1802.
May.
Wednes. 5.
must be of considerable elevation, superior to any other land near the sea in the southern, or perhaps any part of New South Wales.
Thursday 6.On the wind shifting to the east side of north, next day, I tacked to get in with the land; being desirous of running near to as much of the coast, and correcting its longitude in our way to Port Jackson, as could be done without loss of time; but at noon the wind veered back, and our north-eastern course was resumed. The land could not then be further distant than nine or ten leagues; but no part of it was in sight, nor from the dulness of the weather, could any observation be taken.
After a squally night, the wind fixed at west-by-north; and at daybreak of the 7th,Friday 7.
(Atlas,
Plate VIII.) the land was visible from west to north-west, and our course was parallel to it. At noon, the latitude was 36° 24′ south, and longitude 151° 16′ east; Mount Dromedary was in sight bearing N. 85° W., and by the difference of longitude, was distant fifty-two miles: I estimate its highest southern part to lie in 36° 19′ south, and 150° 11′ east. The wind returned to the north-west in the afternoon, and we lost sight of the land; but becoming fairer afterwards, and the southern current not having much strength, by four next daySaturday 8. the heads of Port Jackson were in sight. At dusk the flag-staff upon the South Head bore west-south-west, and our distance from the shore was seven or eight miles.
I tried to beat up for the port in the night, being sufficiently well acquainted to have run up in the dark, had the wind permitted; but we were still to leeward in the morning,Sunday 9.
(Atlas,
Pl. XVIII.
view 1.) and Mr. Westall made a good sketch of the entrance. At one o'clock we gained the heads, a pilot came on board, and soon after three the Investigator was anchored in Sydney Cove.
