ASSUME COMMAND OF THE ENTERPRISE. 17 



On the 15th a cast was taken in 2339 fathoms, lat. 

 3° 29' 47" N., long. 24° 46' 34" W. — character of 

 bottom, dark gray ooze mixed with sand and shells — and 

 the ship was swung for compass deviation early in the 

 morning and again in the afternoon. We ran out of the 

 N.E. trades before night. 



On the i6th, at 2 p.m., sounded in 2213 fathoms, 

 lat. 0° 55' 25" N., long. 25° 04' 38'' W., the specimen- 

 cup bringing up a gray ooze, mixed with sand and a few 

 shells. We continued under steam as the breeze was 

 very light from the southward and eastward, and before 

 night struck below the last of the coal which had been 

 stowed in bags on deck at Porto Grande. 



On the 1 7th, after crossing the equator, we sounded 

 in 19 19 fathoms, lat. 0° 06' 08" S., long. 26° 35' 2^]" 

 W.; gray ooze mixed with sand and shells — the same 

 character of bottom as on the i6th, although there was 

 a material change in depth. 



At 10 P.M. sail was made to a light breeze from 

 the S.E. 



On the 1 8th, at 2 p.m., sounded in 2627 fathoms, 

 lat. 1° 2)i' od' S., long. 27° 43' 45" W. After reeling 

 in a few turns the wire parted from no apparent cause, 

 as it was leading " up and down " and no signs of a kink 

 could be found, causing the loss of 2600 fathoms of wire 

 and our last deep-sea thermometer. Spoke an English 

 bark 72 days from Port Adelaide, and sighted another 

 vessel in the distance. 



On the 20th, at 4 p.m., sounded in 2803 fathoms. 



