cxcii 
INTRODUCTION. 
[Prior Discoveries. 
Plate VI.) 
Flinders j a n. 6, in latitude 40* no land was in sight ; but on the 7th, 
and Bass. . s^j-z ° 
1799. when in 40 0 24-i', the high land of Cape Barren was visible through 
a thick haze, bearing S. 76° W. five or six miles. The wind being 
(Atlas, then nearly at east, we steered to pass between Cape Barren and the 
great northern island, intending to explore the west side of the latter 
in our way. At five o'clock breakers were seen two miles to the 
north, though no bottom could be found at 17 fathoms ; at six, 
however, we fell suddenly into 3 fathoms ; but hoping to find a 
sufficient depth for the sloop round the island which lies in the open- 
ing, stood on till the soundings diminished to nine feet, and breakers 
were seen all round a-head, from beam to beam. It was then near 
sun-set, and the breeze right aft ; but whilst I was considering what 
could be done for our safety, the wind shifted suddenly, as if by an 
act of Providence, to the opposite quarter, and enabled us to steer 
back, out of this dangerous place, with all sail. At nine o'clock the 
wind returned to the south-eastward, having just lasted long enough 
to take us out of danger ; at eleven we had 20 fathoms ; and in two 
hours more steered N. by W., for the Babel Isles, with afresh and 
fair wind. 
Jan 8, at six o'clock, Mr. Bass went on shore to the small, south- 
eastern islet ; whence he brought a boat load of seals and gannets. 
Besides these, the islet is inhabited by geese, shags, pinguins, gulls, and 
sooty petrels ; each occupying its separate district, and using its own 
language. It was the confusion of noises amongstthese various animals 
which induced me to give the name of Babel Isles to this small cluster. 
After taking on board our seals and gannets, we steered north- 
westward ; and at one o'clock took a departure from the Sisters. I 
wished to make another effort to find the supposed Furneaux's 
Land, represented to lie north of these islands and in latitude 39 0 ; 
but the wind being strong from the south-eastward, the course 
steered was N. by E. At eight o'clock we had passed the 39th de- 
gree ; and no land being visible, the course was then altered to 
north-east, for Cape Howe. 
