484 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [January, 



Two rivers only, Port Dalrymple and the Derwent, are known to 

 defcend from Van Diemen's Land ; but by Point St. Vincent, poffibly, 

 there may be a third. 



On the 3d of January they left the Derwent, and proceeded to the 

 northward,- coafting the eaft fide of Frederick-Henry Bay, which 

 was for the mod: part high and fteep to the fea. The figure of the 

 fhore, between what is now called Cape Bafaltes and Cape Pillar, ex- 

 hibited one of thofe great works of nature which feldom fail to excite 

 furprize : it was all bafaltic. The cape is a vaft high wedge, which 

 projects into the fea, furmounted by lofty fingle columns. 



Early on the morning of the 8th they were among the iflands lying 

 off the Patriarchs. Thefe were three in number ; the largeft of which 

 was high, rocky, and barren, with a bafis of granite ; which, like 

 that of Prefervation Ifland, laid fcattered about in large detached blocks. 

 Mr. Bafs landed upon the outermoft, and found it well inhabited. 

 The various tribes had divided it into diftri&s. One part was white 

 with gannets, breeding in nefts of earth and dried grafs. Petrels 

 and penguins had their under-ground habitations in thofe parts of the 

 ifland which had the mo ft grafs. The rocks of the more, and blocks 

 of granite, were occupied by the pied offenfive mag and common gull ; 

 geefe, red-bills, and quails, lived in common ; and the reft was ap- 

 propriated to the feals, who feemed to be lords of the domain. Mr.. 

 Bafs remarked with furprize, that though the principal herd fcampered 

 off like (heep, as is ufual on the firft approach, yet the males, who 

 poffeffed a rock to themfelves, where they fat furrounded by their 

 numerous wives and progeny, on his drawing near them, hobbled up 

 with a menacing roar, and fairly commenced the attack, while the 

 wives feemed to reft their fecurity upon the fuperior courage and 

 addrefs of their lords ; for, inltead of retreating into the water in the 

 utmoft confternation, they only railed themfelves upon their fore fins,, 

 as if ready for a march, keeping their eyes upon the males, and 

 watching the movements of the enemy. 



Having 



V 



