Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/42

12 depth is fathomable, or to use a sea term "within soundings." It has this colour generally, from the Cape of Good Hope to about opposite the island of Amsterdam.—A small sail was seen to the northward. The number of vessels sighted since we left England, has only been about six. One of these, in the Atlantic, was of piratical appearance and suspicious movements. We had no defence but in the Lord; our trust was in him; we lifted up our hearts to him in prayer for protection; and were separated by a thunder storm from the object of our fears, when it seemed to be bearing down upon us: thus, if these fears were not groundless, were we "delivered from unreasonable and wicked men."

The south-west coast of V. D. Land is mountainous. Some of its features reminded us of the north front of the Cleveland-hills of Yorkshire, but it is more lofty and rugged, and the scattered herbage and bushes upon it looked as brown as an English heath.—Large bubbles ascended in slow succession to the surface of the ocean, while we were becalmed opposite Port Davey; numerous animalcules were sporting on the surface, and fringed Jelly-fishes tinged with purple or crimson, were swimming at various depths. Several sharks were cruising around the vessel.—In the course of our voyage, a few Grey Sharks, 6 to 8ft. long, were captured by means of hooked lines, baited with pork. When a vessel is making four knots, or miles, an hour, a shark cannot take the bait; because the voracious animal is under the necessity of turning on one side to siezeseize [sic] its prey, and before this can be effected, the bait has passed beyond reach. To remedy this the bait was hawled close under the stern, and line given out, so as to render the bait still upon the water; it was then immediately seized. One of these sharks had several Sucking-fish adhering to it, some of them within its gills. These fish when suffered to fasten on the hand, produced a strange and unpleasant sensation. The heart of the Shark being taken out of the body, and put into a bucket of salt water, continued to beat for several minutes.

During the night of the 6th, we passed to the south of V. D. Land. The sea again assumed its dark blue colour. Three large Grampuses came close to the vessel: they made