32

Monday 3rd (Continued)
After an hour or two sail was again hoisted, & we
entered the mouth of the Fitzmaurice River. It became
very interesting as the hills on either side began to
close in, & quite exciting as we were whirled thro'
a narrow passage between the mainland & some big
rocks in the stream. There are 3 of them, & they
look extremely dangerous as the navigator approaches
them under the influence of wind & tide. They
form a line right across the River mouth, & the
tide whirls around them so strongly that the sound
is like breakers on the ocean beach. The eddies
took charge of us at times, but eventually we
got through safely, & anchored in a small bight
on the R bank, just past these rocks. The lugger
behaved very strangely at times - even in there -
waltzing around in circles at the rate of Knots, or
running back on her chain & then rushing forward.
But this did not last long, fortunately, or our cable
would have got fatally twisted. It ocurred chiefly
at the turn of the tides, & the wind probably helped it.
Could hear the "breakers" at any time during the night
but all turned in early & had a pretty good sleep,
with only one or two interruptions, when it was necessary
to get up & pay out more chain, etc. Depth here 5 fms. L.W.
Cable out 35 fms.

Monday 3rd (Continued)
After an hour or two sail was again hoisted, & we
entered the mouth of the Fitzmaurice River. It became
very interesting as the hills on either side began to
close in, & quite exciting as we were whirled thro'
a narrow passage between the mainland & some big
rocks in the stream. There are 3 of them, & they
look extremely dangerous as the navigator approaches
them under the influence of wind & tide. They
form a line right across the river mouth, & the
tide whirls around them so strongly that the sound
is like breakers on the ocean beach. The eddies
took charge of us at times, but eventually we
got through safely, & anchored in a small bight
on the R bank, just past these rocks. The lugger
behaved very strangely at times - even in there -
waltzing around in circles at the rate of Knots, or
running back on her chain & then rushing forward.
But this did not last long, fortunately, or our cable
would have got fatally twisted. It recurred chiefly
at the turn of the tides, & the wind probably helped it.
Could hear the "breakers" at any time during the night
but all turned in early & had a pretty good sleep,
with only one or two interruptions, when it was necessary
to get up & pay out more chain, etc. Depth here 5 fms.L.W.
Cable out 35 fms.