Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 1.djvu/76

 ' SURVEY OF TIlE INTERTROPICAL 81& sation; arid to raise the mercury in the ther- Feb. 1o. toometer from 79 �$9 � were also assailed by an incredible number of flies and other insects, among which was a beautiful species o libclu. The sea swarmed with turtles, sea- snakes, and fish of various sorts; and the dolphin was eminently conspicuous for its speed, and the varied beauty of its colours. From the Cape, the low sandy land trended to the S.S.E. for a mile and a half, and then with the same character to S.S.W. W., in which direction it was lost in distance; and in the north east, was a low rocky island. The wind fell after passing round the Cape, and was so light during the atmoon, that we made no progress, and were obliged to anchor, at about three or four miles to the eastward of the Cape. At nine o' clock the wind freshened with the flood-tide, which raised a heavy swell in which the cutter rode very n. uneasily: and, in the morning, when we at. tempted to weigh the anchor, the cable parted, having been cut by rocks. Owing to the bad construction of the buoy, it did not watch; and, as the tide quickly swept us from the place, we had no chance left of recovering the anchor. As the sun rose the wind gradually fell; and, at noon, we were no farther advced than a Diiti , GO .ogle

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