PASSAGE ALONG THE COAST. 289 



Sept. 19tJt. — Passed Mount Astrolabe^ a series of 

 long' liat-topped ridg-es parallel with the coast^ but 

 were unable clearly to identify the Cape Passy of 

 D'Urville where his running* survey terminated^ and 

 Avhere the Astrolabe and Zelee bore away to the 

 westward for Torres Strait. 



Sept, 20th. — During* the forenoon the Bramble 

 was observed to windward^ and in the afternoon she 

 was sent in-shore to look for anchorao-e. Follo^^'ino• 

 her we stood in towards a remarkable headland (SG-j 

 feet hig'h) which afterwards received the name of 

 Bedscar Head^ from the reddish colour of its cliffs. 

 At the distance of six and a half miles from the 

 shore we struck soundings in twenty-seven fathoms^ 

 and soon afterwards crossed a narrow ridge of coral^ 

 with only five fathoms over it j after this the bot- 

 tom consisted of tenacious mud^ and we carried in 

 from twenty-two to eighteen fathoms^ in the last of 

 Avhich we anchored two miles and tAvo-thirds off the 

 point. 



When Lieut. Yule came on board we heard that 

 since we left the Bramble near Dufaure Island to 

 do the in-shore work, he had on one occasion an 

 affray with the natives in the neighbourhood of the 

 Toulon Islands. When the Bramble Avas nearly 

 becalmed close in-shore^ several canoes with about 

 thirty people^ including* several women and children^ 

 came off to barter. A small pig* was handed up 



* As has often happened the bone of contention did not rest 

 with the belhge rents, for tlie pig was eventually handed over to mc 

 VOL. I. U 



