Volume I Part 18 (1/2)

Tasht in the coast, S 56 W

South head of Frederik Hendrik's Bay, S 72 W

Maria's Island, south part, N 64 to 43 W

north part, N 39 to 19 W

Schouten's Island, North to N 5 E

The wind shi+fted to north at ten o'clock, and we tacked towards Maria's Island At noon, the north-east extreme, a cock's-comb-like head, was distant four or fiveoff it, in Mr cox's chart, was not visible, nor yet the isthmus which connects the two parts of the island

Observed latitude, 42 41' S

South head of Frederik Hendrik's Bay, S 40 W

Maria's Island, south part, Clouded

--------------- north part, S 82 to N 64 W

Schouten's Island, dist 4 leagues, N 3 W to 8 E

We had squally weather in the afternoon, with the wind at north-west; and being unable to get near Maria's Island before the evening, bore away northward, having then a fresh breeze at W S W Schouten's Island was passed within two miles at ten o'clock, and at eleven, a piece of land called Vanderlin's Island by Tasman, but which has since been found to be the southern extremity of a peninsula We then steered north, to keep in with the coast; but the wind drawing forward in theof the 5th, the sloop was drifted off, by noon, to four or five leagues The land then abreast rose in ranges of irregular, ooded hills; and behind thely not ues from the shore The southernmost of the two peaks is the h round mountain_ seen by Tasman on Dec 4 and 5, 1642; I have, therefore, called it _Tasman's Peak_ It is the northernmost part seen by him on this side of Van Diemen's Land, as Mount Heemskerk was on the west coast: the flat-topped mountain is that which colonel Paterson afterwards nareat distance; and if Schouten's Island and the cape of the peninsula near it can possibly be seen so far as twenty leagues fros at this time were as follow:

Latitude observed, 41 27' S

South extreme of the coast, S 18 W

Another piece of land, like an island, S 23 W

Tasman's Peak, S 63 W

Northern extreret, that the wind did not allow of keeping close in with this east coast, since captain Furneauxs exareat a distance to be exact; butexpired, and provisions nearly out, nothing ht be done in the way to Port Jackson

(Atlas, Plate VI)

Jan 6, in latitude 40 45' no land was in sight; but on the 7th, when in 40 24', the high land of Cape Barren was visible through a thick haze, bearing S 76 W five or sixthen nearly at east, we steered to pass between Cape Barren and the great northern island, intending to explore the west side of the latter in our way At five o'clock breakers were seen two h no bottom could be found at 17 fathoms; at six, however, we fell suddenly into 3 fatho to find a sufficient depth for the sloop round the island which lies in the opening, stood on till the soundings diminished to nine feet, and breakers were seen all round ahead, from beaht aft; but whilst I was considering what could be done for our safety, the wind shi+fted suddenly, as if by an act of Providence, to the opposite quarter, and enabled us to steer back, out of this dangerous place, with all sail At nine o'clock the wind returned to the south-eastward, having just lasted long enough to take us out of danger; at eleven we had 20 fathoms; and in two hours more steered N by W, for the Babel Isles, with a fresh and fair wind

Jan 8, at six o'clock, Mr Bass went on shore to the sht a boat load of seals and gannets

Besides these, the islet is inhabited by geese, shags, penguins, gulls, and sooty petrels; each occupying its separate district, and using its own language It was the confusion of noises aive the name of _Babel Isles_ to this sannets, we steered north-ard; and at one o'clock took a departure from the Sisters I wished to make another effort to find the supposed Furneaux's Land, represented to lie north of these islands and in latitude 39; but the wind being strong froht o'clock we had passed the 39th degree; and no land being visible, the course was then altered to north-east, for Cape Howe

Jan 9, the wind blew strong at S S E, with thick, hazy weather At eight in the uished two points on the weather bow, and sand hills from thence to abaft the lee beam, not more than six or seven miles distant We immediately hauled the wind to the eastward, and carried every sail the sloop could bear in such a sea as was then running The land to as judged to be near the Ra was 20' short in latitude, and we supposed ourselves to the eastward

ToCape Howe, the eastern course was prolonged until day-light of the 10th; we then bore away, and at noon were in latitude 37 5' On the 11th, the observation gave 34 30'; and the gale still continuing, we anchored within the heads of Port Jackson at ten o'clock the sa exceeded, by no more than eleven days, the time which had been fixed for our return

To the strait which had been the great object of research, and whose discovery was now coave, at my recommendation, the name of Bass' STRAIT This was no more than a just tribute to ers and fatigues he had undergone in first entering it in the whale boat, and to the correct judgment he had formed fro between Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales

FLINDERS 1799

The success of this expedition favouredimmediately wanted for service, His Excellency accepted a proposition to explore _Glass-house_ and _Hervey's Bays_, two large openings to the northward, of which the entrances only were known