256 
captain gave his orders accordingly, and that very instant 
making my calculation, I found that we were about 24 
leagues north of Tripoli. 
I asked the captain upon his return whether the ship 
was able to be rowed. I do not know, replied he, but I 
will try. Then, said I, steer W.N.W. and try to get 
into the channel between Kerkeni and Zerbi. 
He acted in consequence, and a short time after we 
were so fortunate as to get out of this terrible gale, 
which threatened to dash us against the coast of Tripoli. 
The wind slackened, and the sea became less violent, 
though it continued to be very billowy. 
Friday, 1st November. We kept the same point, 
and the sea having become calm we anchored in 15 
fathoms water on a bank near Kerkeni; about eight in 
the evening. 
Every one in the ship looked upon himself as risen 
again from the dead, and mutually embraced, wishing 
joy to each other. 
Saturday, 2d November. Our point was 3 leagues 
distant from Kerkeni, which lay W.N.W. 6<* N. of us. 
We were at anchor on a very large bank of sand and 
quartz, extending over a surface of several leagues, and 
which afforded as safe an anchorage as a confined har- 
bour; for with the very strong wind which was then blow- 
ing, the waves did not rise, and the* sea resembled a 
pond. 
This bank has an almost imperceptible declivity to- 
wards the islands of Kerkeni and the coast of the king- 
dom of Tunis. It may be known at the distance of se- 
veral leagues, by the brownish or whitish colour of the 
water; and when one is upon it, by the quietness of the 
sea. 
