Thursday, 24th May, 1770
In the PM, I was employed ashore in the transactions before related. At 4 in the AM, we weighed anchor with a gentle breeze from the south and made sail out of the bay, which I named Bustard Bay. The north point of the bay, I called Bustard Head, and the south point, Cape Capricorn. The distance from one to the other is NW½N and SE½S, 8 miles. In standing out of the bay, our soundings were from 5 to 15 fathoms. When in this last depth, we were abreast of the north point, and being daylight, we discovered breakers stretching out from it about NNE, 2 or 3 miles. At the outermost part of them was a rock just above water.
In passing these rocks at the distance of half a mile, we had from 15 to 20 fathoms. Being past them, we hauled away along shore WNW for the farthest land we had in sight. At noon, we were by observation in the latitude of 23° 52′ South. The north point of Bustard Bay bore S 62° East, distant 10 leagues, and the northermost land in sight bore N 60° West. Our longitude was 208° 37′ West, distant from the nearest shore 6 miles. In this situation, we had 14 fathoms of water.
Friday, 25th May, 1770
In the PM, it was calm until 5 o’clock when a light breeze sprung up from the SE and we steered NW as the land lay until 10 o’clock, then brought to, having had all along 14 and 15 fathoms of water. At 5 in the AM, we made sail. At daylight, the northernmost point of the main bore N 70° West, and soon after we saw more land making like islands bearing NWBN.
At 9 o’clock, we were abreast of the point, distant from it 1 mile, with a depth of water of 14 fathoms. I found this point to lie directly under the Tropic of Capricorn and for that reason called it by that name. Longitude 209° 0′ West. It is of moderate height and looks white and barren and may be known by some islands which lie to the NW of it and some small rocks one league SE from it. On the west side of the Cape, there appeared to be a lagoon, on the two spits which formed the entrance were a great number of pelicans, at least so I call them. The northernmost land we could see bore from Cape Capricorn N 24° West and appeared to be an island, but the mainland trended WBN½N, which course we steered, having from 15 to 6 fathoms and from 6 to 9 a hard sandy bottom.
At noon, our latitude by observation was 23° 24′ South. Cape Capricorn bore S 60° East, distant 2 leagues, and a small island NBE 2 miles. In this situation, we had 9 fathoms of water at the distance of 4 miles from the mainland, which is here low and sandy next to the sea except the points which are moderately high and rocky. Inland, the country is hilly and affords but a very indifferent prospect.