282 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. as quickly shoaled again to fifteen, and then sud- 
SeptT n. denly to seven fathoms, hard sand. 
The cutter was then put about, and we steered 
offN.W. for six miles, and passed through se- 
veral ripplings, occasioned by the tide flowing 
with rapidity over a rocky and irregular bottom. 
After running the above distance we again hauled 
to the wind, but had hardly trimmed sails, before 
we again suddenly shoaled from sixteen to seven 
fathoms. This was too dangerous to persist in, 
and I gave up the attempt of venturing forward 
during the night. 
12. The next morning the land was visible about 
Point Pearce, bearing N.N.E. 
The colour of the water here is of a dirty 
yellow ; it was imagined at first to be caused 
by the tide stirring up the mud; but, on ex- 
amination, we found that it arose entirely from 
the reflection of the bottom, which is a brown 
and yellow speckled sand. Although this change 
of the bottom was favourable to the importance 
of the opening before us, yet it rendered our 
difficulties greater, and increased the dangers, 
from its offering less secure anchorage, and be- 
ing so much more studded with shoals, than the 
even muddy bottom that we had just left. 
At daylight the breeze was strong from 
E.S.E. : at seven o’clock, having fetched in with 
