'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎234] (343/496)

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carrying the vessel through this intricate and dangerous channel. At
noon, Murray’s Island bore N. E. distant eight or nine miles; no bottom
at thirty fathoms : soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water. very irregular, and many overfalls,—still
threading our tortuous way imdst a forest of coral shoals, steering to
the southward, and westward, and altering courses as required. At
half-past three a clear space was at last discovered bearing W. by N., for
which we made, but finding this was not the proper channel, and as we
were sthl too much to the Southward, and the glare of the sun making
it difficult to distinguish the reefs, bore up and anchored for the night
under the lee of an extensive coral bank in twenty-five fathoms, very
foul ground about a cable’s length from its edge. The channel here is
a quarter of a mile wide, but it is a most intricate and dangerous one, and
on no account ought to be attempted. Fortunately the Tigris was well
manned, and moreover worked easily, otherwise our position would have
been critical in the extreme, for we vrere necessitated to carry all possi
ble sail in order to stem the eddy currents, frequently tacking* with our
flying jib-boom quite over the shoals, so that had the vessel missed stays
and struck under such a heavy press of canvas, she must have gone co
pieces—no earthly power could have saved her. The bearings of Mur
ray’s island at this anchorage was N. 43° E., distant about six leagues.
The weather during the night continued cloudy ; the wind blowing
strong from the S. E., with heavy gusts at intervals; the sea remaining
perfectly smooth,—the anchorage being well sheltered by the numerous
surrounding reefs. W e experienced here such strong eddy currents that
a heavy harbour lead that we had overboard would not lemain on the
bottom, being evidently carried off by the velocity of an underset.
During the middle watch the vessel began to drive, and shoaled her
water from twenty-five to eight fathoms. Another anchor being mime
diately let go, she then held on after drifting back to eighteen fathoms.
At daylight the next day, observed a shoal a short distance from os,
with the sea breaking over it: sent the gig to sound, and she soon after
returned, when the officer in charge, Mr Leeds, reported there were only
three feet water on it, but close to the edge seventeen fathoms,
sunrise commenced weighing, but after many futile efforts to lieave^ up
the larboard bower, obliged at last to desist, as we found the cable
got a turn round the cauliflower head of some huge coral l0C
We consequently slipped, and thereby lost the anchor and about six^
fathoms of chain. The starboard bower was however weighed^^
some difficulty : we then made sail with a find fresh
and stood to the south-west, steering between innumerable re