the ground was ſo ſtrong, that the two long boats laſhed together were repeatedly filled with water whilſt they were hauling at the buoy-rope. Beſides, it was ſunk ſo deep, that the divers could not find its bill: it would have been better if the main capſtan had been uſed. They then became ſenſible of the neceſſity of doubling the buoy-rope and heaving the anchors from time to time, to prevent them from ſinking too deep in the muddy bottom.
Two boats had been ſent a ſecond time to reconnoitre the north-eaſt ſide of Tempeſt-bay, as far as Cape Taſman. They returned at the end of four days, and it appeared to reſult from their obſervations, that Taſman's head-land and the coaſt of Adventure-bay made part of an iſland ſeparated from Van Diemen's land by the ſea. After they had gone up the channel as far as 43° 17′ S. lat. they were obliged to return for want of proviſions.
2d. My occupations on board did not permit me to go far into the country.
3d. On the following day we traverſed a glade that extended in a north-eaſt direction, and conducted us to the great lake. We had examined the ſouthern ſide of it in a former excurſion, but we wiſhed ſtill to viſit its northern coaſt, the various ſituations of which gave us reaſon to expect
