We saw one of their Hippas which was situated on a very high rock, hollow underneath, forming a most grand natural arch, one side of which was connected with the land; the other rose out of the sea. Underneath this arch a small vessel might have sailed. [See pl. XXIV.] It was near a pleasant bay, and almost inaccessible: one of the natives came out and waved a large garment, or piece of cloth, to us as we passed along.

Their canoes were very stately ones: very few of the natives are tataowed: we asked them if their ancestors had not told them of such a ship as ours that they had seen in their time, but they appeared to be entirely ignorant of it. These cannibals told us, that the people, who belonged to those they had slain and eaten, were coming to them, over the hills, to kill them the next day, but it proved a false alarm.

On the 1st of February, we had a strong wind from the N. E. The hawser with which we moored the ship was broke by the strain of the sea, it being fastened on shore to a tree, and we were obliged to let go another bower. It rained all this day and part of the next, continuing, without intermission, for thirty-two hours.

On the 6th, we left the bay, which we called Cannibal Bay, having been in it about three weeks. The captain called it Charlotte's Sound. The two points, which form the entrance, were named Cape Koomarroo, and Point Jackson. The natives call the land about it Totarranooe. We bent our course to an opening at the entrance of this bay, on the east, which we saw on our coming into it, concluding it a passage between the north and south part of this island. In the evening we were in the mouth of the straits, where we were becalmed. On a sudden we were carried toward a parcel of broken islands, or rather rocks, which lie at the entrance of the straits; the two largest we named the Two Brothers. Being alarmed, we ran to the poop of the ship, where we heard a great noise, and saw the appearance of breakers, upon which we drove bodily astern; neared the islands quickly; let go our anchor; and, before we had veered away 150 fathoms of cable, we found ourselves amongst these supposed breakers, which proved to be a strong tide that set through the straits; it made a very great ripling, especially near the islands, where the water, running in heaps, bears, and whirl-pools, made a very great noise in its passage. These straits run nearly in a north and south direction.

Voyaging Accounts