A DIFFICULT POSITION. 
349 
forwarded to the chief of the Eggarahs, and a piece of 
drab silk to Amada Bue, the Attah’s sister. 
Early on the morning of the 12th, they were again 
under weigh, and by half-past 7 a.m., were abreast 
of Bird Rock. The appearance of this locality was 
now entirely altered ; when seen on the former passage 
up, it was only a few feet abore the water, it now rose 
to a height of thirty feet, and at a little distance bore 
no slight resemblance to a ship under sail. Several 
rocks were observed on each side, some of which were 
from fifteen to twenty feet above water, although 
entirely hidden from view on the former ascent, and 
must have been passed over. At noon, in wending 
through a cluster of these rocks, some of which were 
thirty-five feet above the surface of the river, in the 
proper mid-channel, near the lower end of Beaufort’s 
Island, with leads going fore and aft and every possible 
precaution, the vessel struck violently on a concealed 
reef, which penetrated the second compartment on the 
larboard side, in the neighbourhood of the Boatswain’s 
store-room, and started four rivets in the third compart- 
ment on the starboard side; the sonndings taken just 
before she grounded, by two careful leadsmen, showed 
three fathoms forward and four fathoms aft. The 
engines were stopped and immediately reversed, but 
inefiectually ; and before Lieutenant Webb could run 
forward from the break of the poop, the foremost com- 
partment filled up to the lower deck. All hands were 
without loss of time, atwork,to clear the injured division. 
