Chap. VH. CALM WEATHER CATTLE. 1^3 
southern part of Blind Bay. Thus it is common for 
a vessel to be under double-reefed topsails in the Strait, 
and to have her sails all flapping in a calm soon after 
she has passed D'Urville's Island or Massacre Bay. 
And I frequently observed that the speed and direction 
of the scud overhead, and driving masses of black 
clouds on the northern horizon, indicated a storm 
outside, when all near Nelson lay calm and slumbering, 
except a heavier swell than usual rolling on to the 
shoals at the bottom of the gulf. And in those cases, 
a little coaster, which had been out in the gale, would 
confirm our conjectures on arriving a day or two later. 
During the month, I only saw one day on which it 
blew a hard breeze ; and then two large vessels rode it 
out in perfect safety in the anchorage outside the bar, 
although the wind was nearly due north. Now and 
then a light sea-breeze would bring welcome refresh- 
ment for two or three hours during the afternoon. 
The S(]uadron bound for Torres' Straits took advantage 
of one of these days to beat out of Blind Bay. It con- 
sisted of the Clifton and Birman, which had accom- 
panied us from Port Nicholson, of the Lord Auckland, 
and the Bolton, whose commander, Captain Robinson, 
having been through the much-dreaded Torres' Straits 
before, was appointed commodore by the other Captains. 
We saw them all day from the town, beating in line 
of battle under full sail to the northward. This very 
remarkable immunity from wind causes an almost 
incredible difference between the climate of Nelson 
and that of Wellington, although the two towns are 
as nearly as possible in the same latitude. 
The Hope, a vessel of 400 tons from Sydney, had 
already landed about 100 head of cattle at Nel- 
son. Having entered the haven, she had been able 
to lie so close to the shore, that she was discharged 
