COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
31 
unfortunate event threatened to deprive me of 
his very valuable assistance for some time, a 
loss I could but very ill spare, particularly when 
upon the point of returning to the examination 
of so intricate a coast as that part where we last 
left off. 
At six o’clock in the evening the flood-tide 
began to set to leeward^ and as night approached 
the appearance of the weather became very 
threatening, accompanied by a descent of the 
mercury ; this gave me a very unfavourable idea 
of our situation : the wind was blowing clear of 
the reef, and raised a heavy sea ; and the Dick 
was so close to us that we dared not veer cable, 
for fear of getting on board of her, which must 
have happened if either ship should break her 
sheer. 
At half past ten o’clock, during a very heavy 
squall, the cable parted, but from the precaution 
above-mentioned, the brig happily drifted with 
her head to starboard, and passed clear both 
of the Dick and San Antonio ; the chain-cabled 
anchor was then dropped, and veered to ninety 
fathoms, which brought her up in fifteen fa- 
thoms, mud ; in which birth she appeared to 
ride much easier than before. I was now very 
anxious about the lost anchor ; and, having ex- 
pressed a wish to inform Mr. Harrison of our 
1821. 
June 30. 
