66 
Notes on the 
no oilier menus of ascertaining the situation, of places 
than by a pocket compass, bearings, and computed 
distances, as lie has himself told us. The east coast of 
Tasmania is also incorrect both in latitude and longitude. 
Anchoring under Babel Island, we took the opportunity 
of sketching the eastern side of Flinders or Great 
Island, which is low and sandy, while the western side 
presents a bold range of granite. Banks’ Strait and the 
north side of Flinders were surveyed in the mean time by 
Messrs. Forsyth and Pasco in the Vansittart; and good 
anchorages found among the islands off that side of 
Flinders in westerly winds. 
Passing along the east shore at the distance of 5 miles 
in 11 to 12 fathoms soundings on a bottom of fine-grey 
sand S. 44° E. (mag.) G£ miles from the eastern end of 
the Outer Sister, we passed over in 4 fathoms the end of a 
dangerous spit extending from the shore. In working 
the Beagle up to Kent’s Group, we discovered a rock 
just awash at high water, bearing from Wright’s Rock E. 
8° S. (mag.) miles. 
This, Endeavour Reef, and a sunken rock above a mile 
to the eastward of Craggy Island, are all the dangers in 
the eastern entrance of the strait. 
Bad weather kept us for some days in a wild and in¬ 
convenient anchorage, in the east cove of Kent’s Group. 
The best place for a light-house for the east entrance of 
Bass’ Strait is on a hill on the south end of the Eastern 
Isle of this group, (lat. 39° 29' 33" S., long. 3° 52' 52" 
west of Sydney). It is the highest hill in the group, and 
on that side of the island generally passed by ships. The 
island has good water and soil, and a calcareous limestone 
fit for building. 
For a light at the western entrance of the strait, Cape 
Otway is preferable to the north end of King’s Island. 
Ships wjll not be so likely to get upon a lpe-shore in 
