CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 59 



On the 2Sth wc had reached the latitude of 4° SO', and 

 found the land we passed from 3° 50', more picturesque than 

 to the north ; the variety of elevations being here greater, and 

 the clear spaces more numerous ; these we were however 

 now led to think the signs of barrenness rather than of fer- 

 tility, having, when viewed near, the appearance of tra(?ts of 

 naked reddish clay. 



We were now opposite to Loango bay, the red hills on the 

 north side of which (formed by clay of the appearance above 

 mentioned) we anchored olf, in iG fathoms mud, at about 8 

 miles distance. The next afternoon, when the sea breeze set 

 HI, we weighed ; but it again dying away, we found ourselves 

 carried towards the land by the current, and again let 

 go the anchor in 12 fathoms ; but before the ship brought 

 up we Avere in 8 fathoms on a reef of rocks, over which the 

 cuirent ran to the N.N. E. two miles an hour. The south 

 point of the bay (Indian Point) bearing S. E. The sea 

 breeze freshening, we cut our cable, and leaving the stream 

 anchor behind us, made sail and deepened gradually over 

 the rocky bottom until in 12 fathoms, when it again became 

 soft and mud. 



This reef is in about latitude 4° 30' (an observation 

 at noon possibk erring 2 or 3 miles, the horizon being bad), 

 and it lays seven miles off shore ; towards which latter 



