388 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
of junction with the sea, it was found to exceed the 
highest estimate which had been given to it. In Max- 
well’s chart, which is the only one published deserving 
of notice, the soundings near to the mouth, and for a 
considerable distance upwards, are marked down at 100 
fathoms; and the rate of the current at five, six, and even 
seven knots anhour. Captain Tuckey, when in the trans- 
port, says that they could get no bottom with 150 fathoms 
of line out; and Mr. Fitzmaurice was equally unsuccess- 
ful in the Congo sloop with a line of 160 fathoms. These 
attempts however are no proofs of the river being actually 
that depth, as the loose line floats away with the current ; 
but Massey’s sounding machine, which is so contrived by 
being thrown overboard, and unconnected entirely with 
the drift of the ship, as not to be influenced by it, 
indicated by its index, when hauled up, a descent to the 
depth of 113 fathoms ; at which depth, the lead attached 
to it had not touched the ground ; and it was observed, 
that although the current made a rippling noise, somewhat 
resembling that of a mill-sluice, yet, on trial, it was sel- 
dom found to exceed four and a half, or five knots an 
hour, and in many places not more than two and a half. 
It was however sufficiently strong in many parts of the 
channel to prevent the transport from entering the river 
for five days; and it was not until the sixth that, by taking 
the advantage of a strong sea breeze, which sets in re- 
gularly with more or less strength every afternoon, she 
was enabled, by creeping close to the shore, to stem the 
current, which is there less strong than in the middle 
