248 
A VOYAGE TO 
[South Coast 
which lie in the passage, and whose position is not well ascertained, 
and also because lam not satisfied that Hunter's Isles are placed in 
the chart at their true distance from King's Island : the difference of 
longitude is from an approximation only ; but the error, if any, can- 
not exceed eight or ten miles, and is in excess. However, with 
daylight and a good look-out, the strait may be safely entered by 
this pass, at any time that a ship can carry sail upon a wind. I en- 
tered this way in the Investigator, during the night ; but what a ship 
on discovery may do is not to be given as an example to others, 
whose sole objects are expedition and safety. The outlet by the 
pass called Banks' Strait, between Furneaux's Islands and Cape 
Portland, is perfectly safe; but is out of the way for a ship bound to 
Port Jackson. 
It has been observed that the winds are commonly favourable 
for making a passage to the westward, through Bass' Strait and along 
the South Coast, in the months of January, February, and March. 
I have no personal experience of such a passage, further than through 
the strait, though it has lately been made several times ; but to those 
who may be desirous of doing the same, and are strangers to these 
parts, the following observations may be acceptable. 
The first remark is, that the three months when this passage 
is most easy to be made, are precisely those in which it is unsafe, if 
not impracticable to go through Torres' Strait ; and the second, that 
it will generally be of no avail for a ship to be in Bass' Strait before 
the middle of December, and if it be the middle of January it will be 
preferable . 
Ships coming from Port Jackson, or any where from the north- 
eastward, may take a departure from Cape Howe in 37 0 30^-' south 
and 1 50 0 5' east ; but from thence, they should not steer a course 
more westward than south-south-west by compass, until in latitude 
39° 30' ; on account of the danger to be apprehended from south- 
east winds upon the Long Beach. Having reached 39 0 30' they 
should steer a true west course, or west-by-south by compass, leaving 
