3$2 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



I fully looked for a great diminution of the 

 current near the fhore, hut I fhould not have 

 expected to find it fo contidcrable. The principal 

 caufe appears to me to depend on the adherence 

 of the water in proportion to its proximity to the 

 land ; while farther off, the fea being much 

 deeper, the upper body of water, which forms 

 the current, Aiding eafily over the lower body, 

 the fridtion is materially diminifhed. 



When the current is very rapid near the middle 

 of the road, there is frequently none on the 

 fhore ; fometimes even it there follows a con- 

 trary direction, which may be attributed to the 

 different points of land which flretch out into 

 the fea. 



We remarked in a bight, on the Ikirts of a 

 fandy beach, fome places for catching filh, 

 formed by an cnclofurc of bamboos, fufficiently 

 clofe to each other to prevent the fifties from 

 cfr aping. The opening by which they entered 

 it was dry at low water, fo that thofe which 

 were brought by the flood could not get out 

 when the tide had a little fallen. Befides, the 

 fillies, which commonly live in deep water, ad- 

 vance towards the head of this enclofure, where 

 the fea, at low water, is il ill half a fathom in depth. 

 This refervoir afforded fifh eafy to be caught, 

 and it was not man alone that came here to fifti ; 

 for I perceived feveral fpecics of herons. Our 



prefence 



