After taking on board our seals and gannets, we steered north-westward; and at one o’clock took a departure from the Sisters.  I wished to make another effort to find the supposed Furneaux’s Land, represented to lie north of these islands and in latitude 39 deg.; but the wind being strong from the south-eastward, the course steered was N. by E. At eight o’clock we had passed the 39th degree; and no land being visible, the course was then altered to north-east, for Cape Howe.

Jan. 9, the wind blew strong at S. S. E., with thick, hazy weather.  At eight in the morning, high land was distinguished two points on the weather bow, and sand hills from thence to abaft the lee beam, not more than six or seven miles distant.  We immediately hauled the wind to the eastward, and carried every sail the sloop could bear in such a sea as was then running.  The land to windward was judged to be near the Ram Head; although our reckoning was 20’ short in latitude, and we supposed ourselves to the eastward.

To make certain of clearing Cape Howe, the eastern course was prolonged until day-light of the 10th; we then bore away, and at noon were in latitude 37 deg. 5’.  On the 11th, the observation gave 34 deg. 30’; and the gale still continuing, we anchored within the heads of Port Jackson at ten o’clock the same evening, having exceeded, by no more than eleven days, the time which had been fixed for our return.

To the strait which had been the great object of research, and whose discovery was now completed, governor Hunter gave, at my recommendation, the name of BASS’ STRAIT.  This was no more than a just tribute to my worthy friend and companion, for the extreme dangers and fatigues he had undergone in first entering it in the whale boat, and to the correct judgment he had formed from various indications, of the existence of a wide opening between Van Diemen’s Land and New South Wales.

FLINDERS. 1799.

The success of this expedition favoured my views of further discovery; and the Reliance not being immediately wanted for service, His Excellency accepted a proposition to explore Glass-house and Hervey’s Bays, two large openings to the northward, of which the entrances only were known.  I had some hope of finding a considerable river discharging itself at one of these openings, and of being able by its means to penetrate further into the interior of the country than had hitherto been effected.

The sloop Norfolk was again allotted to me, with nearly the same volunteer crew as before; and I was accompanied by Mr. S. W. Flinders, a midshipman of the Reliance, and by Bongaree, a native, whose good disposition and manly conduct had attracted my esteem.  Of the assistance of my able friend Bass I was, however, deprived, he having quitted the station soon after our last voyage, to return to England.  The time of my absence was limited by the governor to six weeks, some arrivals being then expected which might call the Reliance into active service.