162 EASTERN SHORE OF KING's SOUND. 



speculated with eager anticipation upon the pro- 

 bable result of our enterprise. 



Mr. Usborne proceeded in one boat to examine 

 a group of islands, lying six miles N.W. from our 

 anchorage ; Mr. Tarrant and myself in the other, 

 to explore the eastern shore of King's Sound. It 

 was thus again our good fortune to enjoy the 

 exciting pleasure of anticipated discovery; per- 

 chance again to wander over the face of a country, 

 now the desert heritao-e of the solitary sava<je, but 

 fated, we hope, to become the abode of plenty, and 

 the land of peace. 



After passing the extreme N.W. point of the 

 main land, seen from the ship, we discovered a 

 deep bay, which once reached, would afford safe 

 anchorage for a fleet. Near its northern point a large 

 stream of water fell into the sea in glittering cascades; 

 off this a ship may anchor in twelve fathoms within 

 a quarter of a mile ; close to the west is a small 

 sandy beach. Promising to refresh ourselves at 

 this inviting stream, we continued our course to the 

 northward. After passing a deep narrow channel, 

 trending N.W. by W. we met the first rush of the 

 northerly, or ebb stream, which, running at the 

 rate of six or seven knots, swept us through a very 

 small, dangerous opening, between some rocky 

 islets and the main, A small bay fortunately afforded 

 us the means of avoiding a treacherous ledge of 

 sunken rocks, which had the boat touched, at the 

 almost giddy rapidity we were hurried along, our 



