Page:Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia, Volume 2.djvu/221

  SCRVi',Y OF THE ]NTERTitO!CAL Is very extensive nncl valuable botanical co]]ectioa Fb. s. that has. been formed upon this voyage. We had a dead 1,, until high-water, during which, as the brig continued to drive with the tide to the southward in from twenty to twenty- four fathoms, over a rocky bottom, I was, unde- termined what course to pursue, in order t preserve the situation, which we had so unex- pectedly reached, and to prevent the ebb-tide from carrying us back through the strait: the bare idea of this impending danger reconciled me to determine upon sacrificing an anchor, for, from the nature of the bottom, it seemed next to impossible that we could recover it, if once dropped. Just, however, as the tide was begin- ning to turn, a breeze sprang up from the west- ward, and at once put an end to our fears and anxieties; all sail was made towards Point Cun- ningham, beyond which no land was visible; but the tide being adverse, and the evening near at hand, we anchored in the bight to the north- west of the Point, which bore S. 32 �seven miles and a half. o. The next day I remained at the anchorage, and despatched Mr. Roe to examine the coast round Point Cunningham; Mr. Baskerville in the mean time sounded about the bay, between the

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