306 
LENT BAY. 
but being rather alarmed, and anxious, he had omitted giving us 
notice that we should pass such a shallow spot. The entrance is 
narrow, as not half a cable's length to larboard we found a quarter 
less one. Mr. Maxfield kept to starboard under bare poles, but 
came in very fast. He had nothing to fear where we had passed. 
It blew a gale all night, and we had reason to be thankful that we 
had safely entered this bason. We were sufficiently protected from 
the swell, and had excellent holding ground, a fine blue clay ; yet 
never did we run a greater risk than in entering. Not knowing 
the place, we were obliged to trust to a pilot with whom we could 
have no communication, except through an interpreter. He was 
alarmed ; the ship was going at the rate of five knots an hour, 
and the evening was dark; yet, with all this, we were to pass a 
strait where a mistake of half a cable would have carried us to 
destruction. 
February 27. — It blew too fresh in the morning to heave our 
anchors. Perceiving that the shore next to us was formed of a 
parcel of islands covered with trees, a party was sent off to cut 
some wood. Mr. Salt and my servant went in the boat; they 
returned at nine. Mr. Salt could find no plants ; and he reported that 
these islands, at low water, are connected with the main land, and 
that they are only a kind of sunderbunds, composed of the rack tree, 
with a reef of rocks towards the sea protecting the whole line. My 
servant shot one of the very large grey birds, that we have often mis- 
taken for natives ; it stands nearly six feet upright. By the meridian 
altitude we made yesterday but seven miles. Though the Panther 
sails better for the ballast we took in, yet, from her great height 
above the water, she makes hardly any way against a foul wind, 
