Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/524

486 we had several boats afloat. Cretin, who had taken soundings in this road the preceding year, told our Commander that he would not find less water in it than sixteen feet; and this prevented all farther search. That assertion, however, ought not to have been entirely adopted; for, besides that Cretin had not sounded the bay so deliberately as to be able to inform us respecting its depth within a foot or two, he was in doubt whether or not he had performed that operation at low water, a circumstance which would produce a difference of at least six feet, and consequently would not have left sufficient water for our ship. Notwithstanding these considerations, we did not hesitate to steer to the larboard, and to approach full nearer to the low shore. The consequence was, that we ran a-ground, but fortunately upon a sandy bottom. This accident happened at half an hour past nine o'clock. The wind blowing in heavy squalls, from the high mountains, drove the ship violently towards the shore, and fixed her deeper and deeper into the sand.

The Esperance immediately sent her long-boat and her pinnace, which, in conjunction with our own boats, made vain efforts, on the starboard side of our ship, to tow her off. It then became necessary to carry out an anchor to the W.N.W. and