1799.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 477 



ftretched in for the land, a large extent of which was indiftin&ly vifi- 

 ble through a light haze that hung about the horizon. At noon the 

 latitude was 41 0 i$\ and the longitude 148 0 58', with a frefh breeze 

 at N. N E. they bore away along the fhore, which trends to the S. E. 

 by E. and is diftant three or four miles. 



From a fhore of beach, with fhort rocky points at intervals, the land 

 rofe gradually to a confiderable height, the afpe£t of which was barren 

 and brufhy, and the foil fandy. Several fhort reefs of rocks lay in 

 front of the beaches, and broke the long fvvell into a furf of tremen- 

 dous appearance. 



Dreading a gale of wind from the weft, which was threatening^ 

 and might have proved fatal to their little veftel, they hauled out to 

 the S. S. W. ; but the weather remained moderate. 



On the following morning the wind flew round to the northward, 

 ■and they continued their route along the fhore. Early in the fore- 

 noon they pafled a angularly formed point, with a number of lumps 

 of rock lying fome two or three miles off it to the S, W. It refembled 

 an artificial pier, or mole, with warehoufes upon it, and a light-houfe 

 on the end next the water. Large maftes of detached oblong rocks 

 gave the appearance of warehoufes, and a remarkably long one ftand- 

 ing upon its end that of the light-houfe. Their latitude at noon was 

 .42*. 02' and the longitude 145 0 iff. The coaft ftill trended to the S. 

 S. E. and the land began to change that uniformly regular figure 

 which it had hitherto preferved. It was becoming mountainous and 

 uneven, but was ftill barren. 



Mr. Bafs and his fellow voyager, Lieutenant Flinders, did not hefi- 

 tate now to conclude that they had palled through the ftrait, and 

 from the Pacific had entered the Southern Indian Ocean ; for what 

 within the extent of a vaft fea could give birth to the monftrous fwell 

 that was rolling in before their eyes ? and the coaft was evidently 

 trending towards the S. W. cape. 



It was worthy of remark (Mr. Bafs fays), that the northern fhore of 

 the ftrait, from Wilfons Promontory (feen in the whale-boat) to Wef- 



tera 



