502 HISTORY OF 



surprise: it was all basaltic. The cape is a vast 

 high wedge, which projects into the sea, sur- 

 mounted by lofty columns. 



After passing Cape Pillar, some islands be- 

 came visible to the northward ; but they did not 

 reach them, as the wind failed. On the next 

 day, they arrived within five miles of one which 

 in its general appearance, bore some resemblance 

 to Furneaux's Islands, 



On the 7th they saw Cape Barren Island. 

 They did not pass through the channel, or pas- 

 sage, which divides Furneaux's Islands, but 

 discovered why Captain Furneaux named the 

 place the Bay of Shoals. 



Early on the 8th they neared the islands 

 lying off the Patriarchs ; three in number ; the 

 largest of which was high, rocky, and barren, 

 with a basis of granite, which, like that of Pre- 

 servation Island, laid scattered about in large 

 detached blocks. Landing upon the outermost, 

 Mr. Bass found it well inhabited. The various 

 tribes had divided into districts. One part was 

 white with gannets, breeding in nests of earth 

 and dried grass. Petrels and penguins had their 

 under-ground habitations in those parts of the 

 island which had the most grass. The rocks of 

 the shore, and blocks of granite, were occupied 

 i by the pied offensive shag and common gull; 

 geese, red-bills and quails, lived in common, 

 and the rest was appropriated to the seals, Mr. 

 Bass observed with surprise, that though the 

 principal herd made off as usual on the first ap- 

 proach, yet the males, who possessed a rock to 



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