BY CLIVE LOUD, F.L.S. 11 



The ships finally reached the end of their long voyage 

 on the seventh of August, when they anchored at Deptford. 



THE PROVIDENCE AND ASSISTANT AT ADVENTURE 

 BAY, 1792. 



At a quarter to six on the morning of the eighth of 

 February, the southern coast of Tasmania — or, as it was then 

 called. Van Diemen's Land — was sighted. The morning was 

 hazy, and there were a few "porpoises," shags, gannets, and 

 Cape hens noted in the vicinity of the ship. 



At midday the soundings gave seventy-two fathoms, 

 there being light airs and fine winds, which did not tend to 

 rapid progress, and it was midnight before the rocky cliffs of 

 Cape Frederick Henry were discerned to the N.N.W. At 

 daylight on the following morning the boats were sent ahead 

 to tow, and by half-past seven the Proaidence and Assistant 

 were anchored in Adventure Bay, the bearings of the Provi- 

 dence's moorings being as follows: — Penguin Island N. 64 

 deg. E. Cape Frederick Henry N. 25deg. E. West end of 

 beach. West i' mile. The depth being ten fathoms. 



As soon as the ships were moored, Bligh went ashore to 

 select the best places from which to secure his supplies of 

 wood and water. He decided to obtain the wood from the 

 same place as he had done in 1788, namely, the site near the 

 west end of the beach, near the present jetty in Quiet Corner. 

 The best water he found at the watering place of the Resolu- 

 tion — "about a half-mile without the west end of the beach." 

 Bligh records that the water from this stream, which he 

 charts as Resolution River, is the best water in this place if 

 not as good as any whatever. (See Text fig. I.) 



Near Resolution River a "wigwam" — one of the rough 

 shelters made by the aborigines — was discovered, and traces 

 were observed of the natives having recently been in the 

 vicinity. Many mussel shells and crayfish remains were 

 heaped up, as though they had fed there for a considerable 

 time. Bligh also states: "We picked up some handfuls of 

 "fine shavings of wood, which I believe they prepare to light 

 "their fires with, and a bundle of dried inside bark tied up, 

 "two foot long, intended for a flambeau. The wigwam would 

 "cover about six people — its form is a perfect section of a 

 "beehive, the open part being to the N.E. The covering was 

 "large pieces of bark, but was neither wind nor water tight." 



A sawpit which had been constructed in 1788 was partly 

 filled up, but the cross logs remained in position, and also 



