TO OONALASHKA. 267 



nometers, according to' the ship's reckoning, 

 167° 54'. From here I directed my course 

 S. by S. ^ E., to examine Shoal Ness. The depth 

 decreased by midnight from nineteen fathoms to 

 fifteen and a half: the bottom consisted of clayey 

 earth. The wind varied from N. W. to N. E. ; the 

 weather was dull and rainy. 



September 1st. At nine o'clock the wind blew 

 strong from the N. W. The depth was only thir- 

 teen fathoms and a half, over a bottom of grey sand. 

 The wind was so violent, that w^e were obliged to 

 reef all our sails; the barometer announced a ter- 

 rible storm ; all this induced me to give up the 

 examination of Shoal Ness. We were already in 

 a dangerous situation, as the north-westerly storm 

 would not permit us to proceed to the W., the only 

 direction in which we were secure from the shoals. 

 I steered to the S.W. by W. ^ W., with the top-sails 

 reefed, which ought properly to have been taken 

 entirely in, on account of the storm. At eleven 

 o'clock, the depth had already decreased to nine 

 fathoms : my anxiety was great, because our situ- 

 ation was getting worse. Towards noon, we were 

 suddenly again in fifteen fathoms ; this depth con- 

 tinued till six o'clock, and increased towards even- 

 ing ; and we escaped from the threatening danger, 

 as the wand also fell, and the sky cleared up during 

 the night. 



September 2d. The cheerful rising sun, a sight 

 of which we had long been deprived, announced a 



