181 cook's voyage to jan. 



It was so named by Tasman, who discovered it in 

 November 1642. From that time it had escaped all 

 farther notice by European navigators, till Captain 

 Furneaux touched at it in March 1773. I hardly 

 need say, that it is the southern point of New 

 Holland, which, if it doth not deserve the name of 

 u continent, is by far the largest island in the world. 



The land is, for the most part, of a good height, 

 diversified with hills and valleys, and every where of 

 a greenish hue. It is well wooded; and if one may 

 judge from appearances, and from what we met with 

 in Adventure Bay, is not ill supplied with water. 

 We found plenty of it in three or four places in this 

 bay. The best, or what is most convenient for ships 

 that touch here, is a rivulet, which is one of several 

 that fall into a pond that lies behind the beach at the 

 head of the bay. It there mixes with the sea-water; 

 so that it must be taken up above this pond, which 

 may be done without any great trouble. Fire-wood 

 is to be got with great ease in several places. 



The only wind to which this bay is exposed, is the 

 N. E. But as this wind blows from Maria's islands, 

 it can bring no very great sea along with it; and, 

 therefore, upon the whole, this may be accounted a 

 very safe road. The bottom is clean, good holding 

 ground ; and the depth of water from twelve to five 

 and four fathoms. But the annexed chart will con- 

 vey a better idea of every thing necessary to be 

 known about Adventure Bay, than any description. 



Captain Furneaux's sketch of Van Diemen's Land, 

 published with the Narrative of my last Voyage*, 

 appears to me to be without any material error, ex- 

 cept with regard to Maria's Islands, which have a 

 different situation from what is there represented. 

 What my idea of them is, will be seen in the sketch 

 of that coast here inserted; and I insert it, not as 

 the result of a more faithful, but merely of a second 



* Vol, III. chap. vii. 



