CAPE SHANCK.

Having secured the tail and hind feet we continued our road to Dr. Barker’s station, situated in one of the rich valleys I have spoken of, in an early part of the work, as lying a mile and a half to the North-East of Cape Shanck.

On account of the state of the weather we were obliged to tax this gentleman’s hospitality for two nights, both the early parts of which were passed on Cape Shanck, watching between the clouds for observations.  This cape is a narrow projection of calcareous formation, rendered remarkable by a pulpit-shaped rock lying close off it.  About a mile to the north is a hill 190 feet high, which has been selected for the site of a lighthouse for showing vessels their position off the entrance of Port Phillip.  Being so distant, however, it is of more service for Port Western.

From Dr. Barker I received some curious information respecting the Aborigines.  It appears that there is great hostility between the Port Phillip and Gipps’ Land natives, who occasionally visit each other’s territory for the purposes of war.  So great is the feeling of enmity between them, that they will frequently take a piece of the flesh of their foes and pass it through the skin of their thighs or arms, where they leave it until it withers.

SOUTH CHANNEL.

Returning to the ship we placed a buoy* on the five-fathom bar at the eastern entrance of the South Channel, the bearings from which are Whale Head South 33 degrees West, and Arthur’s Seat South 79 degrees East; Points Nepean and Lonsdale being a little open.  Passing through this channel,** we spent an afternoon within the heads for the purpose of visiting the lighthouse just built on Shortland’s Bluff.*** This I found to be 108 feet high; the lantern, to contain a fixed light, had not been established.  The position of this light being so far within the entrance it is only visible between South-West 1/2 West, and South 1/4 West; and a light placed at the extremity of the rocky ledge off Point Nepean would be of infinitely more service in showing vessels the entrance of the port.

(Footnote.  Another buoy at the east extremity of the bank on the north side of the channel, which is very steep to, and one at the west end of the bank on the south side, would render the navigation free from difficulty, as the banks on either side can be readily made out.)

(**Footnote.  The directions for entering by this line-of-battle ship channel are as follows.  After passing Point Nepean steer for Arthur’s Seat, keeping Point Flinders open south of Lonsdale Point until the last cliffy projection is passed and bears South 1/4 West.  Then steer half a point to the left of Arthur’s Seat, shutting in Point Flinders with Point Nepean, and keeping Point Lonsdale a little open of the latter.  The buoy at the eastern entrance will now soon be made out, and should be kept in line with Arthur’s Seat.  Pass on the north side of the buoy and then haul up South-East until the water shoals to five fathoms, or until Whale Head bears South-West by West; then steer North-East by East for Mount Martha, the next hill north of Arthur’s Seat, until the latter bears South-East, when a course may be shaped for Hobson’s Bay.)