OCEAN. author certainly merits the applaufe of the world, it has however
been the fate o f his work to have the common ftamp o f all human
produdtions; viz. to have fome imperfections, and even to recount
fome falfe affertions • upon the faith o f other authors and travellers:
the illullrious author, is fo well known for his love o f truth,
and. for the variety o f his erudition, that he will no doubt find it
ju ft to give his work all that perfection, which it-is capable of, by
correcting whatibever is not ftriCtly conformable to truth and nature.
I will therefore, on the ftrehgth of this fuppofitidn and the
encouragement perfonally given me by.himfolf, remark that his ob-
fervation will hold in regard to large lands ; it is however equally
true, that in regard to all the low files in the South feas, and even
in regard to the low reefs furrounding the Society. Ifles, this rule
admits o f many exceptions. In New Zeeland, Tierra del Fuego,
N ew Caledonia and all the New Hebrides, I believe the rule to
be true: for all thefe lands are high and have generally bold coafts ;
.and the foundings a're deep clofe into the lhore without decreafing.
I have however in fome inftances obferved juft the contrary j as
■ off the South entrance o f Dufky Bay we had about 45 fathoms
water; but in the bay itfelf we had no ground with 80 fathom line.
'O f f the South coaft of Tierra del Fuego between Cape Noir and
■ Chriftmas Bay, we had 45 and 50 fathom water, which increafed
sto 60 or 70 ; but when we flood in for Chriftmas Bay we had
■ no
*
no ground with 80 fathom o f line, in the very entrance. o c e a n .
When we were off the coaft o f South Georgia we had
regular foundings, but in the entrance of Poflbffiom Bay we-
had no ground with 54 fathoms;.; According to the above rule
o f Mr: de Buffort,1. the low files in the -South-Seas Ihould have
gradual foundings,— blit, w e fo u n d the contrary to be* true: forv
dole to the reef forming thefe ifles, . the Water is alrhoft unfathomable.
T h e fame may be faid.of 0 -Taheitee'and all the Society
Ifles, . 'which are furrounded by a fertile plain extending from the:
hills to the fea, and then included in a reef, beyond which the
fea, immediately becomes exceffively deep." Nedr Turtle-Ifland
we faw an oblong reef, which was no where free . from Water,-';
had a deep fea included, and on its outfides there was a great depth
clofe to the reef. A ll thefe; inftances here enumerated, feem to be .-
exceptions to Mr. de Buffon’s rule, t
T h e C olour o f the O c e a n .
W herever there is an extenfive -bank or a.lhoal, there the colour
of the fea-water is. changed; but even this is.fubjeff to many
exceptions : fometimes we find places which are amazingly clear,
and the ground, at the depth o f feveral fathoms, may be1 feen as
plainly as i f it were within a -few yards -of the furface; fometimes
6 the