Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
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Their Motions Were Still Closely Watched By The Natives.
About eleven
they got under way, but were obliged to anchor again in the
afternoon, as the water was not deep enough for the vessel to pass
over the bar.
The mate sounded the bar again, and placed a buoy as a
mark for the vessel to pass over in the deepest water.
On the following morning, the wind favouring them, they made another
attempt at getting out of the river. They had already made some
progress, when the wind again died away, and the current setting them
rapidly over to the eastern breakers, they were obliged to let go an
anchor to save them from destruction. They could see nothing of the
buoy, and no doubt was entertained that it was washed away by the
current. Their anchorage was in three and a half fathom water, and
the ground swell, which then set in, heaved the vessel up and down in
such a frightful manner, that they expected every moment to see the
chain cable break. As soon as they dropped their anchor, the tide
rushed past the vessel at the rate of eight miles an hour. After the
ebb tide had ceased running, the swell gradually subsided, and the
vessel rode easily.
The mate was again sent to sound the bar, and in about three hours
afterwards, returned with the information that two fathoms and three
quarters was the deepest water he could find. The bar extended across
the mouth of the river in the form of a crescent, leaving a very
narrow and shallow entrance for vessels in the middle, which was
generally concealed by the surf and foam of the adjacent breakers.
When the wind is light and the tide high, and the surface of the
water smooth, excepting in a few places, the bar is then most
dangerous. They observed several fires made by the natives on the
beach, which were supposed to be signals for them to return.
They passed a restless and most unpleasant night. The captain and the
people were much alarmed for the safety of the brig. The heavy ground
swell, which set in, increased by the strength of the tide, caused
her to pitch and labour so hard, that a man was placed to watch the
cable, and give notice the moment it complained, a technical
expression, which meant, the moment it gave signs of breaking.
Daylight had scarcely dawned, when the pall of the windlass broke.
The purpose of this was to prevent the windlass from turning round on
its axis against any strain to which it might be subjected, and
consequently it was no sooner broken, than the windlass flew round
with incredible velocity, having nothing to resist the strain of the
cable, which was passed round it. The chain cable ran out so swiftly,
that in half a minute the windlass was broken to atoms. The two
Landers with their people rendered all the assistance in their power
to prevent the ship from drifting. They succeeded in fastening the
cable to ring bolts in the deck, until they got sufficient of it
clear to go round the capstan, which they had no sooner effected,
than the ring bolts were fairly drawn out of the deck by the strain
on the cable.
About eight in the evening, a terrific wave, called by sailors a
sea, struck the vessel with tremendous force, and broke the chain
cable. "The cable is gone," shouted a voice, and the next instant the
captain cried out in a firm, collected tone, "Cut away the kedge,"
which was promptly obeyed, and the vessel was again stopped from
drifting among the breakers. The man who had been stationed to look
out on the cable, came running aft on deck, as soon as he had given
notice of the danger, calling out that all was over. "Good God!" was
the passionate exclamation of every one, and a slight confusion
ensued. But the captain was prepared for the worst, he gave his
orders with firmness, and behaved with promptness and intrepidity.
"We were riding by the kedge, a small anchor, which, however, was the
only one left us, and on which the safety of the brig now depended.
The breakers were close under our stern, and this was not expected to
hold ten minutes; it was a forlorn hope, every eye was fixed on the
raging surf, and our hearts thrilled with agitation, expecting every
moment that the vessel would be dashed in pieces. A few long and
awful minutes were passed in this state, which left an indelible
impression on our minds. Never," continues Richard Lander, "shall I
forget the chief mate saying to me, 'Now, sir, every one for himself,
a few minutes will be the last with us.' The tumultuous sea was
raging in mountainous waves close by us, their foam dashing against
the sides of the brig, which was only prevented from being carried
among them by a weak anchor and cable. The natives, from whom they
could expect no favour, were busy on shore making large fires, and
other signals, for us to desert the brig and land at certain places,
expecting, no doubt, every moment to see her a prey to the waves, and
those who escaped their fury, to fall into their hands. Wretched
resource! the sea would have been far more merciful than they."
Such was their perilous situation, when a fine sea breeze set in,
which literally saved them from destruction. The sails were loosened
to relieve the anchor from the strain of the vessel, and she rode out
the ebb tide without drifting. At ten a.m. the tide had nearly ceased
running out, and the fury of the sea rather abated, but it was quite
impossible that the brig could ride out another ebb tide where she
lay, with the kedge anchor alone to hold her; the only chance left
them, therefore, was to get to sea, and the captain determined on
crossing the bar, although there appeared to be little chance of
success.
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