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INTRODUCTION. 
[Prior Discoveries. 
Bass. side of the entrance, but the passage between does not admit any 
thing larger than boats. There is a small beach at the back of the 
island, off which ships might anchor in 8 fathoms sandy bottom, and 
be sheltered as far round as south-east ; but with the wind nearer to 
east they would be exposed. 
The east shore of Jervis Bay runs, for twelve or fifteen miles, so 
near to north from the entrance, that it is not, at the head, more than 
four hundred yards across to the shore of the long outer bay. The 
piece of land, which is thus made a narrow peninsula, is rather high, 
with a face of steep cliffs toward the sea. The rocks on the inner 
side bear strong marks of volcanic fire ; and being disposed in parallel 
layers, their inclination to the west is very evident : quantities of 
pumice stone were scattered along the shores. 
The country round the bay is mostly barren. On the eastern side 
it is rocky, with heath and brush- wood; the west is low, swampy, 
and sandy, with some partial exceptions ; but on the south side 
there are grassy spaces amongst the brush- wood which might afford 
pasturage for cattle. 
Jervis Bay was quitted Dec. 13., and at noon the Pigeon House 
bore W. by N. In the evening Mr. Bass stopped in a cove, which 
Point Upright shelters from northern winds ; and he employed the 
next day in looking round the country. The vallies and slopes of the 
hills were found to be generally fertile ; but there being nothing of 
particular interest in this place, it was quitted on the 15th. Some small 
islands lying close under the shore (in Bateman Bay), bore west at 
noon ; and the night was passed at anchor under a point, in latitude 
36° 00', where, the wind being foul on the 16th, Mr. Bass laid the 
boat on shore, and proceeded to examine the surrounding country. 
At eight or nine miles from the coast is a ridge of hummocky 
hills, extending to the southward ; but the space between these hills 
and the sea is low, and in great part occupied by salt swamps. The 
sea was found to have an entrance at the back of the point, and to 
form a considerable lagoon, which communicated with the swamps 
