In the woods are the kangaroo, the emu or cassowary, paroquets, and a variety of small birds; the mud banks are frequented by ducks and some black swans, and the shores by the usual sea fowl common in New South Wales.  The range of the thermometer was between 61 deg. and 67 deg.; and the climate appeared to be as good and as agreeable as could well be desired in the month answering to November.  In 1803, colonel Collins of the marines was sent out from England to make a new settlement in this country; but he quitted Port Phillip for the south end of Van Diemen’s Land, probably from not finding fresh water for a colony sufficiently near to the entrance.

Point Nepean is in latitude 38 deg. 18’ south.  The longitude from twelve sets of distances taken by lieutenant Flinders in the port, and six others by me ten days before arriving, the particulars of which are given in Table V. of the Appendix to this volume, is 144 deg. 301/2’ east; but these observations being mostly on one side of the moon, the corrected longitude by time keepers, 144 deg. 38’ east, is preferred.

No observations were taken in the port for the variation of the compass; but at seven leagues to the south-south-west of Point Nepean, azimuths gave 3 deg. 41’ when the ship’s head was at N.E. by E. 1/2 E., and an amplitude at N. N. E. 1/2 E., 6 deg. 48’ east.  The mean of these, corrected to the meridian, will be 7 deg. 30’, or half a degree less than at King’s Island; I therefore take the variation in Port Phillip to have been generally, 7 deg., though at some stations it seemed to have been no more than 6 deg. 30’ east.

The rise of tide is inconsiderable in the upper parts of the port; near the entrance it is from three to six feet.  By the swinging of the ship, which, however, varied at different anchorages, it appeared to be high water two hours and a half after the moon’s passage; but at Point Nepean the time of high water by the shore is said by Mr. Grimes to be only one hour after the moon.  At Western Port, Mr. Bass found high water to take place half an hour after the moon’s passage, and the tide to rise from ten to fourteen feet.  This great increase, in a place so near, seems extraordinary; but may perhaps be accounted for by the meeting of the tides from two entrances, whilst Port Phillip has only one, and that very narrow.

CHAPTER X.

Departure from Port Phillip. 
Cape Schanck. 
Wilson’s Promontory, and its isles. 
Kent’s Groups, and Furneaux’s Isles. 
Hills behind the Long Beach. 
Arrival at Port Jackson. 
Health of the ship’s company. 
Refitment and supply of the ship. 
Price of provisions. 
Volunteers entered. 
Arrangement for the succeeding part of the voyage. 
French ships. 
Astronomical and nautical observations.

[SOUTH COAST. BASS’ STRAIT.]

MONDAY 3 MAY 1802