*794- were met by a gentle breeze from the s. w . to which we fpread all our cane
-- iy -—1 vas, and directed our courfe for mid-channel, between Green and Montagu
illands; but in our route a funken rock foon flopped our progrefs
by the (hip ftriking upon it, and having at that time a falling tide, Ihe
remained fall. We had come very fuddenly arid unexpectedly into this
unpleafant flotation, as the man at the' lead had fcarcely announced his
1'aft foundings, which were at io fathoms, when thé {hip ftruck; I had
alfo founded myfelf, and had found not lefs than from 9 to 10 fathoms
in every direftion round this rock, but had unluckily milled the fpot on
which the {hip now lodged, which had neither weeds nor any other indication
of its exiftence; nor does it occupy a greater extent than a
fix or eight oared boat in any direftion. The {hip refted nearly on
its hi^heft part, and at low water, the depth dole to her bow was only
twelve feet; whilft we had 5 fathoms under the main chains, and 7 fathoms
depth of water, under her ftern. The water quitting the {hip’s
bows afforded tis an opportunity of replacing much of the copper that
had been torn off by the ice. About eleven o’clock the return of the
flood tide relieved us from this embarraffment, without our having, apparently,
received any damage.
The wind being faint and baffling from the weftern quarter, with a
flight current fetting on the fhores of Montagu ifland; prevented our failing
; but we employed the afternoon in warping further into mid-channel,
clear of this line of funken rocks. Here we anchored in 21 fathoms
water, muddy bottom ; about a mile and three quarters from the {hores
of Montagu ifland. The fouth point of port Chalmers bore by com-
pafs s. 80 e . ; the north-weft point of Montagu ifland, N. 11 w . ; and the
north point of Green ifland, N. 76. w . In this fituation a few cod and
Wednef. 18. halibut were taken during the night, and on wednefday morning calm
rainy weather prevented our moving until late in the forenoon; when
with a light breeze from the e . n . e . we proceeded, and having paffed
to the northward of the north Paffage rock, no foundings were gained
with the hand line; but about half a league from the north-weft point of
Montagu ifland the depth was 65 fathoms, muddy bottom: from this
point a ledge of rocks extends about half a mile. As we failed along
the north-eaft fide o f the ifland, it feemed to be divided into bays, or founds; 1794-
two of which appeared to be capacious, but from each of their points of . ■
entrance, rocks were feen to extend a confiderable diftance; fome of which
were level with, and others juft {hewed their heads above the furface of
the fea. In thefe openings fimilar obftruftions were noticed ; and as this
fide of Montagu ifland is greatly expofed to the influence of the prevailing
winds, great caution ought to be obferved in navigating near its
{hores, until a more minute- examination may point out the fituation of
the latent dangers,- of which we were unable to procure any further information,
than that, of barely feeing that fuch did exift; for as the wind
veered to the fouthward, it led us from thefe rocky {hores, whilft it enabled
us to fetch well over towards cape Hinchinbrook: in this route
were obferved many riplings and agitations of the fea, as if it were flowing
over {hallow places ; but we gained no bottom with the hand line in
paffmg through feveral of them.
As the night approached, the wind became light and variable, with alternate
calms, thefe together with the flood tide, about three in the
morning, fat the {hip direftly towards the north point of entrance in- Thurfdayiy,
to port Etches; where, with too fathoms of line, no bottom could be
reached within about a quarter of a mile of the ftiore, on which the fea
broke with confiderable violence. Fortunately however, whilft in this
very unpleafant predicament from which we poffeffed no refources of
extrication, a breeze fprang up from the n . e . , juft fufficient to enable us
to Item the current, and relieved us from all apprehenfions of danger.
This breeze was foon fucceeded by calms and light foutherly airs, which
towards noon, with the afflftanee of the flood tide, drove us into the entrance
of port Etches, without our being able to 'refill their influence;
and as I knew the flood would continue until near five o’clock ; we bore
away for anchorage, but gained no bottom until we had paffed the rocky
iflets that lie on the north-weft fide within the entrance, and were nearly
abreaft of the lagoon within which the Ruffians have their eftablifhment.
We anchored in-31 fathoms water, the lagoon bearing by compafs
N - 2 0 W . at the diftance of half a mile; the head of the harbour n . 2 q e . ;
aijd the. points of entrance s. 3 w. and s, 25 w.
After