PASS THROUGH CLARENCE STRAIT, 6 



up south, into the middle of the channel, crossing a 

 ridge of 5J fathoms; Ant Cliffs bearing VV. S. W. five 

 miles, and three or four from the shore. This ridge 

 appears to be thrown up at the extremity of the 

 flats fronting the shore. On deepening the water 

 to 10 and 12 fathoms, the course was changed to 

 W. J S., passing midway between North Vernon Isle 

 and Cape Gambler, where the width of the channel 

 is seven miles, though the whole of it is not avail- 

 able for the purposes of navigation, a long detached 

 reef lying three miles from the Cape, and a small 

 one two miles from the North Vernon Isle.* The 

 tide hurried the Beagle past between these reefs 

 with some rapidity, the soundings at the time being 

 19 fathoms. 



Having cleared Clarence Strait, and found it to 

 be perfectly navigable with common precaution, 

 (which in a slight degree enhanced the value of the 

 discovery of the Adelaide), our course was directed 

 for a bay to the southward, which Captain King 

 had not examined. A very refreshing cool north- 

 westerly sea breezef had just succeeded a short calm. 

 Passing four miles from the western extremity of 



* These isles, three in number, lying quite in the centre of 

 the western entrance of the Strait, are fringed with extensive coral 

 reefs. There are, however, deep passages between them. 



f The sea breeze prevailing fx-om the westward through 

 Clarence Strait, the passage to Port Essington from the west- 

 ward, during the easterly monsoon, migjjt be more easily made 

 by passing through it, instead of working along the north side of 

 Melville Island. 



B 2 



