East Coast, Sf V. D. s Land.] INTRODUCTION. 
clxi 
In the evening it fell calm, and the tide being favourable, we Flinders 
rowed back for Hamilton's Road ; but a fair breeze springing up an 179 8. SS ' 
when abreast of it, instead of anchoring we made all sail to the west- 
south- west for Van Diemen's Land. 
On the 25th at day-light, the Ninth Island bore south, five miles ; 
the wind had then shifted to N. by W., and blew strong, with rainy 
weather ; and at eight o'clock, it was at N. W. by W., and obliged 
us to tack off shore. This gale cleared away on the 26th, and at 
noon our situation was in „ , 
Latitude - - 4° 34jt s - 
Mount Chappell bore - N. E. 
Peak of Cape Barren, - N. 78 E. 
Land taken for Isle Waterhouse, S. 7 E. 
We were then steering south-westward again with a fair breeze ; but 
had scarcely passed Stony Head, next morning, when another gale 
sprung up from the north-west. It was a happy circumstance that 
we were able to reach our new discovered port, and take refuge at 
the former secure anchorage near the Shag Rocks ; for this gale was 
more violent and of longer continuance than any of the preceding. 
This long succession of adverse winds caused us almost to despair of 
accomplishing the principal object of the voyage ; for of the twelve 
weeks, to which our absence from Port Packson was limited, nearly 
eight were already expired. 
Dec. 2. The gale moderated, and we made an attempt to continue 
the voyage, but were driven back. On the 3rd, the attempt was 
repeated ; and the wind being light, we anchored at the entrance of 
the port, to prevent losing by the flood what had been gained by the 
ebb tide. In the evening a fair wind sprung up ; and at length, to 
our great satisfaction, we were enabled to proceed in the discovery 
of the strait. 
The harbour, which we entered with so much pleasure on Nov. 3, 
any one place ; or it would have been the means of raising up an useful body of seamen, 
and thus proved of advantage, both to the colony and to the mother country. 
VOL. I. Y 
