22 DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 



On the 15th a gale set in from the northward and 

 westward ; nevertheless, we succeeded in getting a good 

 cast in the morning, although the sea was rough. 

 Found a depth of 2351 fathoms, lat. 31° 23' 40" S., 

 long. 19° 43' \6" W., the bottom being of light-brown 

 mud. In the afternoon, owing to the increasing gale, 

 the ship was hove to under close-reefed main top- 

 sail. 



On the morning of the i6th, the wind having veered 

 to the southward and westward, she was put on her 

 course ; but it was not smooth enough to sound again 

 until the i8th, which was a great disappointment to us, 

 as an interesting portion of the South Atlantic Ocean 

 had been reached where I desired to take a number of 

 casts ; but the length of the route, together with the 

 limited amount of coal and provisions on board, made it 

 necessary to take advantage of the favoring winds. 



On the i8th sounded in 1700 fathoms, lat. 30° 35' 

 02'' S., long. 12° 49' 03'' W. ; bottom of light-brown 

 mud. The sea was long and moderately rough and the 

 ship rolled deeply, but the cast was an excellent one. 



On the 19th sounded at i p.m. in 1364 fathoms, lat. 

 31° 12' 16'' S., long. 12° 38' 53" W., finding black mud 

 mixed with scoria ; and again at 6 in the afternoon, in 

 1507 fathoms, lat. 31° 15' 16" S., long. 12° 19' 32'' VV., 

 in a bottom of hard black mud. 



On the 20th, at 7.35 a.m., sounded in 1864 fathoms, 

 lat. 31° 38' 42" S., long. 12° 05' 28'' W. The character 

 of the bottom had undergone a wonderful chaiiGre within 



