scoverer in 1622, Landt
van de Leeuwin or the land of Lions. The wind which had increased since
the morning to a fresh gale from the northward, now suddenly veered round
to the westward, accompanied with rain and causing a high cross-sea.

GALE OFF CAPE LEEUWIN.

These sudden shifts of wind frequently raise a very dangerous sea off
Cape Leeuwin.* This made the third gale we had experienced since the 30th
of May, and is recorded here from its commencing at North-East instead of
at north, the usual point at which gales in these regions begin. During
the stormy weather which prevailed throughout the passage, we were
unceasingly attended by those majestic birds and monarchs of the
ocean--the White Albatross (Diomedia exulans) which with steadily
expanded wings sailed gracefully over the surface of the restless main in
solemn silence, like spectres of the deep; their calm and easy flight
coursing each wave in its hurried career seemed to mock the unsteady
motion of our little vessel as she alternately traversed the deep hollows
and lofty summits of the high-crested seas.

(*Footnote. In a gale off this Cape in 1836, H.M.S. Zebra was compelled
to throw her guns overboard.)

July 6.

It was our intention to have passed through Bass Strait, but finding we
were unable to weather King Island bore up on the 6th for Hobart. On the
evening of the same day we were by a sudden change of the wind placed in
one of those perilous situations in which both a good ship and sound gear
are so much required; the wind, which had been northerly throughout the
day, about 8 P.M. veered round to west, blowing a heavy gale with a high
sea; and since we had now run about halfway along Van Diemen's Land, left
us with an extensive and dangerous shore under our lee. Through the
dismal gloom of the night, during which there was incessant rain with a
succession of heavy squalls, the angry voice of nature seemed indeed to
be raised in menace against us, and it was not until the close of the
next day that a slight abatement of the weather relieved our anxiety for
the safety of the ship. During the night the wind backed round to the
North-West and the sky became once more partially clear. Early on the
morning of the 8th we descried the south-western extremity of the land of
Van Diemen, discovered in 1633 by the celebrated Dutch Navigator, Abel
Tasman, and so named by him after the Governor of Batavia, under whose
authority the voyage thus crowned with s