North Coast: Torres' Strait.~\ 
INTRODUCTION. 
xxix 
been imagined; the approach of night, however, obliged captain Bligh and 
Bligh to anchor, soon afterward, in 8 fathoms. l0 i792° K * 
In this situation, the vessels were so closely surrounded with 
rocks and reefs, as scarcely to have swinging room ; the bottom 
was rocky ; the wind blowing a fresh gale ; and a tide running 
between four and five knots an hour. This anxious night was, 
however, passed without accident; and next morning, Sept. 18, the 
route was continued through the passage, between reefs and rocks, 
which, in some places, were not three quarters of a mile asunder: 
the smallest depth was 4 fathoms. 
On clearing this dangerous pass, which captain Bligh named, 
Bligh' s Farewell, he anchored in 6 fathoms, sandy bottom ; the 
wind blowing strong at S. E. with thick weather. The latitude here 
was io° 5', and longitude 141 0 56'. From north nearly, round by 
the east, to S. 8° E., there was a mass of islands, rocks, and reefs, at 
various distances; but in the western half of the compass, no danger 
was visible; and as far as three miles to the W, N.W., the boats 
found good soundings in 6 and 7 fathoms. 
Sept. 19. The wind moderated; and the vessels steered W. by S. 
until noon, with a depth gradually increasing from 6 to 8 fathoms. 
The latitude was then io° 8|-' south, longitude, by time keeper, 
141 0 31' east, and no land was in sight; nor did any thing more 
obstruct captain Bligh and his associate, in their route to the island 
Timor. 
Thus was accomplished, in nineteen days, the passage from the 
Pacific, or Great Ocean, to the Indian Sea; without other misfortune 
than what arose from the attack of the natives, and some damage 
done to the cables and anchors. Perhaps no space of g~° in 
length, presents more dangers than Torres' Strait; but, with 
caution and perseverance, the captains Bligh and Portlock proved 
them to be surmountable ; and within a reasonable time : how far 
it may be advisable to follow their track through the Strait, will 
appear more fully hereafter. 
