96 TIDE RACLS. 



as we rightly conjectured, would leave us in three, 

 at low water.* 



As we had now arrived at the point from which 

 we anticipated carrying on our most important 

 operations, it became of paramount interest to 

 know whether we could rely for that indispensable 

 article, fresh water, upon the resources of the 

 wild and barbarous shores. The vast extent of 

 country; the delightful verdure which clothed 

 great portions of it ; nay, even the evidences of a 

 people living upon its shores, would, under any other 

 circumstances, and on any other coast, have been 

 deemed conclusively to decide this point in the 

 affirmative : but the voyager knows, from flie best 

 authority, that upon the coasts, and within the 

 heart of Australia, nature seems to delight in 

 contradiction, and that she is more than usually 



* The following is Captain King's graphic account of his 

 encounter with this "race:" — "On my way towards Point 

 Swan, we saw from the mast-head a line of strong tide ripplings, 

 extending from the Point in a n, w. by w. direction, within 

 which we at first attempted to pass ; but finding they were 

 connected to the Point, hauled up to steer through them where 

 they seemed to be the least dangerous. As we approached, the 

 noise was terrific; and although we were not more than two 

 minutes amongst the breakers, yet the shocks of the sea were so 

 violent, as to make us fearful for the safety of our masts. A 

 smaller vessel would perhaps have been swamped ; for although 

 the sea was in other parts quite smooth, and the wind light, yet 

 the water broke over the bows, and strained the brig consider- 

 ably." 



