440 Transactions. 



that it took some time to clear them. Lastly, at 4 p.m. all 

 was ready, and we let go the smaller anchor with the little 

 chain in 21 fathoms, gravel and shells, at a good cable's length 

 from the shore ; afterwards the stream-anchor was lifted. 



It was not until then that the crew, which had worked hard 

 ever since 4 a.m., and had only had a quarter of an hour's 

 respite for breakfast, could take their dinner. On that occasion 

 I remarked that the sailors, naturally idle and grumblers in 

 ordinary bad times, showed themselves active, submissive, and 

 even resigned in the dangers we had seen. That observation 

 gave me great pleasure, as showing what they were capable of 

 in decisive moments. 



In the evening we occupied ourselves in clearing up the 

 poop, which was more encumbered with chains and warps 

 than it had ever been before, and in preparing for the manoeuvres 

 which remained to be executed to take us into Current Basin. 



During that time, accompanied by M. Guilbert, who had 

 returned from his excursion, I embarked in the whaleboat to 

 visit the pass. What I ascertained this time convinced me 

 that it would be very imprudent to risk the passage before 

 being well acquainted with it, as well as the part of the sea 

 beyond, in Admiralty Bay, and it was at that moment impos- 

 sible to sound either one or the other. The current had turned, 

 and now ran toward Admiralty Bay, but its action was too 

 irregular, and the sea boiled in whirlpools in a frightful manner. 

 The N.W. point was continued in a chain of rocks just showing, 

 and which, by closing three-fourths of the pass, stopped the 

 waters in their course, and formed a bar almost continuous 

 in the only open part. The effect of this contraction of the 

 mass of water was felt in our basin, and its surface was more 

 elevated than that of the water of Admiralty Bay. With the 

 whaleboat it required all the force of six men to pull against 

 the current outside the main stream, so one may judge of its 

 impetuosity in its true sphere of action. There was reason to 

 believe that low water would be the most favourable time t" 

 attempt the passage ; but at that time the current was con- 

 trary, and the kelp of a favourable and constant breeze would 

 be indispensable. Almosl touching the bar, and opposite the 

 east point, I found 20, 25. up to 40 fathoms depth. A crowd 

 of cormorants, perched on the hushes on the opposite shore, 

 were the sole guardians of this basin.* 



* In reference i" these cormorants or shags, i1 is interesting to read 

 the Maori account of the (mythical) formation of the I'Yench Pass by a 

 cormorant named Te Kawau-a-Toru. Sec "Journal, Polynesian Society," 

 vol. ii, p. 53 <t seq. The Maori name of the pass is " Te Aumiti." — 

 (Teahblatob.) 



