East Coast, $>• V. D. s Land.] INTRODUCTION. cIxvii 
The sandy shore abreast was seven or eight miles distant, and be- Htm.™ 
hind it the land was low, but tolerably well covered with wood ^ST 
The sole remarkable object inland, was the flat-topped peak, which 
had very much the appearance of an extinguished volcano. From 
after bearings, it was found to lie S. i° E. eleven leagues from 
Table Cape ; and in that direction its top assumes the form of a 
pointed cone. 
In the morning of Dec. 6, our situation was N. 8° E. four miles 
from the cliffy, north-east end of Table Cape, and the Round Hill 
bore S. 41° E. Having a favourable breeze,we passed, at eight o'clock, 
within half a mile of the reef which surrounds Rocky Cape, and 
steered onward for Circular Head, which as yet was the furthest 
visible land. 
Table Cape, Rocky Cape, and Circular Head lie nearly in a line 
of N. 6V W., and are about ten miles apart from each other. Be- 
tween these, the coast forms two shallow bights ; the shore of the 
first is mostly rocky, and an islet lies in the middle ; the western 
bight is sandy, and promises better anchorage, particularly near 
Circular Head, where a vessel may be sheltered against all winds 
from the western half of the compass. The land at the back of the 
shore, from Table Cape westward, is of a different description to 
that before passed : instead of having an extensive view over a 
variegated, and well wooded country, the sight was there confined 
by a ridge of stony hills, 0 f which Rocky Cape is no more than a 
projecting part. 
Circular Head is a cliffy, round lump, in form much resembling a 
Christmas cake ; and is joined to the main by a low, sandy isthmus. 
The land at the back is somewhat lower than the head, and is formed 
into very gentle slopes. A slight covering of withered grass gave it 
a smooth appearance ; and some green bushes scattered over it much 
resembled, at a distance, a herd of seals basking upon a rock. 
We passed Circular Head at ten, and three hummocks of land then 
came m sight to the north-westward, the southernmost and highest 
