420 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



bafe of this rock. The fear of approaching too 

 near the land made us call anchor, about five 

 o'clock, to windward of the Efperance, but not 

 fufficiently within the anchorage to avoid falling 

 on board of her, if our fhip dragged her anchors. 

 The danger was the greater, as our firfl anchor 

 came home : axes were now ready for cutting 

 away the mails, in order to give lefs hold to the 

 wind; but a fecond anchor brought us up*. 



Wc had anchored in nineteen fathoms water, 

 over a bottom of fand refembling quartz, mixed 

 with broken fhells. 



Being violently toffed about by the fea, we 

 were expofed to almofl the whole impetuofity of 

 the wind, and we were afraid of feeing our cables 

 part, for we fhould in that cafe have fallen on 

 fome rocks, where the fca was breaking in a 

 ilreadful manner. 



Towards night we let go a third anchor under 

 foot, in order to be more certain of withftand- 

 ing fuch violent efforts. 



The mercury in the barometer, which had 

 fallen to 27 inches 8* lines, perceptibly rofe as 



* Whatever may have been the merits of Admiral D'Entre- 

 cafteaux as a navigator, he and his officers cannot be compli- 

 mented on their judgment as feamen, in thus running the rifle 

 rificing both mips, by anchoring in the Efprance's 

 hawfe. T. 



i > foon 



