cxlvi INTRODUCTION. {Prior Discoveries. 
Flinders to the westward of the low islands, where there was 23 to 25 fathoms* 
1798. on a bottom of sand and broken shells. 
This small group, to which the name of Chappell Isles is affixed 
in the chart, consists of three, or perhaps four islands, for the mount 
seemed to stand detached from the land on the east side of the pas- 
sage. The basis of the whole is probably of granite, and they seemed 
nothing superior in fertility to the worst of Furneaux's Islands; but 
in a distant view, a slight covering of small herbage upon their 
sloping, even surfaces, gave them a prepossessing appearance-. 
Mount Chappell is five or six hundred feet above the water ; and 
the elevation of the other islands being inconsiderable, it was a very 
conspicuous object until, by the clearing away of the haze, the high 
mountains of the great island behind it became visible : their white, 
towering peaks, bathed in the late showers, reflected the gleaming 
sunshine with great splendour, and presented a spectacle so magni- 
ficent, that the circular, gently sloping Mount Chappell no longer 
attracted attention. 
We joined the Nautilus off the south side of the islands, and after 
passing several rocks in our course eastward, anchored at the east 
end of Preservation Island about noon. Mr. Hamilton had left his 
house standing, with some fowls and pigeons in it, when we had 
quitted the island nine months before. The house remained in nearly 
the same state, but its tenants were not to be found, having pro- 
bably fallen a prey to the hawks. 
Oct. 20, the wind was at north-west, and blew a gale, accompa- 
nied with rain, which continued for several days. This weather very 
much impeded our progress with the Nautilus in Armstrong's 
Channel, but captain Bishop at length moored in Kent's Bay, the 
most secure place to be found within reach of the sealing points. 
The greater part of Kent's Bay is occupied by shoals ; but along the 
shore of Sloping Point there is a deep channel running northward, 
which leads into the western head of the bay ; and there, behind a 
reef of dry rocks, several ships may lie in 4 or 5 fathoms, shel- 
