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INTRODUCTION. 
[Prior Discoveries. 
Flinders the true variation ; but with 6° 30', they not only coincided, but 
1798. ' placed this station in latitude 40 0 43' south, the same as deduced 
from three meridional observations taken within sight of the 
island. 
One mile from the north-west end, lies a low, rocky islet, and 
several rocks both above and under water. All these are compre- 
hended under the general name of the Swan Isles ; a name which, 
on examination, they appeared very little to deserve, for we did 
not see a single bird of that species, or any of their nests ; but there 
were several of the bernacle geese, and two of them were shot by 
Mr. Bass. 
The length of the largest Swan Isle is two and a quarter miles, 
by a medium breadth of one mile. The stony parts are over-run 
with thick brush wood, and the sandy are mostly covered with has- 
socks of wiry grass, to which the sooty petrels resort. In external 
appearance, this island bears a resemblance to that of Preservation ; 
but its sterility is greater, and it is destitute of the kanguroo. We 
did not see any fresh water in the vallies, a seal upon the shores, nor 
any marks of the island having been ever visited by the natives of 
the opposite coast. 
Nov. l. Having an unfavourable wind, I waited the flood tide, and 
then proceeded westward, along that part of Van Diemen's Land 
to which the name of Cape Portland was given, in honour of His 
Grace the then secretary of state for the colonies. From the eastern 
extremity, the coast trends about N. 62 0 W. six leagues, and termi- 
nates in a point, off which lie some small rocky islets. The shore 
consists of long, sandy beaches, separated by low and stony points, 
which project very little beyond the coast line. The country for two 
or three miles behind the shore is low and sandy; but it then ascends 
in gradations of gently rising hills, and being covered with verdure, 
interspersed with clumps of wood and single trees of a fair growth, 
it had a very pleasing appearance. At the back of these hills, the 
bare and rugged tops of a ridge of distant mountains appeared 
