116 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
lsis. again underweigh; and, with the flood-tide in 
M^yi9. our favour, made rapid progress. The opening 
had, however, become so much contracted, that 
it was found prudent to have a boat hoisted out, 
with the kedge and a hawser ready if the vessel 
should get on shore. After proceeding two miles 
further, it took a more easterly course, and, as we 
advanced, the general direction of the reaches were 
east and south. Our speculations ran high with 
regard to what it might be, and the proba- 
bility of its being a large river appeared to 
our sanguine minds so certain, that we never 
once fancied it could be. otherwise ; when sud- 
denly the open sea appeared, and, demonstra- 
ting it to be merely a strait, at once dispelled our 
hopes. 
Upon reaching between the two heads, which 
form the south entrance of this Strait, the tide 
turned, and, beginning to run so swiftly back that 
we were prevented from getting out, obliged us 
very reluctantly to return to an anchorage within, 
which was not easily found, as the bottom was 
rocky and thickly studded with shoals. Thj 
anchor was at last dropped at three miles within 
the entrance near an open cliffy bank, on which 
there were two canoes hauled up, but no sign o 
their owners. 
The night was squally, and the tide ran at the 
