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CHAPTER VII. 
Feb Ru A R Y 56. — It was moderate in the morning, with a fine land 
breeze, when all the dows left the harbour. Unus passed us, mak- 
ing his salaams, with his English colours flying. By nine we were 
under weigh, accompanied by Mr. Maxfield, the dow, and a smaller 
boat. The sea breeze did not set in favourably, but held to the N. 
ofN.E; we, of course, made but little way. The channel was 
very narrow, and our tacks short. About twelve it freshened con- 
siderably, and continued to do so till four, when it was due north. 
The pilot pointed out an anchoring ground, for which we stood; 
but he changed his mind, and pushed on for another, which we 
soon found it impossible to reach ; and indeed his account of it was 
not very pleasant : he said it was near the shore, and in forty 
fathom. It blew very fresh, and the sky promised a gale. Captain 
Court therefore returned to the first. We had only our stay-sail and 
mizen set, yet were going five knots an hour. As we neared the 
shore there were no soundings, till the man in the chains called out 
four fathom rocks. Excedingly alarmed, we instantly tried to let 
go the stream anchor with the chain, but it would not run ; we then 
let go the bower, which went. The next heave was ten fathom, mud, 
and then fourteen, in which we let go the stream anchor. We now 
found ourselves in a perfect bason formed by a circle of rocks, over 
a part of which we had passed. The pilot knew what he was about ; 
