CHAPTEE IV 



1848-1850 



THE whole cruise of the Rattlesnake lasted almost 

 precisely four years, her stay in Australian waters 

 nearly three. Of this time altogether eleven months 

 were spent at Sydney, namely, July 16 to October 

 11, 1847; January 14 to February 2, and March 9 

 to April 29, 1848 ; January 24 to May 8, 1849 ; and 

 February 14 to May 2, 1850. The three months of 

 the first northern cruise were spent in the survey of 

 the Inshore Passage the passage, that is, within the 

 Great Barrier Eeef for ships proceeding from India 

 to Sydney. In 1848, while waiting for the right 

 season to visit Torres Straits, a short cruise was 

 made in February and March, to inspect the light- 

 houses in Bass' Straits. It was on this occasion that 

 Huxley visited Melbourne, then an insignificant town, 

 before the discovery of gold had brought a rush of 

 immigrants. 



The second northern cruise of 1848, which lasted 

 nine months, had for its object the completion of the 

 survey of the Inner Passage as far as New Guinea 

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