HOMEWARD BOUND. lOI 



was found, lat. 31° 02' S., long. 34° 27' W. This was 

 again a surprise and to most of tiie officers and crew a 

 disappointment, as they were anxious to reach the 

 United States. Frequent casts were now taken in order 

 to develop the shoal. Casts were taken at 7.30 p.m. in 

 390 fathoms, at 8.50 in 426 fathoms, and at 10 p.m. in 

 495 fathoms. General character of bottom, coarse yel- 

 low and white sand and shells, with occasional black 

 specks. 



On the 20th, at i a.m. sounded in 584 fathoms, at 

 5 A.M. in 956 fathoms, and at noon in 1827 fathoms. 

 The character of the bottom had changed but little ex- 

 cept in the quality of the sand, which had become much 

 finer. This last cast was taken in lat. 30° 39' S., long. 

 32° 43' W. We sounded again at 5 p.m. in 21 13 

 fathoms, lat. 30° 32' S., long. 31° 50' W.; hard bottom. 

 The cup brought up no specimen. 



On the 2ist sounded at 5 a.m. in 1834 fathoms, lat. 

 30° 21' S., long. 30° 40' W., fine white sand and shells! 

 Finding such a decided difference in depth with water 

 shoaling, I had another cast taken at 4 p.m. in 1296 

 fathoms ; fine white sand and shells. There was a 

 fresh light breeze wafting us along on our course 

 at the rate of seven knots an hour, and I knew that 

 this frequent stopping to sound under the circum- 

 stances was very trying to every one on board ; still, as 

 the water was shoaling, I had another cast taken at 

 10.30 P.M. in 1766 fathoms, lat. 29° 54' S., long. 29° 00' 

 W. We were indeed glad to find the water deepening, 



