364f HISTORY OF 



Having cleared the point of Break Sea Spit, 

 on Thursday the 8th he proceeded on his return 

 to Port Jackson. Passing the Mind between 

 Smoky Cape and Solitary Isles in the day which 

 had been before passed in the night, he observed 

 it seemed to be higher than most parts of its 

 coast, Mount Warning excepted ; and even 

 there it was not so high near shore. The view 

 that he had of the land at sunset, when Smoky 

 Cape bore S. 25* W. distant fire or six leagues, 

 induced Lieut. Flinders to imagine it probable 

 that there might be an opening to the Northward. 

 In the afternoon of Sunday the 1 8th, there 

 being little wind, and the weather fine, they 

 were attended by several spermaceti whales. 

 They were not more than twice the sloop's length 

 from her, coming up on either side at times very 

 near her; and remained playing about for more 

 than two hours. 



Their appearance was followed in the evening 

 by a gale from the S. W. which reduced them 

 to their storm sails, and compelled them to keep) 

 off and on during the night The wind, how-4 

 ever, lowering the next day, and a Southerly! 

 current having been in their favour, Lieut. Flin4 

 ders concluded his labours at dusk in the evenn 

 ing of the 20th ; at which time he secured hid 

 little vessel along side his Majesty's ship the 

 Reliance in Port Jackson. 



The observations which were made by Lieutj 

 Flinders on the set of the current at different 

 parts of the coast, being directly opposite to th| 

 remarks of Capt. Cook, it will only be doin^ 



