Part 6 (1/2)
”Saturday, 9th January Saw the loom of the land fro's Island--its southernmost point bore SWS
distant 16 miles We could only see it now and then as the squalls passed over Kept working to this land which I rather think is part of the same that on the 6th I saw and supposed it to be the northerner, and another Cape Albany Iwill insandy bluffs
”Sunday, 10th January Kept all night working up to land and by 7 AM
got within 6it a 4 or 5 h and covered with brush and now and then spots of large trees very tall At 8 AM o rocks we had passed at 7 AM--make out exactly like 2 boats under sail, they are both very near the landAs we kept running down along the land I saw a low point of rock ood deal of surf and the land lay so far back that I concluded at least a deep bight must be there--this proved true, as we rounded it the swell of the sea which before was high greatly took off and although the wind blew hard yet as it was off shorelowered the boat and sent Mr Bowen and two good hands in her on shoreAt half-past 11 the weather looking worse instead of better nal for our boat which they noticed and caot on board, and Mr Bowen reported that wood and excellent water was in abundance, that safe anchorage and good ground was close into the beach--the soil is ood, in short, it is an excellent place to take shelter in from all worst winds that blow in this countryLatitude of this bight is 40 degrees 00 rees 57along shore at a distance of 4west distant 10 miles and a low point north-north-west 9 or 10 in to think that we should here find a bay or harbour By 2 PM we coe extent and fine shelterwhere we ca to the Westward nearly done (4 PM)--the different parts of the bay bore as follows: Elephant Rock ( (Note in log) So named from resemblance to that animal) north by east distant at 5 miles north part of the bay north 1/2 west distant 6 miles--the bottom of bay west-north-west 2 1/2 miles distant and the south point of ditto south-south-east, or 4 ood deal of surf on the beach till we got on the southern sidehere we landed and the first thing as a number of sea elephants ( The Phoca proboscidea of Peron) of an i asleep on the beach, each of them, Barnes the boatswain's mate told me, would make 8 or 9 barrels of oil; as ed down the shore we took the this beach two freshwater lagoons full of those aniet near the upper part of the in them both I named the bay Elephant Bay from this circumstance
”Tuesday, 12th January Boat returned on board, they caught 4 badgers and saw several kangaroos, but were not able to get any from the thickness of the brush--they also found feathers of emus and a dead one Snakes are here, as the skin of one was found We got several gallons of elephant oil out to-day as a speci here reported different to any seen before
”Wednesday, 13th January Received some specimens of wood and some water
At half-past 10 up and run out of bay, hoisted in gig, running down shore; surveyed as well as weather would permit
”Thursday, 14th January Fair wind and cloudy Running along shore 3 or 4run as far as North-West Point, and seeing a nu by standing on in such weather At 5 PM dropped kedge with the warp to see if that would ride her and found she would ride by it very well, furled sail and pointed yards The land from Elephant Bay to here is rather low of sandy soil and a very long white sandy beach all this distance The two sandy capes or rather bluffs are about 20 miles from Elephant Bay and are so remarkable that I think no person could be well mistaken in them The course to Elephant Bay is nearly south-east by compass; no person need mistake the bay as Elephant Rock lies in the mouth of it about 3 ravel ot nearly as far as the second rocks and breakers, found a very high sea up At this ti south-west by south The island presents a bold rocky front to the sea and foul ground--breakers and rocks lie off fro way
Not less than 10to the southward, a low island is seen and due south the furthest point of land--it appears altogether rather a dangerous place unless a vessel has a good breeze that can be depended on A calht chance to run her upon one rock or another
”Friday, 15th January Moderate fair weather At 3 PM tacked in shore and at 4 PM shortened sail and stood off and on within 2 or 3and sent the First Mate in her on shore to exarees 54 ot on board Mr Bowen told h surf on the beach, that those bluffs were entirely sand, no shells were on the beach--inland he said the soil was good--he found no water here, soot at, the officer shot one but it got away; he said that on going up one of the trees he perceived inland a large sheet of water which he thinks must have some entrance into it frooon or swaive the other side of the island a strict search ind and weather will pero round
”Saturday, 16th January At quarter past 4 AM breeze from north-east, hazy weather and rain, stood in for Elephant Rock At half-past 5 AM
it and sounding every half-hourFro in for land The weather at this time cleared a little and from the masthead a low point seeht or bay, a reef of rocks was also seen to the ard of it Stood in pretty close along the edge of the reef and sent Mr Bowen in the gig to overhaul the place
Observed the rocks of this reef to be full of seals, sea horses and elephants The appearance of this place being favourablestood further in and perceived it was a deep bay
”Sunday, 17th January At 1 PM came to anchor--the bottom coarse sand--from where we lay East point of land bore east-north-east distant 10 miles, the Seal Reef south by east 3 or 4 mileswe sounded every part of this place where a vessel would most likely anchor and found it 14 to 7 fathoht on board 3 seals with hair of prime fur and told me there was a vast quantity on shore Elephants are also in abundance and the woods full of kangaroo, eers, etc, some few shells were found, no water seen as yet
After dinner I went on shore: the brush is very thick which rendered it iet any way in, there is little doubt of plenty of water being here as we in our search started 15 or 20 kangaroo fro about 50 pounds weight and surprising fat At one place on this beach an acre of ground at least was covered with elephants of athe beach and playing in the water At 7 PM I came on board A sea watch with the proper officer had been set as has been usual ever since weale in Elephant Bay At 11 AM
came to anchor in Elephant Bay We have now overhauled and surveyed this island from its north-west and west points to its south-west points being in length about 55 or 60 h westerly winds that have blown for such a length of tie yet they have enabled me to strictly search every part of the island between aforementioned points, and should a north-east wind come and remain steady for a few days ill be able to overhaul the re part of the island with equal accuracy Of the advantages to be derived from this fine island I shall say but little, the plain truth is to be seen in this journal It contains plenty of wood and water, the woods are full of animals and excellent of their kind, the shores are lined with fine oil (if I may be allowed the expression) and this part of the island has two good bays in it well sheltered froerous winds A vessel may anchor as I did unless the wind blows from the east, south-east or north-east or north points of the compass I named this last discovery the Bay of Seals from the number of these animals on the shores of it, and the rocks outside the bay Seal Rocks
”Monday, 18th January First andlulls at tiale with much heavier squalls than I have yet seen in this country (the Western Port gale excepted) and it is with great satisfaction that I am able to say that our little vessel has rode it out as yet with one anchor and half a cable--a proof of the goodness of the holding groundAt 8 the boat brought on board a turn of water and 2 kangaroo were caught--the increase of the gale hindered the boat fro on shore
”Tuesday, 19th January Froale continued By sundown it was moderate weather; the boat returned on boarda waaroo to shi+p's company
”Thursday, 21st January AM Sent Mr Bowen in the gig to Elephant Rock with directions to sound all the parts of this bay we did not run over in the vessel
”Friday, 22nd January PM The boat returned on board Mr Bowen found the soundings all the distance froround Close to the Elephant Rock there are 10 fathoms
This rock is about 1 1/2 miles in circumference and it is entirely covered with seals of priht be 6 or 7,000 seals of different sizes on shore AM Sent boat to Elephant Rock for skins and another for wood and water
”Saturday, January 23rd PM The launch returned with some sealskins of prime fur and I was told that the Rock was full of mutton-birds, in consequence of this I had the boat on shore and procured 80 or 90 of them, served ditto to the people
”Sunday, January 24th Throughout this 24 hours the weather has been remarkably thick and hazystood off and on till 4 PMthen we ht of land if possible before dark and by 8 PM saw the north-west point of the Bay of Seals being north by west distant 5 miles, 2 Seal Rocks distant 6 miles north by eastat 2 AM found the vessel close to the breakers and a strong ripple of a current with a very confused juht By 6 AMthe distant loo north-west, and perceived that all round uslay rocks and dangerous breakers, one bore south-west (a large rock 3 miles) another south-south-west 3 1/2 another south 4 miles and one west 5 miles, that one which bore south-south-west, John Johnson toldseen it ith Mr Black, coer At 8 AMwinds at south hauled her off East
”Before I close this log itrun of bad weather we have had and being so often baffled in our atteer and moreover have seen all the land that lies between its north-west and west points to its south-west points froerous rocks and breakers lie about 7 or 8 miles I now deterht line for this reef for we could not venture too close unto land it having every appearance of a gale from south or south-east either of which blow in on the shore This reef I na on shore on it, this however is only to distinguish it from others for I have not the least doubt but it is what Mr Bass gave itude so well correspond with his I fancy also it is as seen in the Martha schooner in 1799 along with the land, all of which is one islandThus we took leave of this large and fine island where the benevolent hand of Providence has fixed the chief necessaries of life and the means to procure so it would soon blow a gale and a heavy sea up Ias yet had it in my power from the series of unfavourable weather we have had so exactly to comply with the Commander-in-Chief's orders as I could have wished
”Monday, January 25th From noon till half-past 1 PM we run due east 8(the uesUnder the lee of Three Hummock Island in sht--found the tides here to run very strong In theI sent boat on shore with the First Mate and 2 hands, by noon they returned having shot 2 ducks and found a spring of water, so even could they have been got at The footsteps of a ton's Lascars as the foot was measured and found very serous reefs lie off it, one of which (a sunken one) we did not escape by 10 yardsLady Nelson's Reef is east-south-east and west-north-west distance about 30 rees 20 rees 40 hts in it where I would not scruple to anchor in south-south-west, south-east and east winds
”Tuesday, January 26th At half-past 12 bore away for Elephant Rock At 5 PM the south extreme of Three Hummock Island bore south by east distance 19 or 20 's Island bore south-west to west by north distance 11 or 12 miles At 8 PM