ng from the north-west, and the surface of the water
gently agitated by the current, which perpetually sets through the
straits, either to the south-east or south-west, according to the
monsoon.

The sea, which is usually so clear in these climates, had been greatly
discoloured that morning by a quantity of fish spawn, a circumstance
of not unfrequent occurrence in those seas; and the navigation being
thus rendered more dangerous, unusual precautions were taken for
ensuring the safety of the ship. A man was stationed at the
foretopmast head, and others at the fore-yardarms. Captain Maxwell,
with the master and other officers, was upon deck, 'steering, under
all these guarded circumstances,' (writes an eye-witness,) 'the
soundings corresponding so exactly with the charts, and following the
express line prescribed by all concurring directions, to clear every
danger,--and it was the last danger of this sort between us and
England,--when the ship, about half-past seven in the morning, struck
with a horrid crash on a reef of sunken rocks, and remained
immoveable.' 'What my feelings were,' says Captain Maxwell, 'at this
momentary transition from a state of perfect security to all the
horrors of a shipwreck, I will not venture to depict; but I must
acknowledge, it required whatever mental energy I possessed to control
them, and to enable me to give with coolness and firmness the
necessary orders preparatory to abandoning the ship,--which a very
short period of hard working at all the pumps showed the
impracticability of saving.'

The carpenter very soon reported the water above the tanks in the main
hold, and in a few minutes more, over the orlop deck.

The quarter boats had been instantly lowered to sound, and reported
deep water all round the reef, ten fathoms immediately under the
stern, and seventeen about a quarter of a cable further off,--so that
it was but too evident that the preservation of the crew depended
solely upon the vessel's remaining fast where she was.

The first care of Captain Maxwell was for the safety of Lord Amherst
and his suite; the boats were quickly hoisted out, and before
half-past eight, he had the melancholy satisfaction of seeing the
ambassador and all his attendants safely embarked in them.

For the better protection of the embassy, an officer was sent in the
barge, with a guard of marines, to conduct them to Pulo Leat, between
three and four miles distant, and from which it was hoped tha