East Coast, Sf V. D. s Land.} INTRODUCTION. clxix 
the north head of an opening, but of what kind, our distance was too Flinders 
. ' and Bass, 
great to determine.* 1798. 
During the night and next day, Dec. 7, the wind was variable, with 
alternate calms. The latitude at noon was 40 0 28', and the sugar- 
loaf hill bore W. by S. ten miles. On the 8th a breeze sprung up 
from the south-westward, and threatened a gale from that boisterous 
quarter. We were in 40 0 23' at noon, and trying to work up to the 
land of the three hummocks, to prevent losing ground ; and at six 
in the evening, got to an anchor in a quarter less 4 fathoms, in a 
small sandy bight under the northern hummock, being sheltered 
from N. 2 0 E., round by the west to S. 30 0 E. Circular Head was 
still visible, bearing S. 35 0 E. ; and the difference of longitude 
made from Port Dairy m pie was calculated at subject to future 
revision. 
Mr. Bass and myself landed immediately to examine the country 
and the coast, and to see what food could be procured ; for the long 
detention by foul winds had obliged me to make a reduction in 
the provisions, lest the object of our voyage and return to Port 
Jackson should not be accomplished in the twelve weeks for which we 
were victualled. At dusk, we returned on board, having had little 
success as to any of the objects proposed ; but with the knowledge 
of a fact, from which an interesting deduction was drawn : the tide 
had been running from the eastward all the afternoon, and contrary 
to expectation, we found it to be near low water by the shore ; the 
flood, therefore, came from the west, and not from the eastward, as 
at Furneaux's Isles. This we considered to be a strong proof, not 
only of the real existence of a passage betwixt this land and New 
South Wales, but also that the entrance into the Southern Indian 
Ocean could not be far distant. 
*In 1804, Mr. Charles Robbins, acting lieutenant of His Majesty's ship Buffalo, 
was sent from Port Jackson to examine this great bight ; and from his sketch it is, 
that the unshaded coast and soundings written at right angles are laid down in the 
chart. 
VOL. I. Z 
