'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎218] (327/496)

sublime in the extreme ; nothing being visible, as far as the eye could
reach, but an unbroken line of boiling surf, which dashed with such
force against these stupendous rocks that it resembled the roar of some
mighty cataract, throwing up, higher than our top-mast heads, clouds of
snowy spray, sparkling and gleaming in the sunshine like the varied
colors of a rainbow. Our position appeared to be critical in the extreme,
as onward and onward we hurried towards this foaming ridge, that
seemed literally to tell us thus far only were we to approach and no
further. No heed, however, was paid to the warning, but nearer, still
nearer, we came, and, like a vessel about to be drawn into the vortex of
some great whirlpool, were we rushing apparently to our destruction,
for there was not a clear space to be seen in any direction, and at times
the reefs were so closely skirted that not a voice could be heard above
the din and noise of the waters, and we were completely enveloped in a
sheet of mist, rendering everything dim and indistinct. It was most ex
citing, for, had the slightest mistake been made in the trimming of the sails,
or in the steerage, there would have been no hope for us,—the Tigris,
in all human probability, must have struck upon the rocks, and in a few
moments more would have been dashed to pieces, and all hands have
perished. But this luckily was not our doom, for, whilst in this critical
position, we suddenly discerned, just ahead, a small line of unbroken
water, smooth as if oil had been poured on the troubled ocean, and ap
pearing like a narrow gap cut between the reefs, of sufficient breadth
only to admit a vessel. This was, at last, the entrance to Cumberland s
Passage, which we had been so long and so anxiously looking out for.
The vessel’s head was instantly turned towards the desired opening, and
soon after she passed through it in safety, and came to an anchor with
in the Great Barriers—all rejoicing at having escaped, thus far, the perils
and dangers of these seas.
At sunrise the following day weighed and stood for Murray s Island,
distant about four leagues, steering the whole time between coral rocks
and shoals, some above and some under water : they could, however, eab
ily be distinguished by the color, the coral reefs being brown, the shal
low parts a lightish green, and the deep water a beautiful cerulean blue,
so that, by keeping a good look-out at the mast-head, a vessel might e
safely and easily navigated through this tortuous channel. The lead is^
no use even within the Barriers, the eye being the only safe guide,
we drew near the island we saw a great number of the natives on the. ea
waving palm branches, shouting loudly, and evidently making ^ ^
signs for us to land. We acknowledged the compliment by showing
f