COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
239 
south point, under which a vessel might securely isi 9 . 
anchor. At 3h. 30m., p.m., Bligh’s Turtle Island July 24 ,. 
was seen, for which we steered ; but, attracted 
by the flattering appearance of an opening in 
Newcastle Bay, we hauled in to examine it. As 
we stood towards it, the soundings were very 
regular until we were within the projecting points 
of the coast, when the quality of the bottom 
changed from mud to sand ; and with this the 
depth began to decrease. The opening trended 
deeply in to the N.W., and bore the character of 
a river with a good port at its embouchure ; the 
heads of which were rocky and apparently bold, 
but the light colour of the water between them indi- 
cated that its entrance was shoal, and would prove 
both intricate and dangerous to pass. Sooner how- 
ever than was expected, the water shoaled to 
three fathoms ; and, before it was possible to 
avoid it, the vessel struck : the helm was put up, 
but she continued to beat on a hard sandy bottom 
as her head paid off. Some time elapsed, for it 
was blowing strong, before the main sheet could 
be hauled in to 44 gybe” the sail ; during which 
the cutter was running along the shoal or bar in 
ten feet water, which was not sufficient to float 
her ; for she struck the ground violently every 
time that the swell passed by. Upon the main 
boom being got over, and the vessel’s heel touch- 
