8 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1817. 
Dec. 29, 
SO. 
1818. 
Jan. 2. 
night, and the little elevation of the land. Our 
sounding in seven fathoms was the first indica- 
tion of danger ; and, on listening attentively, the 
noise of the surf upon the beach was distinctly 
heard. The next morning we passed through 
Banks’ Strait, and entered Bass’ Strait ; but 
the wind was so light and baffling, that we made 
no progress until the 2d of January ; when, with 
a freshening breeze from the eastward, we moved 
rapidly on our way, and flattered ourselves with 
the hope of clearing the strait before night. In 
this hope we were not deceived; but before it was 
effected, we had very nearly suffered from the 
careless look-out of the man at the mast-head. 
At four o’clock we were near Three Hummock 
Island, and steered so as to pass close to its 
northern point, in order that we might obtain a 
correct latitude for sights for the chronome- 
ters. Being within half-a-mile of it, rocks were 
suddenly seen outside and so close to us, 
that it was then too late either to haul up or 
bear away ; the rocks to windward and the land 
to leeward preventing us : nothing was therefore 
left to us but to proceed and take the chance of 
finding sufficient depth of water between the 
point and the rocks ; providentially there proved 
to be a passage of one-eighth of a mile wide, 
and the cutter passed safely through. These 
