COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
83 
direction : in mid channel the sea was breaking, 
and from the colour of the water it is more than 
probable that a reef of rocks stretches the whole 
distance across the strait ; but this appearance, 
from the experience we afterwards had of the 
navigation of this part, might have been pro- 
duced by tide ripplings, occasioned by the ra- 
pidity of the stream, and by its being contracted 
in its passage through so narrow a pass ; it was, 
however, too doubtful and dangerous to at- 
tempt, without having some resource to fly to in 
the event of accident. 
Being thus disappointed, we were under the 
necessity of steering round the above-mentioned 
range of islands, and at nine o'clock were two 
miles N.E.b.E. from the small island 18, when 
our latitude by observation was 15° 57' 56"; 
the depth being thirty-seven fathoms, and the bot- 
tom of coral, mixed with sand, mud, and shells. 
To the westward, and in a parallel direction 
with this line of islands, was another range, 
towards which we steered ; at sunset we hauled 
to the wind for the night, off the northernmost 
island, which afterwards proved to be the Caffa- 
relli Island of Captain Baudin. Between these 
two ranges of islands, we only obtained one 
cast of the lead, which gave us thirty-three 
fathoms on a coral bottom. Upon referring to 
G 2 
