COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
105 
The ebb-tide did not serve to carry us on isis. 
board, and the boat’s crew were so fatigued, by May s. 
having been pulling all day, that we were obliged 
to drop the grapnel within seven miles of the 
cutter to await the turn of tide, so that it was not 
until midnight that we reached the vessel much 
exhausted. 
The next day we left our anchorage, and took 9 . 
up a station within Field Island, intending, if 
possible, to go through the passage between 
Barron and Field Islands. At low water the 
banks dried for a considerable extent, but as 
there was every appearance of the existence 
of a narrow passage between the islands, we 
ran through the next morning at high water ; 10, 
and, in passing the narrows, had over-falls 
between three and fifteen fathoms: as soon 
as we reached a favourable bottom, we an- 
chored in four fathoms, in order to await the 
uncovering of the shoals at low water, so that we 
might see our way on, and construct the chart of 
this entrance with more correctness. Field 
Island is low and thickly wooded, and is sur- 
rounded by a rocky shoal which dries at low 
water, and extends to a considerable distance off 
its N.W. end. The smoke of a fire having been 
seen on the island when we passed, it was pre- 
sumed to have been at that time occupied by 
natives. 
