East Coast, SfV.D.s Land.] INTRODUCTION . civ 
found descending from the hills into the south-east corner of the Flinders 
cove, and in the middle was a gully with several deep holes in it "jjgs!"" 
full of excellent water: this last, though not accessible till half flood, 
was the most convenient for our purpose. 
There were many recent traces of natives on the shore ; and after 
returning to the sloop, we saw, on the opposite side of the arm, a 
man who employed or amused himself by setting fire to the grass 
in different places. He did not stay to receive us, and we rowed 
down to Middle Island where a smoke was rising. The natives 
shunned us there also ; for soon after landing, I saw three of them 
walk up from the shoal which joins Middle Island to the opposite 
low, sandy point. The party appeared to consist of a man, a woman, 
and a boy ; and the two first had something wrapped round them 
which resembled cloaks of skins. 
The gently-sloping hills of Middle Island afford about forty acres 
of pasture land, well covered with grass, and thinly wooded. No 
fresh water was seen, but it might probably be obtained by digging. 
This island is little frequented by aquatic birds, from the circum- 
stance of its being accessible, at low water, to the inhabitants of the 
main. 
Nov. 7. Mr. Bass and myself landed on the south shore upon our 
respective pursuits. The sandy point at the back of Middle Island 
was particularly favourable to the survey; and abase of sixty-six 
chains measured round it, with the concomitant angles, enabled me 
to connect the eastern arm with the basin. The sloop had been 
completed with water in the morning, and was ready to proceed in 
continuation of the voyage ; but the width of the arm, the depth of 
water in it, and strength of the tides, were too strong indications 
of a river of extensive course for me to be able to quit it without 
some further examination. 
A rainy gale from the eastward did not allow of moving until (At i as> 
Nov. 9th ; we then got under way with the flood tide, and beat up Plate V11) 
the first, or Long Reach, against a south-east wind. Abreast of Point 
