A TIDE-RACE 45 



The wind was fair, but light, as, on 20th January 1901, we 

 left Bumila Creek for the Nicobars, and we sailed slowly along 

 the western coast of Little Andaman with the shore in full view. 

 A sandy beach ran all along, with here and there a crop of rock 

 breaking out, and behind it, stretching right across the island, 

 spread dense unbroken jungle. 



At distant intervals along the shore stood several of the 

 peculiar conical huts, and as we proceeded southward the forest 

 gradually assumed the grey and twisted look due to the force 

 of the south-west winds. 



Now, however, all was calm and still, and the Terrapin 

 sailed on such a steady upright keel, that photographs taken 

 the day before were developed without spilling any of the 

 solution used from the shallow dishes. Heavy rain, with which 

 we filled the tanks, fell during the night, and at noon next day 

 we sighted the low island of Kar Nicobar, lying some 22 miles 

 away. 



As we neared the north-west part, after an 80 miles' sail, a 

 large village of beehive huts on posts came into view, and the 

 immense number of coconut palms along the eastern shore 

 was very striking. 



West of the point, we sailed into a strong tide-race, the 

 current running against the wind at a rate of 4 to 5 knots, and 

 knocking up a heavy, broken sea, in which the schooner yawed 

 and rolled about, taking water on board from every direction. 

 Although the wind was dead aft, it was long before we made 

 any way. With the fore-topsail down, we remained stationary ; 

 with it up, we gradually moved ahead. After a time, however, 

 the tide slackened, and we sailed slowly into Sawi Ba}', where 

 we found a Moulmein brig, the Princess of Wales, loaded to her 

 bulwark rail with coconuts, and passing close by we anchored 

 inshore of her, in 7 fathoms, just as night fell.* 



* Such tide-races are not uncommon among the Nicobar Islands, and 

 later we met with several others, though none so severe as this first. The 

 tides round Kar Nicobar run with great velocity ; a rate of 7 knots has 

 been noted to the eastward of the island. 



