ASSUME COMMAND OF THE ENTERPRISE. 21 



first time since it was repaired, the after face beginning 

 to cave in. 



On the loth a cast was taken in 2288 fathoms, lat. 

 28° 49' 47" S., long. 27° 30' 27" W. No specimen was 

 recovered, but the bottom of the cup was bright, show- 

 ing that it had struck hard bottom, probably rock. The 

 ship was swung in the afternoon with port helm. 



On the nth, early in the morning, we swung ship 

 with starboard helm, and then sounded in 2509 fathoms, 

 lat. 29° 52' 57'' S., long. 27° 23' 04'' W. ; light brown 

 mud mixed with minute shells. 



On the 1 2th we again swung ship early in the morn- 

 ing with starboard helm, and then sounded in 2537 

 fathoms, lat. 30° 22' 18'' S., long. 26° 12' 54" W. ; hard 

 bottom. The only specimen recovered was a small 

 piece of half-formed rock, yellowish inside and black 

 outside, but dark specks were also found on the bottom 

 of the cup. 



On the 13th, at 4 p.m., sounded in 2530 fathoms, 

 lat. 30° 42' 16'' S., long. 24° 24' 26" W., the cup bring- 

 ing up a stiff light-brown mud mixed with minute shells. 



On the 14th sounded in 25 11 fathoms, lat. 31° 01' 

 36" S., long. 22° 46' 15'' W., finding the same bottom as 

 yesterday. 



The weather had been delightful, as a rule, from the 

 time we left Porto Praya until this date, but there being 

 indications of bad weather, I had another cast taken in 

 the afternoon in 2372 fathoms, lat. 31° 08' 28" S., long. 

 ■2 1° 57' 30'' W., in bottom of light-brown mud. 



