< Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu
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390

AT SEA.

consequence, the Captain immediately adopted the only plan which offered a hope of saving the vessel, wearing the ship round towards the north-west, and putting her under a press of sail, which we had only just room to effect, as by this time we had drifted very near to the shore. Fortunately, our efforts succeeded; for being aided by a strong current which set off from the island, we made a favourable tack to windward; and at noon, being in latitude 12° 23′ 0″, had the satisfaction of clearing the western point of land, and of finding ourselves again in a situation of comparative safety; after which we ran within a white rock[1] lying off this end of Socotra, and endeavoured to steer close under the lee of that island.[2] The occurrence I have just related, points out very strongly the

necessity of making the Island of Abdelcuria of greater consequence in the charts than has hitherto been the case; as it was solely owing to the inattention of hydrographers, in this respect, that we were drawn into the awful situation I have described. We had the strongest reasons, however, to be grateful to Providence that this had not occurred before day-break; as, otherwise, the ship, and every person on board, must have inevitably perished; for at the time we were nearest to the shore, we could clearly discover a tremendously heavy surf breaking over the rocks with which the coast was lined.

On the 8th of July, notwithstanding that we kept close under the land, the wind continued to blow with excessive violence, keeping us under the foresail and mizen stay sail, which prevented our making a single mile on our course; and perfectly convinced us that, during its continuance, it would be impracticable to gain a windward passage. On the 9th of July, the weather became still more boisterous: and the vessel shipped so much water as to keep our men almost constantly employed at the pumps,

  1. ↑ This rock very much resembles the one lying off the north end of Abdelcuria; which latter contributed towards leading us into the error above-mentioned.
  2. ↑ A sketch of the north-west end of Socotra is given in the chart, for which, I entertain a hope that the Island of Abdelcuria may never again be mistaken.
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