Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/80

44 persons on board were disposed to eat. Most of the time we kept in our berths, which were warm and dry. The motion of the vessel was too great to allow a person to walk, or even to stand without hold, and we were unable from this cause combined with sickness, to wash or shave.

Some Black and Wandering Albatrosses were continually soaring around us; and a flock of the beautiful Petrels, called Cape Pigeons, kept close to our stern, generally on the wing, but often swimming, or running on the water after anything cast from the ship. The wind howls, and the sea rages in vain to these birds. They keep on the wing in the fiercest tempests, and swim with ease on the most boisterous waves. It was a trying time for all on board, especially for the poor women and children; into whose quarters the water several times found its way in torrents. The perplexities that sometimes arose, occasioned some of the soldiers to quarrel and swear, even when the vessel seemed ready to be overwhelmed; so inveterate was this evil habit! It was a season of trial both of our faith and patience; but the belief that we were in our right places was sustaining.

On the morning of the 4th of 6th month, land was descried through the hazy atmosphere, and all sail was made with a varying but generally favourable wind, till we came distinctly in view of Cape Sorell, at the entrance of Macquarie Harbour. On approaching nearer, we were thrown into much perplexity, no signal being made from the pilot's station for an hour and a half, either to approach nearer or to stand off. During this time we stood backward and forward outside the dangerous bar, which is of wide extent, while the sea was again getting up. At length, when about to run back for shelter to Port Davey, we were descried, and a signal to enter was hoisted. We immediately stood in, and in a few minutes the opportunity to return was past. The pilot put off, knowing better than ourselves, our danger: his boat could only be seen now and then above the billows; but he was soon alongside, and ordered all the sails to be squared, that we might go right before the wind. On coming on board, he commanded the women and children below, and then came to me, and advised me to go below also. I replied, that if we were lost I should