INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. xi 



coast is on all sides formed by stupendous and almost perpendi- 

 cular cliffs, rising to the height of from six to more than twelve 

 hundred feet. The principal accessible inlets are at James's 

 Town, Rupert's Bay, Lemon Valley and Sandy Bay : all these 

 have been strongly fortified. Several reefs of rocks, called ledges. 

 Jut out, to the distance of two to four miles ; others are detached, 

 some commencing at half a mile or more ; and there is one in 

 particular called " New Ledge Fishing Bank," whose outer 

 edge, or extremity, is said to be not less than nine miles distant 

 from the coast. The soundings, at the farthest part, are 45 to 

 70 fathoms. 



Besides these Ledges there are several detached rocks or small 

 islands at a little distance ; of which the principal are E^g- Island, 

 Speery, and George's Island. All these, excepting the last, 

 which is on the south-east, are situated to the west or south-west ; 

 and as the New Ledge, which is the largest of the Ledges, or fish- 

 ing banks, trends in that direction, it may be presumed that this 

 is also the direction of the higher part of the projecting base of 

 the island under water. 



In respect to the depth of water on the south and east, I have 

 no particular information — perhaps being to windward of the 

 island, and not so convenient to the fishing boats, may be thp 

 reason that those parts have not been hitherto explored. 



According to a minute survey, taken by Captain Austin of the 

 Royal Navy, along the northern face of the island, the bottom of 

 the sea, extending from Flag-stafi" Bay to Horse-pasture Point, 

 comprising about IG square miles, shelves very gradually. Three 

 miles north of the coast at Flag-staffiheve is ground at 82 fathoms ; 

 and at three-quarters of a mile from Horse-pasture, there are 3Q 

 fathoms. It appears also by this survey that the bottom is in 

 general, smooth and even ; consisting of mud, mud and shells. 



