FIRST VIEWS OF THE BIGHT 115 



ward, and kept the Swan rocking in a troublesome and 

 often in a dangerous way ; and the advisability of returning 

 to Adelaide was more than once debated. 



We were four days out of sight of land, and on the 

 morning of the 12th high cliffs were seen right ahead, 

 apparently about twenty miles distant. In three hours 

 we were near enough to see the surf breaking at the foot 

 of the rocks, and dashing the foam high up the face of 

 the cliffs. There was not even a strip of beach here, and a 

 landing was clearly impossible in the teeth of the half-gale 

 which was blowing from the south-east. We therefore 

 stood along the coast to the westward making a good 

 eiisg; and running before the wind at six or seven knots, 

 which was all that could be screwed out of the little 

 Szvan. 



Either owing to currents, or from the strength of 

 the insetting sea, the boat showed a tendency to warp 

 inshore, and it was considered necessary to tack and work 

 out to sea. The wind moderated during the night, 

 though the heavy swell continued, and in the morning the 

 land was quite out of sight. We had a trying day, several 

 waves broke over us, and we expected to be swamped. 

 Our escapes were so marvellous that I do not wonder 

 at sailors believing in the " sweet little cherub," or some 

 other form of special Providence. 



On the 14th the land again hove in sight, and we 

 determined to attempt to reach it, for the Swan seemed 

 strained and was making a good deal of water. At four 

 o'clock in the afternoon we were within a mile of some 

 lofty cliffs that showed clumps of bushes on their faces, 

 and as if in answer to our prayers, thought, if not actually 

 uttered, the weather underwent a sudden change, and 

 the wind dropped to a light breeze. The cliffs here, 

 however, descended sheer to the water, and we could 

 not see a landing place, nor could we find anchorage. 

 We had not line enough to take deep soundings ; but 

 the depth exceeded fifty fathoms a mile from the 

 shore. 



We thought we might venture to stand along the 



