68 FOUNDATION OF THE COLONY. 



near the run of fresh water whicli stole silently 

 along througli a very thick wood, the stillness of 

 -which had then, for the first time since the creation, 

 heen interrupted by the rude sound of the labourer's 

 axe, and the doAvnfall of its ancient inhabitants ; a 

 stillness and tranquillity which from that day were 

 to give place to the voice of labour, the confusion 

 of camps, and the busy hum of its new possessors."* 

 Finding- that there was yet some time to spare before 

 the arrival of the usual period for leaving Sydney to 

 pass through Torres Strait, Captain Stanley resolved 

 upon acting in accordance with the expressed wishes 

 of the Colonial Government, that he should make 

 an inspection of the various hghthouses in Bass' 

 Strait, and for that purpose sailed from Sydne}' on 

 February 2nd, with the Rattlesnake and Bramble. 

 The Asp and one of the galleys accompanied us as 

 far as Botany Bay, which they were to be em- 

 ployed in survepng during our absence, under the 

 orders of Lieut. Simpson. 



On February 8th, we passed between Kent's and 

 Hogan's groups (in Bass' Strait) ; the lighthouse 

 on the former of these, perched upon a hill 829 

 feet high, is admirably situated, and although the 

 night was rather haz}-, the light (revolving) shone 

 out with great brilhance, and was afterwards seen 

 from the Bramble's deck, when thirty-seven miles 

 distant. We caught, in the narrows of the Strait, 



* Collins's Now South Wales, 2iid edit. p. 10. 



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