I turned round, and saw a large roller close upon us, just on the point of topping—­I had scarcely time to stoop and give my back to it when it came upon us, and I never had such a thump in my life.  The boat was filled in a moment and we were all thrown out—­Mr. Witch, who had been standing, was hurled to a great distance, but the men were up in a moment, the water being about four feet deep, and with admirable dexterity ran her on the beach.  I do not remember ever having been in so strong a breeze.  The reader may form some idea of it when I assure him that the wind rolled the boat over and over as if she had been as light as a carpenter’s chip, and the sand and pebbles came with such violence in our faces, that we were obliged to retreat behind the sand hills until it moderated.

It was my friend Mr. Strangways who had accompanied me from Adelaide, whose figure we had seen on the beach, and he assured me that we seemed to fly as we approached him.

The wind having apparently flown permanently round to the south, and it being hopeless to expect that the sea would subside for many days, I hauled the boat over the sand hills, and launching her in the Goolwa, tried to row through the outlet to sea, but after remaining for eight days, and having my boat four times swamped, I was forced to give up the attempt as I had no time to spare.  The distance between my outer and inner points might have been a cable’s length.  In endeavouring to pass out I shoaled to a quarter less one, having kept the lead constantly going.  I abandoned the task therefore under an impression that the outlet was not navigable, yet Mr. Pullen succeeded in taking a small cutter into the Goolwa with perfect safety.  I cannot but conclude therefore that it has a shifting bar, and that it will present difficulties to regular navigation that will only be surmounted by a better knowledge of its locality, and in all probability by artificial means.

From Freeman’s Nob the coast line turns southwards to Rosetta Head, a bold and prominent conical hill, from the summit of which the whalers look for their game.  Under the lea of Rosetta Head there is a small harbour called Rosetta Harbour.  It is separated by a rocky island called Granite Island, and a reef that is visible at low water, and connects Granite Island with the main land from Victor Harbour, so called after H.M.’s ship Victor, when surveying in that quarter.  Neither of these harbours however are considered secure, although they are protected from all but south-east winds.

It was in Rosetta Harbour, that during the early settlement of the Colony the South Australian Company’s ship South Australian, was driven on shore and lost.  The John Pirie, a strongly built schooner, also belonging to the Company, had well nigh shared her fate.  This little vessel was lying astern of the Australian when she went ashore, with the reef close astern of her.  In this fearful position her anchors began