Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

influence of this terrific danger, is without hope. Between the reef and the island is a lagoon of shoal water, about three miles in length; close to this, at the distance of two to three miles from the south point, was the wreck before mentioned. She was a vessel apparently about 600 tons, had evidently ran on the rocks during the night, and most probably was a wreck as soon as danger became known; she was well up on the reef, with her bottom out, and her anchors at the bows with cables bent. The cables were of coir, from which circumstance, together with her not having any name on her stern, it may be inferred that she was an Arab vessel. At 1 P.M., we made sail from the anchorage, and had to keep away to pass to the westward of the Baline shoal; this shoal always shows itself by the swell or sea breaking on it; we passed about a quarter of a mile outside of it, and hauled up for Frigate Island, this we passed at a moderate distance, as well as Pearl Island, from which we hauled to the Trade, but passed far to leeward of the North Islet or Albatross Island. These islands, which are not high, bound the main island to the N.W. and N., the whole being situated at the south end of an extensive bank, on which we sounded during the night, in 20 to 50 fathoms; and on the following noon, in latitude 13° 20' S., longitude 61° 30′ E., had 85 fathoms; the soundings were on coral, sand, and shell. Supposing the last cast in 85 fathoms, to have been on the edge of the bank, it will give a distance of 80 leagues N.E. by N. from the south point of the main island, and 68 leagues for the extent of the bank to the N.E. of the North Islet.

TRISTAN D'ACUNHA.

To the Editor of the Nautical Magazine.

Ship Wellington, on her way to Madras, December 2, 1835. SIR, I have observed in two or three numbers of your excellent periodical, notices of the little island of Tristan d'Acunha; and the sympathy I have constantly heard expressed in behalf of the poor islanders, induces me to believe that some recent accounts will not fail to interest many of your readers.

In my outward passage, being driven by a succession of southeast winds far to the south-west, I was gratified by the opportunity offered of renewing my acquaintance with the inhabitants, whom I had previously visited three times. We arrived off the island on the 12th of October, and were immediately boarded by the island boat, containing old Glass, (or the Governor, as he is invariably styled there,) and his five companions, who were overjoyed to see us again. When a vessel heaves in sight, the men are always on the alert, and, to attract attention, whenever the ship is sufficiently near to see it, they set fire to a large heap of brushwood, constantly kept in readiness for the purpose.

A large increase of the inhabitants had taken place since our last visit in 1831; the number now reaching 41, exclusive of Glass's eldest son, absent in a whaler. Though they have frequent intercourse with American whalers, I was surprised to find that they had seen no free trader since we called four years ago. As the poor people are entirely dependent on ships for supplies of clothes, and many other necessaries, it may be imagined with what joy an Indiaman full of passengers is welcome.

On this, as on former occasions, my passengers, especially the ladies, were exceedingly liberal in their presents of wearing apparel, blankets, books, &c.; and I had great pleasure in adding to these valuable supplies a fine calf, with wheat, barley, and oats, for seed, and a variety of stores. Their stock consists of fifty head of cattle, seventy-five sheep, (which at present thrive but indifferently,) and a large quantity of pigs and poultry. The weather being very fine, all my passengers (except the ladies) were gratified with a trip on shore, when the Rev. J. Applegate, of the established church, took advantage of the opportunity to baptize twenty-nine persons, from the age of a few months to seventeen years, after an affecting address to all the assembled inhabitants. This was the first time they had ever seen a clergyman; and a baptismal register was now left with them. In the uneventful history of their little community, our visit will no doubt form a very important era.

In offering these few details to the perusal of your numerous readers, I am actuated by a hope that some commanders of Indiamen may be induced to call at the island, which lies very nearly in the best route to India, when circumstances permit, as their visits will not fail to confer an incalculable benefit on the poor inhabitants.

The wind happened to be very light during the few hours we hove-to off the island, and the barometer was high, but we had scarcely left it, when a gale came on rapidly from the northward, accompanied with thick rainy weather, and a heavy sea. I mention this as a proof of the great uncertainty of the weather there, and the extreme danger of ever anchoring, as is recommended by a correspondent of yours, signing himself "Albert," in your last January number. He appears to consider it the "St. Helena of outward-bound Indiamen!" but, after a good deal of experience, I have no hesitation in saying that "Albert" is greatly deceived. Though, for the benefit of the poor islanders, I have recommended my brother commanders to call when convenient, I would desire to caution all from calculating with any confidence even on communicating, since, in two instances, when purposing to touch there, the boisterous weather prevented us, and out of our four visits (all in the summer season) the last was the only one in which we were favoured with fine weather.

Tristan d'Acunha is between eight and nine hundred feet high,

and when capped with a cloud, as white as the snow beneath, the island offers a very beautiful view. The rough little sketch* I subjoin, is a faithful representation of this singular spot of earth; and when improved in the style of the admirable lithographs which embellish your magazine, it may perhaps be worthy of a place there.

[graphic]

I would take this opportunity of alluding to a notice contained in your December number, 1833, respecting a 66 crescent rock" seen by Captain Robson in the bark Ann, on the 18th Oct. 1829, in lat. 37° 35' S., 7° 30' E. longitude. I confess I was exceedingly surprised when this account first met my eye, as, on reference to my journals, I found I had twice passed nearly over the very spot, in the day-time. But, sir, when it is considered that this "crescent rock" is situated not only in the direct route of all the outward-bound vessels to the eastward, but also in the very cruising parallel of the American whalers, whose number yearly frequenting that part of the ocean exceeds three hundred, may we not be permitted to suspect, with that able and indefatigable hydrographer, Horsburgh, "that dead whales, shoals of devil fish, and other huge marine monsters," are still sometimes mistaken for banks and rocks. Three years ago, within a short distance of the reported site of this "crescent rock," we saw at one time around us six American whalers.

If I have not already trespassed too much on your valuable pages, I would offer a remark on the subject of currents, at present so little understood. We have often heard of curious results from bottlest thrown overboard, and I believe your early numbers con

We thank our correspondent for his sketch, which we transferred to our wood engraver.

We have collected some remarkable recent instances of the results afforded by these papers, which we shall shortly lay before our readers.-In the mean time, we hope that the friends of discovery, like Mr. Liddell, will not relax in their exertions in casting these valuable messengers into the sea on their passages. The results will amply repay them for their trouble. Ed. N. M.

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][graphic][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][graphic][subsumed][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« PredošláPokračovať »