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1798               from thence, of the northside of the island, – the channel between it and
February       the larger island, – and also of the southern land, whose connection with the main coast of Van Diemens Land I was anxious to ascertain. But though its height did not seem to prevent the attempt, yet the thickness of the brush made it apparent that the labour of a few hours or perhaps a day would not be sufficient to accomplish it: carrying the instruments without which our going up would have been of little service.
    Having taken angles at two stations on that shore, we passed round to the rocky part which has the two conic eminences upon it, through the channel by the northern end of the two islands.* We met the flood tide here; and although it had made little more than an hour, and the boat was going with as much wind on the quarter as would be of any service, yet, in particular parts, it was only by the nicest steerage that we could make head way: its rate must have been more than four knots.
    On the smooth, sloping parts of Rocky Point, there were many seals, most of whom precipitated themselves into the water as we rowed by. We had before seen several, particularly on a small barren island near the center of a westward channel, which, from the similitude of four rocks upon it to mounted guns well elevated, is called Battery Island; but on this
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* since called Passage Islands