Page:Historical records of Port Phillip.djvu/100

 88 EAELY RECOKDS OF PORT PHILLIP. and hazy wr. ; 20 past 1 down jolly boat, sounded, found no ground at 300 fthms. ; at 7 took in top giant, sails ; at 8 calm, with a heavy swell from the S.W. Saturday, 8. Winds vble. to the N.E., W.N.W., W.b.S. a.m.— Light breezes and cloudy. At 1 double reefd f. sails ; at 8 fresh breezes ; set the top gal sails at 10. Made the land a head S.E.b.E. 8 leags.; sounded in 52 fms., brown sand and gravel; bent the small bower cable. Tack'd ship to the west, the N.West. Extremity of Kings Island at N.E., and the southern do. at S.E.b.E. 3 remarkable sand hills E.N.E., east, and E.b.S. Sounded in 53 fms., coarse brown sand and gravel ; off the shore 8 or 9 miles. Obserd the sea to break northerly on the N. end of New Year Island, a small island that joins Kings. Lat. obsd., 39° 50 S. P.M. — Fresh breezes and squally wr. ; at 1 tkd. ship to the north ; at 3 strong breezes, with heavy squalls. Split the main topsail, and down top glut, sails. At 4 hard squalls, a very heavy west swell, and the sea going over the poop ; at 7 sounded, found no ground at 45 fms. ; at 8 up F. sail ; sounded 37 fathms., brown sand ; at 11 blowing very hard, and ship labouring very much ; at 12 strong gales, and a very high sea beating against us. Sunday, 9. a.m. — Wind W.N.W., W.b.S. Strong gales and squally. Sounded in 40 fathms. Carried away the larboard tiller rope. At 30 past A.M., set fr. stay sail. At 30 past 1 set f. sail. Sounded in 40 fathms — coarse brown sand. At 5, saw the land about Port Phillip to the N. b. E. The land near the entrance of the harbour appeared low land, and at a distance very beautiful.^ Seal Island, S.E. E., and Whales Point, W. b. S. (named so by Capt. Woodriff, the head being very much like one) : it is on the larboard side as you enter the harbour. At 15 past 10 we an chord with the best bower in 6 fathms ; found laying here the Ocean transport, which arrived on Friday the 7 of Oct. When moord ship we had the following bearings : — The east side of the enterance West, and the east end of the long island N.E. E. off the south shore, mile. A very fine country to appearance, but no water but salt lakes — N. West.- The Where -East. Ship. we laid. South. P.M. — Fresh breezes and clear wr. Employed clearing away the booms, &c. Out launch at 4. Moord ship with the small bower to the west- ' " The face of the country bordering on the port is beautifully picturesque, swelling into gentle elevations of the brightest verdure, and dotted with trees as if planted by the hand of taste, while the ground is covered with a profusion of flowers of every colour ; in short, the external appearance of the country flattered us into the most delusive dreams of fruitfulness and plenty. " The soil (except in a few places where marl is found mixed with vegetable mould) is invariably sandy, and its blackness proceeds from the ashes of the burnt grass, which has everywhere been set fire to by the natives. The proportion of sand varies, and in some spots the soil may be sufiiciently strong [to produce vegetables, and perhaps Indian corn ; but it may safely be asserted that (excepting a few acres at the head of the port) no