502 
AT SEA. 
of l and was seen on our lee-beam, which was supposed at first to be 
nothing more than a fog bank ; but at seven, to our great alarm^ 
it proved to be very high land, not above four miles distant ; while 
at the same time a perpendicular cliff came in sight less than 
three miles distant on our lee-bow, which satisfied us at once that 
we had got into a deep bay on the south-west side of the island 
of Socotra, the sea then running very high, and the ship being 
evidently in very shallow water.* Our situation now became immi- 
nently dangerouS;, and, in consequence, the Captain immediately 
adopted the only plan which offered a hope of saving the vessel, 
wearing the ship round towards the north-west, and putting 
her under a press of sail, which we had only just room to effect, 
as by this time we had drifted very near to the shore. Fortunately, 
our efforts succeeded, for being aided by a strong current 
which set off from the island^ we made a favourable tack to wind- 
ward, and at noon, being in latitude 12°23'0", had the satis- 
faction of clearing the western point of land, and of finding our- • 
selves again in a situation of comparative safety ; after which 
we ran within a white rockf lying off this end of Socotra, and* 
endeavoured to steer close under the lee of that island. :j: The 
occurrence I have just related, points out very strongly the neces- 
sity of making the Island of Abdelcuria of greater consequence 
in the charts than has hitherto been the case, as it was solely 
* The Captain, to prevent alarm, would not permit the lead to be heaved, as it could 
not prove of any use : but we certainly were not in more than five fathoms for some time. 
t This rock very much resembles the one lying olFthe north end of Abdelcuria ; which 
Ijatter contributed towards leading us into the error above-mentioned. 
t A sketch of the north-west end of Socotra is given in the chart, for which, I enter, 
tain a hope that the Island of Abdelcuria may never again be mistaken, 
