In
My Outward-Bound Voyage I Made Meridian Distance Between Cape Mabo
And Cape St. George, One Thousand Two Hundred And Ninety Miles; And
Now In My Return, But One Thousand Two Hundred And Forty-Three;
Which Is Forty-Seven Short Of My Distance Going Out.
This
difference may probably be occasioned by the strong western current
which we found in our return, which I
Allowed for after I perceived
it; and though we did not discern any current when we went to the
eastward, except when near the islands, yet it is probable we had
one against us, though we did not take notice of it because of the
strong easterly winds. King William's Island lies in the latitude
of 21 minutes south, and may be seen distinctly off Cape Mabo.
In the evening we passed by Cape Mabo; and afterwards steered away
south-east half-east, keeping along the shore, which here trends
south-easterly. The next morning, seeing a large opening in the
land, with an island near the south side; I stood in, thinking to
anchor there. When we were shot in within two leagues of the
island, the wind came to the west, which blows right into the
opening. I stood to the north shore, intending, when I came pretty
nigh, to send my boat into the opening and sound, before I would
venture in. We found several deep bays, but no soundings within two
miles of the shore; therefore I stood off again, then seeing a
rippling under our lee, I sent my boat to sound on it; which
returned in half an hour, and brought me word that the rippling we
saw was only a tide, and that they had no ground there.
End of Early Australian Voyages, by John Pinkerton
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