The high part of Cape-Barren Island, but particularly the peak, may be seen eleven, and perhaps more leagues from a ship’s deck.  The extremity of the cape is a low point, which runs out two miles east from the high land; and off this point lies a flat, rocky islet and a peaked rock.  The shore is sandy on each side of the Cape point:  it trends N. 40 deg.  W., for about five miles, on one side, and S. 49 deg.  W., past two sandy bights on the other, to a rocky projection on which are two whitish cones, shaped like rhinoceros’ horns.

We steered south-westward, in the evening, round the Cape point, and were sufficiently close to hear the bellowing of the seals upon the islet.  Arrived off Cone Point, the schooner was hauled offshore; and the wind becoming strong and unfavourable in the night, it was not until the evening of the 12th, that we got to anchor in Hamilton’s Road, at the east end of Preservation Island.  This road is sheltered from all winds, except between south and S. S. E.; and these do not throw in much sea:  the bottom is good-holding sand, in from 4 to 3 fathoms, at a quarter of a mile from the beach.

The ship Sydney Cove had been run on shore between Preservation and Rum Islands, and part of her hull was still lying there; but the sea thrown in by western gales had, in great measure, broken her up, and scattered the beams, timbers, and parts of the cargo, upon all the neighbouring shores.

My purpose of making an expedition amongst the islands was delayed by the schooner’s boat being out of repair; but in the mean time, a base line was measured round the sandy north-east end of Preservation Island, and angles taken from all the conspicuous points.

Feb. 16.  The boat was fitted, and I made an excursion of five days, through the channel which separates the land of Cape Barren from the more southern islands.  It is called ARMSTRONG’S CHANNEL, from the master of the Supply, who had gone to afford assistance in saving the cargo of the Sydney Cove, and was the first to pass through it on his return towards Port Jackson; but he never arrived there, having, in all probability, perished at sea with his sloop and crew.  The stations whence angles were taken for a survey of the channel and surrounding lands, were—­1st. Point Womat, a rocky projection of Cape-Barren Island, where a number of the new animals, called womat, were seen, and some killed. 2nd. Battery Island; so named from four rocks upon it, resembling mounted guns; sooty petrels, and large hair seals were found there. 3rd.  The sandy north-east point of Clarke’s Island; which, with the opposite Sloping Point, forms the narrowest part of the channel.  Its width was found to be three-quarters of a mile, but is somewhat contracted by rocks lying on the south side.  These rocks were also frequented by hair seals, and some of them (the old males) were of an enormous size, and of extraordinary power.  I levelled my gun