Explore "Observations on the Coasts of Van Diemen's Land" by Matthew Flinders on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The extensive passage which separates Van Die-men's Land from New Holland, was named Bass's Strait by governor Hunter. Mr. Bass had visited the north side of it in an open whale boat, from Port Jackson, in January, 1797; and the magnitude of the swell which he found rolling in from the south-westward, strongly indicated its origin to be from the southern Indian Ocean; and came so strong in confirmation of the former suppositions of an existing strait, that His Excellency the governor thought proper to order me in a vessel to ascertain its certainty, by sailing through it. It was with pleasure that I was able to associate Mr.
Bass in the expedition; but much more so, that our success enabled the governor to pay a just tribute to his personal exertions and correct judgment.