444 Transactions. 



same time I sent the whaleboat with two other hawsers to join 

 on to those of the other boat whilst we hauled on our anchor : 

 but by a new fatality, at the moment when the two boats ap- 

 proached one another, the current, which up to that time had 

 been quite moderate, returned with violence towards Tasman 

 Bay, and rapidly carried the boats away, each on its own side. 

 All attempts for the moment became useless. Thus we remained 

 with the anchor apeak ; the whaleboat was hauled to the ship 

 with its hawser ; and I gave the order to the long-boat to 

 remain at anchor. 



At 11.30 a.m. the current still ran with the same force, and, 

 fearing that the time of high water would be too short to execute 

 our movements, I sent M. Lottin towards the long-boat with 

 orders to haul up the stream-anchor, and to let it go near the 

 corvette, so that the end of the three hawsers could be brought 

 on board. This was carried out with success. At 1.30 p.m. we 

 had hold of the end of the hawsers ; the great anchor was lifted, 

 and we hauled on the stream-anchor. 



At 3 p.m. we let go another anchor in 5J fathoms of water, 

 on the edge of the sand-bank, and at 500 fathoms from either 

 side of the channel. We now found ourselves in position to get 

 under way at the first favourable wind. 



In the evening, accompanied by several of the officers, I again 

 visited the shores of the island [D'Urville Island]. I wished to 

 penetrate into the interior, but the thickets and the steep slopes 

 of the hills soon stopped me. From Reef Point I again atten- 

 tively examined the pass, and promised myself to accomplish 

 the passage the day following, if the weather permitted. In 

 returning on board, our boat was surrounded by the foaming 

 whirlpools of the pass, and we had some trouble to disengage 

 ourselves. Nevertheless, on that occasion we ascertained that 

 their aspect was very much more fearful than dangerous — at 

 least, in manoeuvring carefully. 



In the morning some Natives came from Admiralty Bay as 

 far as the reefs of the pass, and communicated with our people, 

 but they would not venture on board. When we entered Cur- 

 rent Basin we noticed near Lebrun Peninsula a small village. 

 and when M. Guilbert was on the top of the hills which overlook 

 the two bays he saw another village underneath him, on the 

 side towards Admiralty Bay. None of the Natives of these 

 villages showed themselves, although they could not have been 

 ignorant of our presence. The tribes of these parts probably 

 only knew of Europeans by tradition, and not one of them dared 

 to make a closer acquaintance with us. 



During the evening and the night the eternal west wind 

 blew with violence in heavy squalls. At this time our position 



