Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 401

382

Coast of China and Corea.

JULY,

The next day at noon, being in latitude 39° 2′ N., and longitude 124° 39′ E., lost sight of the main land, a group of low islands being in sight, bearing N. by W. distant 10 miles; and the east extreme of a number of high islands S. E. by E., 16 to 18 miles. This position on the Admiralty chart places us 17 miles within the coast-line.

Dangerous reef. From noon, steering S. by E., running at the rate of 7 knots, at Oh. 50m., we suddenly shoaled from 15 to 7 fathoms, rocky bottom; hauled off W. S. W., and soon deepened the water again to 20 and 22 fathoms. Altered our course again to S. by E., and after running a short time shoaled again suddenly, passing from 17 into 10, 7, 6, and 4 fathoms. From the appearance of the broken water and birds, there appeared to be much less water on the shoal. The latitude of the 4 fathom cast was 38° 56′ N., and lon- gitude 124° 37′ E. P.

Tides in the gulf of Cheikle. At the anchorage off the Pei ho, about 16 miles from the land, it was high water on fall and change days at 4 o'clock P. M. Flood tide set to the northwestward, and ebb to the southeast. Its velocity was 1 knot per hour, during spring tides; rise and fall about 7 feet. At Toki and the Heshan group, the tides are very irregular. While at anchor off Toki, the stream ran 22 hours to the westward, while the water rose and fell by the shore. High water on full and change days about 8h. 30m.

During the Wellesley's stay in the gulf of Cheihle, from the 5th of Aug. until the 21st of September, the weather generally speaking was fine, with the wind from every quarter, but rarely blowing stronger than 4, or a moderate breeze. On her passage from the gulf to Chu- san, between the 21st and 26th of September, light and moderate breezes were experienced, and from every point of the compass. When in latitude 34° 3′ N., and longitude 124° 8' E., an island, apparently high, was in sight from the deck, bearing E. N. If this (as was supposed at the time) was Alceste island, it would appear to be laid down too far to the eastward in the chart.

Chusan to Canton in November. Returning to Canton river, from Chusan in the middle of November, the winds varied from N. W. to E. N. E., generally fresh breezes with overcast thick weather. The current was not so strong as we expected; between Patahecock and Chapel island it set the ship S. 40° E., 17 miles in 48 hours; and from thence to the Lema channel S. 41° W., 15 miles in 48 hours.

W.