sect. !]• 
N. East 
Coast. 
, 145° 10' 49 . 
