COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
199 
the eonsequences would have been truly dread- 
ful ; the current, or sluice, was setting past the 
rock at the rate of eight or nine knots, and the 
water being confined by its intervention, fell at 
least six or seven feet ; at the moment, how- 
ever, when we were upon the point of being 
dashed to pieces, a sudden breeze providentially 
sprung up, and, filling our sails, impelled the 
vessel forward for three or four yards ; — this 
was enough, but only just sufficient, for the rud- 
der was not more than six yards from the rock. 
No sooner had we passed this frightful danger 
than the breeze fell again, and was succeeded 
by a dead calm ; the tide, however, continued to 
carry us on with a gradually decreasing strength, 
until one o’clock, when we felt very little effect 
from it. 
From the spot we had now reached, the coast 
from Cape Leveque appeared to trend to the 
southward, but was not visible beyond the bear- 
ing of S.W. ; there was, however, some land 
more to the southward, that had the appearance 
of being an island ; it was afterwards found to 
be a projection, forming the east head of a bay, 
and was subsequently called after my friend Mr. 
Cunningham, to whose indefatigable zeal the 
scientific world is considerably indebted for the 
1822. 
Feb. 8. 
