40 DIFFICULT NAVIGATION. 



quarters of the compass, and the ship more than 

 once came round against the helm and drove close 

 inshore. Fortunately the shore was bold and the 

 water deep, but an immediate effort was made 

 to get her round so as to be ready for .the first 

 air to stand farther off. At that time no lead 

 could be descried from the mast-head, whence 

 all in the direction of our course seemed to be 

 one compact body. Nevertheless, when towards 

 midnight a breeze sprung up from the south- 

 west the studding-sails were again set, and, 

 though we received an occasional hard thump, 

 we had the consolation to find that we were 

 creeping along the land ; a low point of which, 

 directly a-head, we were most anxious to get 

 round, from an impression that a clear space 

 would certainly be found to the westward of it. 



The next day (August 6th) brought with it 

 an increase of wind, which enabled us to bore 

 through some heavy masses, one of which nearly 

 carried away the fluke of the best bower anchor. 

 The ship, indeed, struck with great force, break- 

 ing the smaller impediments and thrusting the 

 larcrer ones out of the channel, so as to make a 

 lane for herself; and having, at length, suc- 

 ceeded in rounding the low point already men- 

 tioned, and having found there, as had been 

 anticipated, a clearer space along shore, we fol- 

 lowed it, though not without difficulty. The 



