[* Upon the top of Mount Table, the compass has since been found to vary as much as 20 deg., from one part of the mountain to another.]

In Risdon Cove the tide rises between four and five feet, which is more, by at least a foot, than it appeared to be at the entrance of the river.  The time of high water is about eight hours after the moon’s passage over the meridian, or one hour later than in Adventure Bay.* In the narrow parts, above Sullivan Cove, the tides run with tolerable regularity, and with some degree of strength; but towards the entrance of the river, the water at the surface sometimes ran down twelve hours together, and at other times as much upwards, whilst the rise and fall by the shore were at the usual periods.  These anomalies were probably occasioned by the wind, and seemed not to extend far below the surface; for I found a counter current at the bottom.

[* See Bligh’s Voyage to the South Seas; page 53.]

The banks of the Derwent are not remarkably high, but the country in general may be termed mountainous.  Mount Table, at the back of Sullivan Cove, is supposed to be three-quarters of a mile in height; nor do I think, from having seen it beyond the distance of thirty miles from the sloop’s deck, that it can be much less.  The publication of Mr. Bass’ remarks upon the soil and productions of this part of Van Diemen’s Land dispenses me from entering upon those subjects; it is sufficient to say, that the reports of them were so favourable as to induce the establishment of a colony on the banks of the Derwent, four years afterward; and that the discoveries which have since been made are marked in the chart.

1799.

The last day of December and the first of January were occupied in beating down to the entrance of the river.

Jan. 2.  The wind blew strong from the south-east, with heavy rain; and finding no advantage could be made by beating in Storm Bay, we ran into D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel, passed the large North-west Port, and anchored in Pruen Cove, in 4 fathoms.  We landed, so soon as the rain cleared away, and found a small creek in which the water was fresh at a few hundred yards above where it falls into the cove.  A tree had been felled on the bank, probably in 1793 or 4 by Mr. Hayes, who called this stream Amelia’s River; but it would be very difficult to fill casks here, except when long continued rains should bring the fresh water to the entrance of the creek.  The valley through which it comes from the westward, seemed to be of a rich, though damp soil.

On Jan. 3, having a breeze at north-west, we got under way at daylight; and after repassing the northern entrance of D’Entrecasteaux’s Channel, steered across Storm Bay.  At two clock I had the following bearings: 

Tasman’s Head.  S. 37 deg.  W.
Cape Frederik Henry, S. 71 W.
Quoin Island, distant six miles, N. 28 W.
Low point, distant 11/4 miles, N. 6 E.
Cape Raoul,* distant 3 miles, S. 71 E.