8 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



appeared very low, and completely covered widi trees even 

 down to the water's edge. The day was clear and serene, to 

 the utmost transparency of a tropical atmosphere. On heav- 

 ing the lead we were much alarmed, by being in only quarter 

 less five water, and immediately made a signal to speak our 

 consort. She accordingly came up alongside, and under- 

 standing our apprehension. Captain Hayton assured us there 

 was no danger ; that it was low water and neap tides — that 

 there was a necessity for our standing in for the land close 

 hauled, to discover what part of the coast we were on, and to 

 prevent the flood tide, which was then making, from carrying 

 us too far to leeward. 



As he was acquainted with the coast, we agreed to follow him 

 and obey his signals. The Comet being the best sailer of the 

 two, we shortened sail, and took a reef in the top-sails to keep 

 farther astern of the Henry. About noon we were so close in 

 as to discover a river to windward of us — we were then in 

 three fathom water. The bottom was soft mud, nothing else 

 had adhered to the tallow put into the bottom of the sound- 

 ing lead. While Captain Barrow was in this state of un- 

 pleasant suspense, not knowing where he was or what to 

 do, the Henry made a signal for preparing to anchor. We 

 accordingly coach-wheeled three or four coils of the cable on 

 deck, and in the mean time ran alongside to enquire where 

 we were. Captain Hayton told us the river to windward was 



