difficulties of the north-channel. 389 
In the afternoon of Monday (16th of Septem¬ 
ber) the wind, still continuing contrary, we stood 
close in with Bengore Head, that we might have 
the advantage of the earliest flood-tide. I now 
designed to attempt the “ Sound of Rachlin,” by 
which we should not only get much farther to 
windward, than by going, to the northward of 
Rachlin Island, but should have an earlier and a 
stronger tide. With this view, we stood close up 
along shore, passing within 200 or 300 yards of 
Sheep Islands ; but when we had nearly reached 
the Bull of Rachlin, the wind headed us, and 
fell nearly calm. As I did not like to pursue a 
navigation with which I was unacquainted in the 
dark, and there was now no possibility of accom¬ 
plishing it with day-light, I thought it prudent 
to bear up, and go to the northward of the island. 
Having passed Rachlin, the wind rather favoured 
us, in consequence of which, with a strong tide 
under our lee, we weathered the Mull of Cantyre, 
at midnight, at the distance of about a mile. In 
this position, we had reached a different set of the 
so great, that the want of such a descriptive list will be evi¬ 
dent, when I mention, that the number of lights on the 
eastern coast of Ireland only, is thirteen or more, and on 
the opposite coast of Britain above twenty, of which num¬ 
ber, at least thirty might occasionally be seen from a vessel 
passing quite through the Irish Channel. 
