cxvi 
INTRODUCTION. 
{Prior Discoveries. 
Bass. Looking from the top of the promontory to the northward, there 
l798 ' is seen a single ridge of mountains, which comes down, out of the 
interior country, in a southern direction for the promontory ; but 
sloping off gradually to a termination, it leaves a space of twelve or 
sixteen miles of low, sandy land between them. This low land is 
nearly intersected by a considerable lagoon on the west, and a large 
shoal bay, named Corner Inlet, on the east side ; and it seemed pro- 
bable, that this insulated mass of granite has been entirely surrounded 
by the sea at no very distant period of time. 
There were no inhabitants on Wilson's Promontory ; but, upon 
the sandy neck, some were seen near the borders of the inlets. The 
few birds were thought to have a sweeter note than those of Port 
Jackson. 
Four small, barren islands lie seven or eight miles to the north- 
east, from Sealers Cove. The northernmost of them was visited, 
and found to be about one mile and a half in circuit, ascending 
gradually from the shore, to a hill of moderate elevation in the 
centre. There was neither tree nor shrub upon it ; but the surface 
was mostly covered with tufts of coarse grass, amongst which the 
seals had every where made paths and the petrels their burrows. 
Mr. Bass was of opinion, that upon these islands, and those lying 
scattered round the promontory, which are all more or less fre- 
quented by seals, a commercial speculation on a small scale might 
be made with advantage. The place of shelter for the vessel would 
be Sealers Cove, on the main land ; which, though small, and 
apparently exposed to east winds, would be found convenient and 
tolerably secure : fresh water is there abundant, and a sufficiency of 
wood at hand to boil down any quantity of blubber likely to be pro- 
cured 
The observed latitude of the cove was 38 0 50' ;* and the rise of 
tide found to be ten or eleven feet, ten hours and a quarter after the 
* This appears to be from 10' to 15' too little: an error which probably arose from the 
same cause as others before noticed. 
