cliv 
INTRODUCTION. 
[Prior Discoveries. 
Flinders and even in that distance there is much more shoal than deep 
and Bass. 
1798. water. 
The rocks lying at the entrance of the basin are covered at the top 
of the flood, but at other times are much frequented by shags. After 
observing the latitude and taking bearings there, I went down to 
Green Island ; and the tide being then out, perceived the shoals in 
Sea Reach to be so numerous and extensive, that it was surprising how 
the sloop could have reached thus far without striking upon some of 
them. In the channel to the east of Green Island I found from 7 to 
25 fathoms, and both the sides of it steep to ; a rock lies in the middle 
of the passage, but at twenty yards from it there was 3 fathoms all 
round. Green Island is covered with long, coarse grass and bushes, 
with a few small trees intermixed. The large, noisy gulls frequent it 
for the purpose of breeding, as do the swans, several of whose deserted 
nests were found with the broken egg-shells in them. These were 
corroborating proofs, that the natives of this part of Van Diemen's 
Land have not the means of transporting themselves across the 
water; for Green Island is scarcely two cables length from the 
shore. 
In returning to the sloop, I took off Mr. Bass and his party, 
together with a kanguroo weighing between eighty and ninety 
pounds, which he bad shot out of a considerable flock. Our fresh 
provisions were still further increased by an addition of six swans, 
caught this evening with the boat. 
Nov. 5 was employed in the survey of the Western Arm, and 
searching, but in vain, for the means of conveniently replenishing 
our water casks. Next morning we steered across the basin, and 
sought to anchor under an island which, from its situation at the 
entrance of the eastern arm, was called Middle Island; but there 
not being a sufficient depth of water behind it, the course was 
continued up the eastern arm, in 10 or more fathoms water, for two 
or three miles ; when we anchored upon a five-fathom bank, near a 
small cove on the northern shore. On landing, a little stream was 
