COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
353 
laid out astern to check her ; but before we could im 
extricate her from the dangerous situation in July 20 . 
which she was placed, it was found necessary 
to lay out another bower-anchor, for there was 
a rolling swell upon the bank, and, every time 
it left her, she struck very hard upon the ground. 
Happily the tide was flowing, and, as soon as 
the vessel floated, she was warped into a secure 
birth within the heads of the inlet. 
During the time that the cutter had been on 
the bank, which was two hours and a half, she 
was continually striking; and, at one time, we 
heard a loud crash, which gave us reason to fear 
that some serious damage had happened. At 
first it was thought either that the pintles of the 
rudder were broken, or that the stern-post was 
rent; but, upon examination, both appeared to 
have escaped ; and, as no leak was observed 
during the night, I indulged the hope that the 
noise was not occasioned by any accident that 
would inconvenience us, or oblige our premature 
return to Port Jackson. That this hope proved 
to be fallacious will soon appear ; and, had the 
extent of the damage received been discovered 
before we left this anchorage, X should not have 
ventured further up the coast, but have imme- 
diately returned to Port Jackson. Had the tide 
been falling when the vessel struck, instead 
Vol. I. 2 A 
