Ch. IV. SOUTH AMERICA. 2^29 



To the N. W. of this island, at the distance of a 

 league and a half, is a lofty steep rock, with several 

 smaller at its foot ; and one league and a half farther 

 to seaward, also on the Jsi. W. side of the island, 

 is a shoal, which, though we at this time saw no 

 breakers on it, we took care to keep at a proper di- 

 stance. And in my second voyage, in the year 1744, 

 I had a clear view of it, for I not only saw the break- 

 ers, it being then low water and the sea running high, 

 but also a reef of rocks at the water's edge. The 

 coiuitry pilots have assured me, that by steering in 

 the middle between this shallow and the rock, there 

 is a very safe channel, having in most parts fifty or 

 sixty fathom water. 



Ix my second voyage above-mentioned, on board a 

 French frigate called La Delivrance, in the latitude of 

 36» 54' and 2® 24' W. of the island of Santa Maria, 

 about half an hour after making our observations, 

 we unexpectedly found ourselves in a tract of thick 

 water of a yellowish colour ; which naturally occa- 

 sioning a great surprise, we started from the table, 

 being then at dinner, and hastened up to the quar- 

 ter deck. It was now too late to put the ship about; 

 she being in the very centre of it. This shoal, as it 

 appeared to us, stretched near two leagues from N. 

 to S. and was about six or eight hundred toises over 

 from E. to W. The colour of the water was of so 

 deep a yellow, that, after Providence had happily car- 

 ried us through it, we could easily distinguish it at a 

 considerable distance. I must own, our consternation 

 was such, from our concluding we were on a shoal, as 

 there was all the appearance of it, that we had no 

 thoughts of bringing the frigate to, till we had got 

 our sounding line in order. In some parts the water 

 was of a deeper yellow, as being more shallow. In 

 others we could perceive rays of sea or green water, 

 intermixed with that of the shoal. No chart has 

 taken any notice of it; nor was it indeed before known 

 Q3 to 



