COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
253 
rupted by a reef, which connected the islets on 1 ^ 9 
either side of us ; being thus embayed, we were Au s?- 
obliged to anchor, but as the wind was light, no 
danger was anticipated, Mr. Roe was sent in a 
boat to sound about our anchorage : on his re- 
turn, he reported the water to be of tolerably even 
depth, excepting to the southward, where there 
was a spit, on which the least water was four 
and three quarters fathoms, beyond which it 
deepened again. 
As the night advanced, the wind freshened 
from the S.E. and rendered our situation ex- 
tremely unsafe. When the tide made against 
the wind, the swell rose and caused our only re- 
maining anchor to drag; more cable was instantly 
veered ; but as the vessel did not bring up, and we 
were drifting towards the reef, no alternative was 
left but to weigh and keep under sail; which, 
during a long and dark night, and near so exten- 
sive a reef, was running great risk. Our loss of 
anchors was now much felt, for no sooner were we 
under sail than the wind died away ; and, from 
the heavy swell, the cutter was so ungovernable, 
that the vessel twice missed stays in endeavour- 
ing to tack in shoal water; fortunately the 
water deepened again on standing on, or nothing 
could have prevented our going on shore. After 
