FIRST NARROW. 



Dec. 1826. 



ground, and the anchor was dropped for the eighth time. The 

 threatening appearances of the clouds, and a considerable fall 

 of the barometer indicating bad weather. Captain Stokes 

 agreed with me in thinking it advisable to await the spring- 

 tides to pass the First Narrow : the ships were therefore made 

 snug for the expected gale, which soon came on, and we 

 remained several days wind-bound, with top-masts struck, in a 

 rapid tide-way, whose stream sometimes ran seven knots. On 

 the 28th, with some appearance of improving weather, we 

 made an attempt to pass through the Narrow. The wind 

 blowing strong, directly against us, and strengthening as we 

 advanced, caused a hollow sea, that repeatedly broke over us. 

 The tide set us through the Narrow very rapidly, but the gale 

 was so violent that we could not show more sail than was abso- 

 lutely necessary to keep the ship under command. Wearing 

 every ten minutes, as we approached either shore, lost us a 

 great deal of ground, and as the anchorage we left was at a 

 considerable distance from the entrance of the Narrows, the 

 tide was not sufficient to carry us through. At slack water 

 the wind fell, and as the weather became fine, I was induced to 

 search for anchorage near the south shore. The sight of kelp, 

 however, fringing the coast, warned me off, and we were obliged 

 to return to an anchorage in Possession Bay. The Beagle had 

 already anchored in a very favourable berth ; but the tide was 

 too strong to permit us to reach the place she occupied, and 

 our anchor was dropped a mile astern of her, in nineteen 

 fathoms. The tide was then running five, and soon afterwards 

 six miles an hour. Had the western tide set with equal 

 strength, we should have succeeded in passing the Narrow. 

 Our failure, however, answered the good purpose of making us 

 more acquainted with the extent of a bank that lines the 

 northern side of Possession Bay, and with the time of the turn 

 of tide in the Narrow ; which on this day (new moon) took 

 place within a few minutes of noon. 



As we passed Cape Orange, some Indians were observed 

 lighting a fire under the lee of the hill to attract our notice ; 

 but we were too busily engaged to pay much attention to 



