Chapter V.—From Sydney to Torres Strait. 
FTER a delay in the port of Sydney extending over two months, it need 
scarcely be said that we somewhat regretfully obeyed the call of duty, and 
prepared to traverse once more the lonely ocean. During the latter part of 
had been signs of approaching winter in the shape of heavy 
“Challenger” had been docked, and was again ready to 
commence another cruise. A short time before her departure she was taken outside the 
Sydney Heads in order to give our Australian friends an opportunity of witnessing the 
operations of dredging and sounding, in which they seemed much interested. The day of 
our leaving Port Jackson, the 8th of June, was favoured by the same brilliant sunshine 
which had greeted our arrival. Amidst the strains of the band and the farewell cheers of 
the sailors of other men-of-war on the station, the “ Challenger ” steamed from her anchorage 
in Farm Cove. Soon after we had left the port behind us the weather turned boisterous, 
and, increasing to a gale on the following day, compelled us to seek shelter in Watson’s Bay, 
situated just inside the Sydney Heads. We were to survey a line of soundings between 
Sydney and Wellington in connection with the laying down of a submarine cable between 
Australia and New Zealand—a task only to be accomplished in favourable weather, which 
we had little reason to hope for at this time of the year. The sea which divides the two 
islands, or rather continents, seems narrow enough upon a chart of the Pacific Ocean, yet the 
distance between Port Jackson and Cook Strait is over 1200 miles. After a tantalising 
delay of three days, a second start was made on the 12th, when we were able to commence 
our task. The soundings obtained on this occasion show that the western half of the sea 
between Sydney and Wellington attains a depth of over 2000 fathoms—the greatest depth 
ascertained being 2600 fathoms, or about three English miles—while the eastern half is much 
shallower—a depth of 1000 fathoms existing at a distance of 400 miles from the coast of 
New Zealand. Frequently interrupted by tempestuous weather, the passage to New Zealand 
proved one of our roughest trips. 
