130 THE HEAD OF THE AUSTRALIAN BIGHT 



our position at L. 129.35 E. by 39.20 S. This agreed so 

 well with our dead-reckoning that we were greatly en- 

 couraged, and renewed efforts were made to get further 

 north. 



It was certain now that we were quite four hundred 

 miles from the nearest land, and at the rate we were 

 going it would probably be a week before we sighted it. 

 This anticipation gave occasion for anxiety, as the stock 

 of provisions was getting low, and the cook was instructed 

 to economise the expenditure of it to the utmost. Lines 

 were kept towing, in the hope of catching more fish, but 

 in this we were not very successful ; and it is singular that 

 few fish are ever taken by a vessel under weigh, though 

 the moment she casts anchor they may be pulled up as 

 fast as the hooks can be baited. 



A westerly breeze helped us a good deal on the 5th 

 May, though the weather was again dull and inclined to 

 be hazy. We passed several ships this day, but they were 

 all at a great distance, and probably did not see the signals 

 we made. We were not now in any great danger, but I 

 was anxious to communicate with a passing ship with the 

 object of ascertaining our exact position. More ships were 

 seen on the 6th, and no fewer than seven on the 7th, yet 

 none came very near, and not one answered our signals. 

 Either these were not seen, or were misunderstood, or no 

 lookout was kept on board these vessels. 



After this date we had a spell of fine weather, with 

 light westerly and north-west winds, and we knew that we 

 must be approaching land. My observation placed us 

 considerably more to the northward than we really were, 

 and when on the nth land was sighted, it was supposed 

 to be the coast of Victoria. We reached a beautiful but 

 uninhabited shore at three o'clock in the afternoon, and 

 began to coast southward under the impression that we 

 were nearing Cape Otway. It was soon discovered, how- 

 ever, that we were rounding the southern end of a large 

 island, which we knew could be no other than King's 

 Island in Bass's Strait. Immediately the helm was put 

 to the north, and two days later our adventurous voyage 



