'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎375] (484/496)

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fathoms close round tlie vessel^—slie having grounded on a small patch
of coral rocks not much larger than the Tigris herself. About 9 p. m,, the
flood tide, fortunately for us, made, and rose so rapidly that in a few
minutes we had fathoms immediately under the fore chains. It
being now apparent that she hung only abaft, the quarterdeck guns
were run forward, and all sail being rapidly set, the vessel, we were
glad to find, began to grind slowly over the rocks ; and in the space
of half an hour, after several heavy bumps, succeeded in forcing her
clear off, and then came to an anchor about one mile from the shoal in
nine fathoms. The well being sounded, it was found that the brig had
sprung no leak, the carpenter reporting she had not made even a drop
of water : had the Tigris therefore not been teak built, in all probabi
lity she would have gone to pieces, for no other vessel in the world
could have stood such tremendous shocks as she did for a period of
three hours. She had, however, as we afterwards ascertained, suffered
considerable damage: her fore-foot was gone, and the whole of the false
and upwards of twenty feet of the main keel had been torn away, leaving
the copper bolts sticking outside, bent and twisted in every direction.
This reef was not laid down in any of the charts we had on board, and
even in the recent ones constructed by Captain King it was left out
altogether, so that we were quite unprepared for so serious an accident.
It was, moreover, to be regretted that Captain Tgglesden did not fix the
correct position of this dangerous reef, but he only refrained from doing
so in consequence of the loss of our rudder, and being most anxious
to get into Raffles 5 Bay as quick as possible, where he intended to repair
damages. This patch of rocks, as far as I could observe, was situated
about four miles to the north of Cape Croker, with deep water between
it and the mainland. The lead is a good guide, for the soundings Measurements of the depth of a body of water.
shoal gradually as it is approached: no vessel in rounding this Cape at
night ought therefore to come under nine fathoms. We experienced a
fresh trade with a heavy swell, the ebb setting to the south-eastward
three knots per hour.
The next morning weighed and made all sail in company vdm the
Schooner, and stood into Raffles’ Bay, steering the vessel alone by the
assistance of her head and after sails: found that she worked admita^ y
by this management, and at 2-15 r. M. we contrived to bring her sam y
to anchor in three and a half fathoms blue clay, about hal a 1 ^
shore, and a mile from the old settlement ; the two extieme poi
the bay bearing from north 38° west to north 40° cast; a small worn y
Island distant half a mile south 4° west. Tins poi t is of \ my ca.y acc