Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/316

 SURVEY 01 TI INTERTROPICAL plying to windward for an hour, the weather tide ceased; when the disadvantage of a lee tide was counterbalanced by smoother water and a steadier breeze. We passed a very anxious night, but without encountering any accident. With day- break the breeze freshened; and, at noon, we were near the small easternmost islet of the group. The afternoon was passed in steering round the northern side of the island; but, before sunset, we had to alter the course twice for shoal water, being at one time within half a mile of a reef that was nearly dry. During this night the cutter was kept under weigh, and, at daylight, was considerably to the westward of our reckoning, from the effect of a current. The land to the westward of the Croco- dile Islands trends deeply in, forming a bay, in which two low wooded islands were noticed. As we steered into it the water shoaled; and, as there. was nothing to induce our persevering, we steered round the next point of land, and anchored, at sunset, to leeward of a shoal projecting in a N.W. direction from the point. The coast falls. back round this point, and forms an unsheltered bay seven or eight miles deep. The following morning our course was held parallel with the shores of the bay, towards a

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