Observations on the Coasts of Van Diemen's Land

The south-eastern parts of this island, received the name of VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, from Abel Janson Tasman, who discovered it more than a century ago.

Since that time, captain Furneaux and others have enlarged our knowledge of the south and east coasts, at different periods; but, though suspected of being separated from New Holland, Van Diemen's Land was not known to be a distinct island, until its circumnavigation was lately accomplished in a small sloop, called the Norfolk, by the order of governor Hunter. It is now found to be thirty leagues distant from any known part of New South Wales. It contains something more than 18,000 square miles of surface; and as far as could be observed, Van Diemen's Land appears to be superior in fertility to the same space of ground in any known part of New South Wales.