We were now entered into Bass’ Strait; and the subsiding of the sea made me suspect that the large island, concerning which I had made inquiry of captain Baudin, was to windward.  The south part of this island was discovered by Mr. Reid in a sealing expedition from Port Jackson; and before quitting New South Wales in 1799, I had received an account of its lying to the north-west of Hunter’s Isles.  It afterwards appeared that the northern part was seen in January 1801 by Mr. John Black, commander of the brig Harbinger, who gave to it the name of KING’S ISLAND.* Of this I was ignorant at the time; but since it was so very dangerous to explore the main coast with the present south-west wind, I was desirous of ascertaining the position of this island before going to Port Jackson, more especially as it had escaped the observation of Captain Baudin.

[* Grant’s Voyage to New South Wales, page 86.]

Our soundings in the afternoon, and until four in the morning [THURSDAY 22 APRIL 1802] when we tacked to the westward, were from 35 to 28 fathoms, sand and shells.  At eight o’clock, land was seen to the south-west; and at noon our

Latitude observed was 39 deg. 311/4’
Longitude by time keepers, 144 16
King’s Island, south extreme, bore S. 18 W.
King’s Island, a middle hummock, S. 37 W.
King’s Island, northern extreme, S. 74 W.
High main land from the mast head, N. 23 W.

We tacked to the south-south-east at three o’clock, working up for King’s Island, which was distant about five or six leagues directly to windward.  In the night we lay up south, parallel with the east side of the island; but the soundings having diminished to 16 fathoms, I feared we might be approaching a reef of rocks lying off the south-east end, of which Mr. Reid had spoken.  We therefore tacked to the northward at eleven o’clock; and after beating until three in the following afternoon [FRIDAY 23 APRIL 1802], got to an anchor in 9 fathoms, fine sand, under the north-east end of King’s Island; the nearest part of the shore being distant a short half mile, and the extremes bearing S. 37 deg.  E. and N. 69 deg.  W.

A boat was immediately hoisted out, and I landed with the botanical gentlemen.  On stepping out of the boat I shot one of those little bear-like quadrupeds called Womat; and another was afterwards killed.  A seal, of a species different to any yet seen by us, was also procured; its phippers behind were double when compared to the common kinds of seal, and those forward were smaller, and placed nearer to the head; the hair was much shorter, and of a blueish, grey colour; the nose flat and broad; and the fat upon the animal was at least treble the usual quantity.  I never saw the sea elephant, and possibly this might have been a young female; but there was no appearance of any trunk.  A top-mast studding-sail boom, not much injured, was lying near the landing-place; and as I afterwards learned that the wreck of a vessel had been found upon the west side of the island, this boom had probably drifted from thence.