'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎216] (325/496)

the average range of the thermometer being about 50°; the wind, as at
Hobart Town, chiefly from the southward and westward.
The 28th of June was a memorable day at Sydney, for there was a
heavy fall of snow, which commenced at three A. m. and lasted until nine,
when the breeze, which had been blowing from the southward, suddenly
shifted to the N. W., and immediately dispersed the clouds : the thermo
meter during the time the fall took place stood as low as 30°, but the
snow only laid on the ground a few hours. The beautiful white flakes, as
they fell, astonished all the country lads and lasses, for they had never
witnessed such a sight before; and even the oldest colonists, I believe,
never recollected such an occurrence : the phenomenon was altogether
unusual for this place.
On the 10th July, having refitted, and completed our repairs, quitted
Port Jackson, and proceeded on our voyage to Torres Straits, experienc
ing strong S. E. Trade, and cloudy weather. No particular incident occur
red worthy of record until the 26th, when we sighted the Eastern Fields,
part of the great barrier reef which bounds the coast of New South Wales
for a distance of upwards of 1000 miles, and stretches many leagues out
to sea : much caution is therefore necessary, and a good look-out ought
to be kept in approaching these formidable shoals, as no land is visible,
and the lead is no guide whatever,—the reefs being very steep on the
outer edge, and the sea fathomless.
Captain Cook’s description of these extensive reefs is so faithful and
so very correct, that perhaps I could not do better than quote it.
“ Rocks and shoals,” this able navigator says, “ are always dangerous
“ to the mariner, even when their situation has been ascertained. In this
part of the globe they are more dangerous than in any other, for here
“ there are reefs of coral rocks rising like a wall, almost perpendicularly,
“ out of the unfathomable deep, overflowed at high water, and at low
“ dry in many places ; and here the enormous waves of the vast southern
“ ocean, meeting with so abrupt a resistance, break with inconceiv-
“ able violence.”
The Eastern Fields -are upwards of four miles in length, dry in many
parts, and of a crescent form, their convex side being towards the
sea. When first seen from the deck, it was distant about three and a hall
miles, and the extremes bore from W. ^ N. to S. S. E. In passing the
northern part we observed, near the outer edge, a very conspicuous rock,
resembling a pinnacle, or ruined tower, rising about twenty or thirty feet