214 ASCENSION. [1846. 



crew was utterly destroyed in 1836, the receding wave 

 leaving his vessel dry, and the returning dashing her to 

 atoms. This is said to be averted by securely mooring 

 head to seaward, by which measure others, it appears, 

 escaped. It can only be compared to those Rollers which 

 have, from time to time, been described as visiting places 

 under influence of earthquake. Similar Rollers, on a 

 small, and less dangerous, scale, have visited San Bias. 

 Why it is so regular at Mazatlan, a little further north, 

 is a problem worthy of consideration. Quitting St. 

 Helena on the evening of the 10th, we reached Ascension 

 shortly after dawn on the morning of Sunday the 15th, 

 where we found H. M. S. ' Devastation ', bearing the 

 broad Pennant of Commodore Sir Charles Hotham, the 

 ' Lily ', ' Cacique ', and ' Tortoise '. Ascension had ex- 

 perienced not only a very dry season, but, either from 

 the exercise of great guns, or some other disturbing 

 cause, there had also been a scarcity of turtle, conse- 

 quently, we did not receive the customary supply. After 

 paying my respects to the Commodore, and accompanying 

 him to the Service at the Chapel, I returned to his 

 quarters and remained until evening, when, having re- 

 ceived his Despatches, we were again in motion about 

 10 P.M., for our final destination England. 



Our passage homeward was not so rapid as we antici- 

 pated at this season, and on the 22nd of Dec., the 42nd 

 day from quitting St. Helena, we had barely reached the 

 limits of the great Bank of Soundings extending off the 

 mouth of the English Channel, although our velocity 

 precluded our getting bottom ; and, with a fine westerly 

 breeze springing up, were rapidly decreasing our distance 



