262 CAPE OTWAY. 



Bad weather prolonged our stay until the 26th of 

 November. We had been chiefly occupied in deter- 

 mining the position of the mouths of the various chan- 

 nels intersecting the banks, that extend across the 

 entire bay, three miles within the entrance. The most 

 available passages appeared to be those lying on the 

 south and west shores, particularly the former for ves- 

 sels of great draught ; but we did not conclude the 

 examination of them at this time, sailing on the 

 morning of the 26th to survey the coast to the west- 

 ward. The first thirteen miles, trending W. by S. 

 was of a low sandy character, what seemed 

 to be a fertile country stretching behind it. Two 

 features on this line are worthy of notice — Point 

 Flinders, resembling an island from seaward, on ac- 

 count of the low land in its rear; and the mouth of the 

 river Barwon, navigable for boats entering in very fine 

 weather. On its northern bank, eight miles from the 

 sea is the site of the town of Geelong. Passing this 

 the nature of the country begins to change, and high 

 grassy downs with rare patches of woodland present 

 themselves, which in their turn give place, as we 

 approach Cape Otway, to a steep rocky coast, with 

 densely wooded land rising abruptly over it. 



The above mentioned Cape is the northern 

 point of the western extremity of Bass Strait, and 

 is swept by all the winds that blow into that end 

 of the Funnel. The pernicious effect of these is 

 evident in the stunted appearance of the trees in 

 its neighbourhood. It is a bold projection in latitude 

 38" 51', and appears to be the S.W. extremity 



