in the spring this island is nearly submerged by 

 the rising of the river ; but still it is always use- 

 ful in protecting ships anchored within it from 

 the violent currents of that period, and at other 

 times serves as a convenient spot for repairing 

 boats, water-casks, and performing other indis- 

 pensable works. Two small shoals lying off the 

 west end of it, at the entrance of the harbour, 

 and the narrowness of the deep w^ater channel 

 below it, generall}^ make it necessary to warp 

 out large ships, and drop them down the i^tream 

 by kedge-anchors until they come abreast of 

 the new market-place, as the leading winds for 

 bringing them out cannot always be depended 

 upon : at the east end of the island is a channel 

 of which small craft can always avail themselves. 

 The greatest disadvantage to this harbour is the 

 rapid of St. Mary, about a mile below it, whose 

 current is so powerful, that, without a strong 

 north-easterly wind, ships cannot stem it, and 

 are sometimes detained even for weeks about 

 two miles only from the place where they are 

 to deliver their freight. In pursuing the grand 

 scale of improvements it may probably be found 

 practicable to remedy this evil by the forma- 

 tion of another short canal, or extension of 

 the one already designed to the foot of the 

 rapid; ships might then discharge their cargoes 

 at their anchorage below the current into river 



