NO. IB.] ORIGINAL ACCOUNTS. 29 



"On January 2nd 1858 we were between Cape Matapan and Cerigo and sailed east- 

 ward for the Archipelago. The wind was WNW. a gentle breeze, and water quite smooth. 

 We had all sails set and made about 3'/ 2 knots. At 10 a. m., when we were about 12 

 nmit. miles SW. of Cerigo, the brig no longer answered her helm and began to go up north- 

 ward to the wind. We worked the helm but to no avail. We backed the yards and shi- 

 vered the braces and made all conceivable manoeuvres, but the ship only turned a little 

 and went back again. The little wind that we had, seemed to be the same as before, and 

 there were many ships in company both to port and starboard of us, which sailed away, 

 whilst we were lying as if at anchor. Yet there was one sail about 3 miles to port of us, 

 in the same predicament. 



"In this manner we lay for l 3 / 4 hours, when the ship began to glide and fall to lee- 

 ward a little. We then got the head-sails filled and had the aftersails shivering, and with- 

 out any command of the helm the vessel got down into its course. The most remarkable 

 thing was, however, that when I stood, afore, I saw a long stripe stretching from the bow 

 far over the water on each side dividing the water into two parts. The water aro undthe 

 ship was light gray, but ahead of the stripe it was wholly dark. These stripes seemed 

 by and by to move aft — of course it was the ship that began to glide slowly onward — 

 and after 5 or 6 minutes, when the stripes had passed along the ship and had left the 

 stern and the rudder, then, at that same moment, the ship again answered her helm and 

 made head-way. The wind was about the same — WNW. by W. a gentle breeze. We 

 made 3 knots, but no more, in the afternoon. 



"When we approached Cerigo, the ship was about to get into dead-water again, but 

 by working the rudder to and fro, we steered again, and after that, we did not feel the 

 dead-water any more. 



"The ship, during its long voyage had become very dirty and overgrown with bar- 

 nacles of 10 or 15 cm. in length, which may have had some effect." 



I have received information of several other cases of annoyance expe- 

 rienced by vessels at the mouths of rivers in America, Africa, Europe, and 

 Asia. I cannot decide, however, whether "dead-water" or currents and whirl- 

 pools have been the main cause of these accidents, as they are too scantily 

 described. In general it is mentioned that the vessels have lost their steering, 

 but as a rule nothing is said about changes in the speed. The phenomena 

 in question are possibly the combined effect of several causes; for it is obvious 

 that a vessel in dead-water, being deprived of her head-way and steering- 

 power, should become more easily influenced by the disturbing effects of cur- 

 rents and whirlpools. 



Four of these cases only, will be inserted below; the others are too in- 

 completely described to be of any value. 



No. 39. Captain H. E. Purey-Cust, R. N., York (England), has kindly 



sent me the following information: 



"It is a common complaint, the difficulty of steering at the mouth of the Congo River. 

 The captain of one of the steamers trading there, told me that he always experienced 

 that difficulty after being at anchor there, when on weighing he endeavoured to turn down 

 river, and that it was an utter impossibility to do so when going ahead from anchoring, 



