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that or the neighbouring lands. Whilst beating through the Backstairs Passage, I had observed an amplitude when the ship's head was south-south-west, which gave the extraordinary variation of 2° 41′ east, or reduced to the meridian, 1° 27′ east; although we were then not so much as four miles from the anchorage where it had been found 4° 13′ east. Another amplitude was observed at eight leagues to the east of Cape Willoughby, when the head was north-east-half-east, and gave 2° 5′ east variation, or reduced, 4° 36′ This last is correspondent with what was observed near Kanguroo Head and in the Gulph of St. Vincent; but the variation of 1° 27′ in the passage is totally irregular, and must I think be ascribed to an attraction either in Cape Jervis to the north-east, or in the east end of Kanguroo Island to the south-east, or to both. When the great variation of 4° 36′ was obtained, both these lands were to the west; and when afterwards the 1° 57′ and 1° 30′ were observed, the nearest land was again to the eastward of the ship; and nearest in the last case.

The winds continued to be light and unfavourable; but by taking advantage of the changes in direction, and keeping further from the land, out of the tide or current, we had gained eight leagues by noon of the 11th. About twenty miles of coast beyond what had been set as the furthest extreme on the preceding day, was then in sight; and our situation and bearings were as follow:

At one o'clock we bore away along the coast, with a light breeze from the north-eastward; and having run five leagues, tacked to seaward soon after dark. Next morning, we again followed the coast at the distance of from five to three miles; and at