]^*lay 1829- SHARP FROST BOATS IN DANGER. 



" During this night and the preceding it froze sharply; but 

 the sky was so clear, that I observed many sets of distances, 

 on each side the moon. 



" 20th. We went eastward through the little channel. Every 

 thing was frozen ; and the boafs sails were useless until thawed. 

 We left Donkin Cove directly after noon, and with a fresh and 

 fair wind, steered towards Pecket Harbour. I may as well 

 mention here my reasons for taking this course, instead of going 

 farther westward. 



" Considering our very limited time, and provisions, I 

 wished to do first what was most useful ; and to find a new 

 passage, seemed to me the primary object. Having surveyed the 

 narrow winding channel, and proved its navigability for vessels 

 of any class ; I thought it desirable to ascertain next the 

 nature of the separation between Otway Water and the Strait 

 of Magalhaens, between Laredo Bay and Pecket Plarbour. 



" A western passage might be sought by the Adelaide 

 schooner, or by myself, at a future time. If we tried to cross 

 the Skyring Water, our success would be very doubtful, for 

 during the whole time we had been in the channel, the wind 

 blew strong from S.W., raising so much sea, that it was with 

 great difficulty I could sound outside the western entrance, 

 even in a whale-boat. 



" A fine breeze carried us rapidly eastward ; but it freshened 

 too fast, reef after reef was taken in, until at two o'clock we 

 were obliged to lower the sail, and pull to windward ; for as 

 far as we could see, the shore continued unbroken, flat, and 

 low, with a high surf breaking on it. To have attempted to 

 land, would have been folly ; and as the wind continued to 

 increase, and a current setting to windward caused a very short 

 awkward sea, I sent Mr, Stokes off in the cutter, under his 

 small close-reefed sails, to hang to windward as long as he 

 could carry sail, while I kept the whale-boat head to wind. 

 At three oVlock, we were embayed, and about a mile from the 

 shore. My boat was deeply laden, and as our clothes and bags 

 got soaked, pulled more heavily. We threw a bag of fuel over- 

 board, but kept everything else to the last. At sunset the sea 



