DANGEROUS POSITION. 
129 
found anchorage till within the breakers. It was there- 
fore a mercy that soundings had not been tried half-an- 
hour sooner, where we probably crossed the “ Pit,” in 
two hundred and fifty or two hundred and seventy 
fathoms : w'e should then have been lulled into the 
belief that we were sufficiently far from the shore, and 
could not have been aware of its dangerous proximity, 
till too late for such a dull sailer to escape without 
steam. 
At daylight we found we were only half a mile from 
the shore, with breakers close to us, and a very heavy 
surf all along the beach. 
We immediately got up the steam, weighed and stood 
right out to sea : when a sufficient “ offing” was obtained, 
we were obliged again to let the steam down, in order to 
reserve the remaining fuel of only two hours — for a 
future emergency. This, unfortunately, soon occurred, 
as before midnight it fell calm, and we were again drifted 
within two miles of this shore of ill-omen. Anchored 
till daylight. 
July 21. — With the steam, and a light air, we 
luckily secured a good offing by the time the last piece 
of wood was expended. We thus were enabled to pass 
Cape Three-points ; which, having now a strong current 
in our favour, we did in good style. 
Soon after this, calm again obliged us to anchor off 
a place called Bobsum Accra. A very heavy surf here 
also gave little prospect of being able to procure wood. 
A boat was however sent to try to communicate with 
VOL. I. 
K 
