S34 GALE OFF CAPE LEUWEN. 



were unceasingly attended by those majestic birds 

 and monarchs of the ocean — the White Albatross, 

 (Diomedia exulans,) which with steadily expanded 

 winffs sailed o^racefullv over the surface of the rest- 

 less main in solemn silence, like spectres of the deep ; 

 their calm and easy flight coursing each wave in its 

 hurried career seemed to mock the unsteady motion 

 of our little vessel as she alternately traversed the 

 deep hollows and lofty summits of the high-crested 

 seas. 



July 6. — It was our intention to have passed 

 through Bass Strait, but finding we were unable to 

 weather King Island bore up on the 6th for Hobar- 

 ton. On the evening of the same day we were by a 

 sudden change of the wind placed in one of those 

 perilous situations in which both a good ship and 

 sound gear are so much required ; the wind, which 

 had been northerly throughout the day, about 8 p.m. 

 veered round to west, blowing a heavy gale with a 

 high sea ; and since we had now run about halfway 

 along Van Diemen's Land, left us with an extensive 

 and dangerous shore under our lee. Through the 

 dismal frloom of the nifjlit, during^ which there was 

 incessant rain with a succession of heavy squalls, the 

 angry voice of nature seemed indeed to be raised in 

 menace against us, and it was not until the close of 

 the next day that a slight abatement of the weather 

 relieved our anxiety for the safety of the ship. Dur- 

 ing the night the wind backed round to the N.W. 

 and the sky became once more partially clear. 

 Early on the mornin<T of the 8th we descried the 



