252 
SHIPWRECK. 
made the Great Natunas, and the next day passed the Timbelan 
Islands, and that night discovered Gaspar island, having run about one 
hundred and sixty miles a day in nearly smooth water. Expecting to 
be in the straits of Gaspar the next morning, I rose early to ascertain 
our situation, and looking from my cabin window, saw Pulo-Leat, a 
finely wooded island close on our larboard beam. The morning was 
fine, the wind was fresh and favourable, and the vessel was moving 
rapidly through the water; every appearance promised a rapid passage 
through the straits which we had just entered. I had scarcely with- 
drawn, when a violent vibration of the whole ship, accompanied by a 
rumbling noise, urged me again to look out ; the vessel no longer 
moved, and the waves beat against her like a rock. She had struck on a 
coral reef *, and having grated over it for a few seconds, heeled slightly 
over to the starboard side and settled upon it. On deck, where I in- 
stantly hastened, every countenance told the distressing truth. A dead 
silence prevailed for some moments, every man retaining the posture 
in which the disaster found him, till Captain Maxwell, by his orders, 
roused the suspended faculties of all. “ All hands on deck to shorten 
sail — man the pumps — clear the best bower anchor,” were the 
almost simultaneous orders. An attempt was then made by throw- 
ing the sails aback to drive the ship off the rock, but in vain. The 
rapidity of her motion at the instant of striking, rendered it highly 
probable that she had received serious injury ; but every doubt on 
this subject was soon removed by the appearance of large portions 
of the keel floating alongside, and by the report of the carpenter. 
He had sounded the well, and found two feet and a half water, and 
soon after seven feet, and that it continued to gain rapidly. Every 
sail was now taken in, and the anchor was let go to keep the ship 
upon the rock, from the apprehension, if she went off, of her instantly 
sinking. Some bread and powder were then attempted to be saved; 
* In a chart by Captain Lestock Wilson, the track of his ship Vansittart passes over 
the very spot where the Alceste struck, and eighteen fathoms water arc marked in the 
same place. 
