East Coast, $ V. D. 's Land. ] INTRODUCTION. 
by means of several branching arms. The soil, as may be supposed, 
was generally bad, the sloping sides of some of the hills being alone 
capable of any utility. In a round of twelve or fourteen miles Mr. 
Bass could not find a drop of fresh water, or see a native. There 
were, however, many huts, and he traced the paths from them 
down to holes dug in the lowest grounds ; but these were then all 
dried up, and the country in general seemed to be suffering from 
drought. 
Dec. 17. The wind having veered to N. N. W., the boat was 
launched, and proceeded to the southward. Mount Dromedary was 
passed at eleven ; and an island of about two miles in circuit was 
seen lying off it, a few miles to the eastward : the latitude at noon 
Was 36 s 23'. At four, the fair breeze died away, and a strong wind, 
which burst forth from the south, obliged Mr. Bass to run for 
a gap in the land, which had just before been noticed. Here, on a 
little beach at the mouth of an inlet, across which the sea was break- 
ing, the boat was hauled up for the night. Next morning, the inlet 
being free of breakers, he entered the prettiest little model of a har- 
bour he had ever seen. Unfortunately it is but a model ; for although 
the shelter within be complete for small craft, yet the depth over the 
bar is too small, even for boats, except at high water, when there is 
eight or nine feet. This little place was named Barmouth Creek, and 
lies, according to Mr. Bass' computation, in 36 0 47' south. The 
country round, so far as was examined, is rocky and barren near the 
sea ; and towards the head of the creek, it is low and penetrated by 
the salt swamps. 
Dec. lg. At day light Mr. Bass continued his course to the south- 
ward, with a fair breeze. At seven he discovered Two-fold Bay ; 
but unwilling to lose a fair wind, reserved the examination of it for 
his return. At five in the evening the wind came at S. S. W. ; and 
he anchored under the lee of a point, but could not land. A sea 
breeze from E. N. E. next day, enabled him to continue onward; and 
at eleven, he bore away west, round Cape Howe, whose latitude was 
