VOYAGE FROM CAPE TOWN TO CHINA. 41 



27 fathoms, and the next morning steamed into the inner 

 harbor, Port Victoria, Seychelle Islands. The depths of 

 the casts taken on the way were as follows : 876, 1352, 

 1791, 2007, 2227, 2342, 2472, 2582, 2626, 2713, 2682, and 

 2199 fathoms, respectively. Thus the depths increased 

 regularly from Zanzibar until within 100 miles of these 

 islands, and the character of the bottom changed with 

 some regularity, as follows : gray ooze, gray ooze mixed 

 with sand, gray ooze mixed with sand and shells, light 

 brown ooze, sticky brown mud, bluish-colored mud, and 

 finally dark brown mud. The temperature of the bottom 

 was taken at each cast (except the tenth, when the wire 

 parted), and found to be 30° Fahr. All of these casts 

 were taken under steam, and in most cases with sails 

 clewed up but not furled. 



I had intended giving liberty to the crew at the Sey- 

 chelles, but found an epidemic prevailing on the islands, 

 which resembled a mild form of smallpox, although the 

 Commissioner Resident said that physicians on shore 

 called it chicken-pox. I deemed it best, however, to 

 keep every one on board, particularly as our surgeon 

 was quite positive as to the character of the disease. 

 Took on board fifty tons of coal, and on the 4th of 

 August, at 5.15 P.M., steamed out of the inner harbor, 

 anchoring, at 7 p.m., when well outside. 



On the 5th we got under way at 5.40 a.m. and 

 made sail for the Straits of Sunda, sounding at i p.m. 

 in 682 fathoms, lat. 4° 23' 46" S., long. 56° 18' 00" E., 



