338 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



of junction with the sea, it was found to exceed the 

 hio-hest estimate which had been oriven to it. In Max- 

 Avell's chart, which is the onl}^ one published deserving 

 of notice, the soundings near to the mouth, and for a 

 considerable distance upwards, are marked down at 100 

 fathoms; and the rate of the current at five, six, and even 

 seven knots an hour. Captain Tuckej^ when in the trans- 

 port, says that they could get no bottom with 150 fathoms 

 of line out ; and Mr. Fitzmaurice was equally unsuccess- 

 ful in the Congo sloop with a line of l60 fathoms. These 

 attempts however are no proofs of the river being actually 

 that depth, as the loose line floats away with the current ; 

 but Massey's sounding machine, which is so contrived by 

 being thrown overboard, and unconnected entirelv with 

 the drift of the ship, as not to be influenced by it, 

 indicated by its index, when hauled up, a descent to the 

 depth of 113 fathoms ; at Avhich depth, the lead attached 

 to it had not touched the ground ; and it was observed, 

 that although the current made a rippling noise, somewhat 

 resembling that of a mill-sluice, yet, on trial, it was sel- 

 dom found to exceed four and a half, or five knots an 

 hour, and in many places not more than two and a half. 

 It was however sufficiently strong in many parts of the 

 channel to prevent the transport from entering the river 

 for five days ; and it was not until the sixth that, by taking 

 the advantage of a strong sea breeze, which sets in re- 

 gularly with more or less strength every afternoon, she 

 was enabled, by creeping close to the shore, to stem the 

 current, which is there less strong than in the middle 



