Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/176

 ] 1�RVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL s&  underweigh; aad, with the flood-tide in *y. our.favour, made rapid progress. The .opening had, however, .become.so much contracted, that it was found prudent to have a boat hoisted out, with the kedge and a hawser ready if the vessel should get on shore. Air proceeding two miles further, it took a more easterly course, and, as advanced, the general direction of the reaches were east and south. Our speculations ran high with regard to what it might be, .and the proha- bility .of its being a large river appeared to our sanguine minds so certain, that we never once fancied it could be otherwise; when .sud- denly the open sea appeared, and, demonstra- ting it to be merely a strait, at once dispelled.our hopes. Upon reaching.between the two heads,. which form the south entrance of this Strait, the tide turned, and, beginning to run so swiftly back that we were prevented from getting out, obliged us very reluctantly to return to an anchorage within, which was not easily found, as the bottom was rocky and thickly studded with shoals. The anchor was at last dropped at three miles within the entrance near an open cliffy bank, on which there were two canoes hauled up, but no sign.of their owners. The night was squally, and 'the tide ran at the

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