212 
SURVEY OP THE INTERTROPICAL 
1822. of effecting something in a fortnight worth the 
Feb. 15. delay. We had dry provisions and water on 
board for about ten weeks, so that with fine 
weather we could have retarded our departure 
for ten or twelve days without much risk. 
16 . Our quitting this place being determined upon, 
we did not lose any time; but from various 
delays of calm weather and adverse tides, 
could not succeed in getting out to sea until 
the 18 th. 
It was impossible to go out by the dangerous 
channel through which we entered ; but as Sun- 
day Strait, through which the brig had been 
drifted before we went to Mauritius, appeared 
free from danger, we directed our course to it ; 
and, after being under weigh all the night near 
its inner entrance, during which we had once 
nearly struck on a reef of rocks, found our- 
selves at daylight drifting through it with a rapid 
ebb-tide, without a breath of wind. The tide 
however lasted long enough to carry us out, and 
w^hen the flood commenced, which would have 
drifted us back again, a fresh breeze sprang up 
from the westward, and very soon carried us 
clear of the influence of the tide. 
With respect to the opening we had now left, 
there were many conflicting opinions among us, 
but I have every reason to think that the land 
