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1802 Aug. [Tuesday] 10th. in Keppel Bay. - Boats examinat[ion of the bay and rivers -]

0n taking a view of the bay from a small hill near our [anchor]age, I saw three four different places where the water opened through the borders of the bay into the country; but these did not appear to be extensive; however I determined to make the circuit of the bay with the brig and boat; and as far as two or three days would go to make an examination and sketch of it. At 7, A.M. We weighed in the brig and steered W.S.W. for the 1st. Middle I. carrying from 6 to 9 fms. until a small south hill bore S141/2E when it shoaled to 2, but passing on, it deepened again to 5 and 7 fms. when the small south hill bore S.17º.E. On its shoaling again to 2, we tacked when the hill bore S.25E. and [anchor]ed
On continuing the course in the boat, we passed over 5 feet, and then deepened to 8 fms. before we came to the shoal which runs off from the 1st. Middle I.; so that there are three different passages up the bay, which probably lead into different arms. The first near the eastern shore, which is the largest, seems to lead into the two south easternmost arms; - the 2nd., where the brig [anchor]ed, probably leads into the south-western arm, and the third into the western arm. Into this last river there are three openings; one of which is on the western shore between it and the first middle I. and is more than what has been mentioned; in it there is 3 fms. but the channel is very narrow and lies most on the island side. The 2nd. channel is between the 1st. and 2nd. Middle I. and in it I had 7 and 8 fms. but in mid-passage only 3: I suppose the deep water to lie on the 1st. island side. The most southern