A VOYAGE TO [South Coast. 
miles in the day ; but it then blew a gale from the west and south- 
westward. 
Although the eastwardly current be not commonly found at 
the surface in Bass' Strait, it is not lost. Navigators find it running 
with considerable strength, when passing the strait two or three de- 
grees to the east of Furneaux's Islands ; and it was this current so 
found, which led admiral Hunter to the first opinion of the existence 
of an opening between New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. 
Every thing in Bass' Strait bespeaks the strongest winds to 
come from the south-west; and there is reason to believe that dur- 
ing nine months of the year, it generally blows from some point in 
the western quarter. In January, February, and March, eastern 
winds with fine weather seem to be not uncommon ; but there is no 
dependence to be had on them at any other season. At the eastern 
side of the strait and of Van Diemen's Land, it is not unusual to meet 
a north-east or north wind, though it seldom blows strong. The 
gales usually come from between south-west and south-east, and 
most frequently from the latter direction ; which renders it hazardous 
to approach the coast between Cape Howe and Wilson's Promontory. 
Thus, speaking generally of the south coast of Terra Australis, 
it may be considered that during the six or eight winter months, the 
winds blow almost constantly from some western point ; and that 
gales of wind at south-west are frequent. The progress of the gales 
is usually this : the barometer falls to 29^ inches, or lower, and the 
wind rises from the north-westward with thick weather, and com- 
monly with rain ; it veers gradually to the west, increasing in strength, 
and the weather begins to clear up so soon as it has got to the 
southward of that point ; at south-west the gale blows hardest, 
and the barometer rises; and by the time the wind gets to south 
or south-south-east, it becomes moderate, the weather is fine, 
and the barometer above 30 inches. Sometimes the wind may 
return back to west, or something northward, with a fall in the 
