INTEODUCTION. 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 realW 

 did not. 



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

 south, longitude 29° 11' 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 ! 



