WOOD FUEL SOON EXPENDED. 
127 
customary with ships when they engage Krumen, for it 
would be hopeless to expect to get a sufficient number 
to volunteer individually.* 
July 18. — As we were able to procure only a 
small supply of fuel here, we sailed in the afternoon 
towards our rendezvous, but had not gone far along 
the coast when the wood — which consumed veiy rapidly 
— began to fail, so that reserving six hours’ supply for 
an emergency, we had recourse to our sails ; by means 
of these, with only a light wind, an adverse current and 
excessive leeway, we not only made very little progress 
across the bay, between Cape Palmas and Cape Three- 
points, but we soon became aware that the vessel was 
setting bodily towards the land. We were, in fact, in that 
most critical of aU situations for a ship — embayed on 
a dangerous lee-shore. In our case, however, the peril 
was diminished by the certainty that the wind seldom 
blows with any force on this coast, and we might 
trust to our anchors when we should reach soundings. 
In the early and middle part of the night, no bottom was 
found by the lead, but at 3 a.m. we struck soundings. 
On trying another cast, at 4.40 a.m., it had decreased 
from thirty-seven to eighteen fathoms ; and five minutes 
after, to ten, when we immediately anchored, and had 
indeed just time to do so, as we heard the breakers roar 
* Since these remarks were prepared for publication, we are happy 
to find the Government has offered every encouragement to this 
scheme, which we cannot help believing will be followed by the best 
results. 
