East Coast, 8f V. B. s Land.] INTRODUCTION. 
clxxxix 
of thirty miles from the sloop's deck, that it can be much less. The Flinders 
publication of Mr. Bass' remarks upon the soil and productions of ' a f~£** k 
this part of Van Diemen's Land dispenses me from entering upon 
those subjects ; it is sufficient to say, that the reports of them were 
so favourable as to induce the establishment of a colony on the banks 
of the Derwent, four years afterward ; and that the discoveries which 
have since been made are marked in the chart. 
The last day of December and the first of January were occupied 1799. 
in beating down to the entrance of the river. 
Jan. 2. The wind blew strong from the south-east, Math heavy 
rain ; and finding no advantage could be made by beating in Storm 
Bay, we ran into D'Entrecasteaux's Channel, passed the large North- 
west Port, and anchored in Pruen Cove, in 4 fathoms. We landed, 
so soon as the rain cleared away, and found a small creek in which 
the water was fresh at a few hundred yards above where it falls into 
the cove. A tree had been felled on the bank, probably in 1793 or 4> 
by Mr. Hayes, who called this stream Amelia's River; but it would 
be very difficult to fill casks here, except when long continued rains 
should bring the fresh water to the entrance of the creek. The 
valley through which it comes from the westward, seemed to be of 
a rich, though damp soil. 
On Jan. 3, having a breeze at north-west, we got under way at 
daylight ; and after repassing the northern entrance of D'Entrecas- 
teaux's Channel, steered across Storm Bay. At two o'clock, I had 
the following bearings : 
Tasman's Head, - _ S. 37 W. 
Cape Frederick Henry, - S. 71 W. 
Quoin Island, distant six miles, N. 28 W. 
Low point, distant 1^ miles, - N. 6 E. 
Cape Raoul,* distant 3 miles, - S. 71 E. 
* This is the cape which, from its appearance, I had called by the descriptive name of 
Cape Basaltes; not knowing that D'Entreeasteaux, or any other navigator, had pre- 
viously affixed an appellation. I give it up the more readily, because it is said these 
columns are not strictly basaltes. 
