200 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1822. very extensive and valuable botanical collection 
Feb. 8. that has been formed upon this voyage. 
We had a dead calm until high-water, during 
which, as the brig continued to drive with the 
tide to the southward in from twenty to twenty- 
four fathoms, over a rocky bottom^ I was unde- 
termined what course to pursue, in order to 
preserve the situation which we had so unex- 
pectedly reached, and to prevent the ebb-tide 
from carrying us back through the strait: the 
bare idea of this impending danger reconciled 
me to determine upon sacrificing an anchor, for, 
from the nature of the bottom, it seemed next 
to impossible that we could recover it, if once 
dropped. Just, however, as the tide was begin- 
ning to turn, a breeze sprang up from the west- 
ward, and at once put an end to our fears and 
anxieties ; all sail was made towards Point Cun- 
ningham, beyond which no land was visible; 
but the tide being adverse, and the evening near 
at hand, we anchored in the bight to the north- 
west of the Point, which bore S. 32 |° E. seven 
miles and a half 
9 . The next day I remained at the anchorage, 
and despatched Mr. Roe to examine the coast 
round Point Cunningham ; Mr. Baskerville in the 
mean time sounded about the bay, between the 
