WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



5 



sail was made in the direction of our destined 

 port. The wind s.w. ; the course steered n.n.e. 



May 18. — The weather became thick, with 

 a fresh wind. The 19th produced little change, 

 except that we were enabled to get a good set of 

 sights of the sun for our chronometers, by which, 

 with our latitude by dead reckoning, we worked 

 out our longitude, the correctness of which we 

 had no reason whatever to doubt. At noon Con- 

 cep9ion bore from us n. 41°e., 146 miles. 

 At 5 P.M. the ship was hove-to, the chain cables 

 bent, and the usual preparation made on ap- 

 proaching an anchorage. The deep-sea lead 

 was tried in upwards of SOO fathoms, but with- 

 out striking soundings. Sail was again made in 

 the ship, treble-reefed topsails, courses, and fore- 

 topmast staysail. 



At 8 p. M., after a careful examination of 

 the ship's place on the charts^ directions were 

 given to haul the ship to the wind on the lar- 

 board tack. This was done at about 10 minutes 

 after 8 o'clock, and it allowed her to lay along 

 shore, n. half e., the wind being about w.n.w., 

 reducing her rate of going to about four knots ; 

 at which pace it was proposed to allow her to 

 continue, until daylight permitted us to bear up, 

 B 3 



