INTRODUCTION. XI 



beyond where soundings could be obtained, namely, 

 300 fathoms, or 1800 feet ; below that depth, it was 

 supposed the line only appeared to sink, but really 

 did not. 



On the 26th December, 1850, in latitude 28 21' 

 south, longitude 29 17' west, the bottom was reached 

 at 3,100 fathoms, 18,600 feet (3 miles); and since 

 that, an American ship has sounded in coming over 

 to this country, and found the bottom, and the state 

 of it, by a very ingenious apparatus, at the depth of 

 above nine miles ! 



