COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
381 
trending to the N.E. Wishing to ascertain its imq . 
extent to seaward, as well as to pass round its Aug. 11 . 
windward side, we steered along its south-eastern 
edge ; and, after proceeding for some time, 
first in a N.E., then a North, and afterwards 
in a N.N.W. direction, found ourselves running 
through a narrow channel formed by another 
considerable reef, 1, to the eastward, and lying 
in a parallel direction with m : the breadth of 
this pass, or channel, varied between one and 
two miles. At nine o’clock, having run about 
ten miles, a break appeared in the innermost 
reef, m, through which we made an attempt to 
pass. As we approached it our soundings quickly 
decreased, yet still we hoped to effect our object; 
but, suddenly shoaling the water to five fathoms, 
and, at the next heave, to ten feet and a half, with 
the coral rocks almost grazing the vessel’s bottom, 
the helm was put down; — fortunately she stayed, 
and we escaped the danger. There was every ap- 
pearance of a termination of the reef a few miles 
further to the north-east, but the glare of the sun 
was so deceptious that I preferred returning by 
the way we came ; and having a leading fresh 
wind, we were, by noon, steering between the 
south-west end of the reef m and the woody 
islands 2 and 3 of Claremont Isles. 
Between this and Cape Sidmouth, several 
