TO RADACK. 17 



t)f sharks surrounded us, which devoured every 

 thing thrown overboard; they seemed to keep 

 chiefly about the channel, probably because many 

 fish swim in and out with the regular current. 

 We saw many flying fish rising in the air, I sup- 

 pose to avoid their enemies. The boat which was 

 sounding tlie channel was attacked by sharks, 

 which would not be driven away by striking them 

 with the oars ; two of them were caught, which 

 was very easy, as they swallowed the hook imme- 

 diately it was thrown in the water. We had now 

 ended our examinations ; a violent gust of wind 

 from E.N.E., which half an hour before would 

 have alarmed us very much, gave us but little un- 

 easiness, as the cable held fast. At midnight we 

 observed the current from the channel, which, 

 when it was most rapid, ran one knot. 



The 6th of January, at four o'clock in the morn- 

 ing, when it was still quite dark, the wind changed 

 to E., and soon after to E. by S., which brought 

 the Rurick so close to the reef, that it was easy to 

 throw a stone into the breakers ; the depth here 

 was 23 fathoms. As no more than another point 

 to the S. would suffice to dash us against the 

 rocks, I was obliged to quit my post, and even to 

 leave the stream anchor behind, which, being deep 

 under water, would have taken too much time. 

 The cable was loosened, the sails hoisted, and we 

 retired from the reef without injury, tacking near 

 it. As soon as the sun appeared above the horizon, 



VOL. II, c 



