North-West side, under New Year
Island, which affords shelter for a few vessels from all winds. There is
a narrow passage between the two, but none between them and the southern
point of the bay, which is open to the north-west. On the summit of one
of these islands boulders of granite are strewed, and they exhibit a very
remarkable white appearance from seaward when the sun has passed his
meridian.

A SEALER'S FAMILY.

A sealer had established himself on the north island with two wives,
natives of Tasmania. They were clothed in very comfortable greatcoats
made of kangaroo skins, and seemed quite contented with their condition.
Their offspring appeared sharp and intelligent. In another part of my
work I shall touch more fully on the history of these sealers, who style
themselves Residents of the islands. They further distinguish their
classes by the names of Eastern and Western Straits-men, according to the
position of the islands they inhabit.

The sealers on New Year Island had a large whaleboat, which I was
somewhat puzzled to know how they managed, there being but one man among
them. He informed me, however, that his wives, the two native women,
assisted him to work the boat, which had been well prepared for the rough
weather they have to encounter in Bass Strait by a canvas half-deck,
which, lacing in the centre, could be rolled up on the gunwale in fine
weather.

THE MUTTON BIRD.

The principal occupation of these people during this month of the year is
taking the Sooty Petrel, called by the colonists the Mutton Bird, from a
fancied resemblance to the taste of that meat. It is at the present month
that they resort to the island for the purpose of incubation. They
constitute the chief sustenance of the sealers, who cure them for use and
sale: their feathers also form a considerable article of trade. Many
parts of the island were perfectly honeycombed with their burrows, which
greatly impede the progress of the pedestrian, and are in some cases
dangerous from snakes lying in them. The sealers told me that they had
lost a cat which died within an hour after the bite of one of these
reptiles. We here found cabbages and water, and the people informed us
that it was always their custom to plant a few vegetables on the islands
they frequented.

From the top of this island we had a good view of the Harbinger reefs,
so-called from a convict ship of that name which was lost upon them and
all hands perished. I was g