46 THE EARLY HISTORY OF MARIA ISLAND, 



parties had been sent out surveying. The first, under 

 the command of M. Freycineit, Senior, surveyed the coast 

 south of Cape Bernier, which they named. This expedi- 

 tion was absent eight days, and they showed that Fred- 

 erick Henry Bay was actually situated as shown by 

 Tasman, and that Marion Bay was only a long open bay 

 on the ocean side of the true Frederick Henry Bay, ('^^) 

 the two bays being separated by a long sandy isthmus, the 

 only connection by water being a narrow opening at the 

 south corner. They found that there was no appearance 

 of the Channel shown on the charts of DEntrecasteaux. 

 Flinders' charts were more correct in sliowing Tasman's 

 Peninsula, but his location of Frederick Henry Bay was 

 incorrect. The northern peninsula was named Forestier's 

 Peninsula. 



The second boat expedition, under the command of 

 M. Freycinet, Junior, was absent three days, and ex- 

 plored the East Coast, from Cape Bernier to Fleurieu Bay. 

 This bay wasi so named (2^) by the third expedition, which 

 explored the Schoiitens. They found that instead of the 

 five or six islands which had previously been shown on the 

 chart, there was only one, and that what had previously 

 been taken for islands were the high hills of the peninsula, 

 which are separated in several cases by low, sandy necks 

 of land. The peninsula was called Freycinet's Peninsula. 



The French devoted some time to the study of the 

 natural history of Maria Island. They particularly re- 

 mark upon the immense beds of kelp' fringing the shores, 

 the great shoalsi of dolphinsi and whales, and the "in- 

 "numerable legions" of seals. 



Baudin sailed from his anchorage on the 27th of 

 Febniary. Owing to the unfavourable weather, their 

 progress up the coast was slow, and the ships became 

 separated from one of the ship's boats, which had been 

 sent out exploring near Thouin, or Wineglass Bay. (25) 



On the 10th of March when bearing towards the straits 

 a isanall ship was sighted which was on the way to Maria 

 Island to catch seals. This vessel may well be regarded as 

 one of the first of the moderns. The old era of exploration 



(23) Unfortunately the true Fredrik Henry Bay of Tasman :s now 

 known as Blackman's Bay. 



(24) "In honour of the illustrious scholar to -whom France and 

 "her navy are so much indebted for so many valuable and honourable 

 "works." Peron. 



(25) This boat later met the British vessel, Harrinoton, Captain 

 Campbell, who supplied them with provisions. They fell in with the 

 Naturaliste in Bass Straits, and later rejoined the Gcooraphe in Syd- 

 ney- 



The Geographc also met an English Brig on the 8tli March. She 

 was named the Endeavour, havins been built at Port Jackson. Her 

 hull was "of the wood of the Casuarina and her masts of the Euculyp- 

 "tus." 



