sounded, and found twenty fathoms.* But a ship coming from the eastward must, immediately after passing the point, pass over this depth. It is quite true that every ship in approaching the land must pass over twenty fathoms and fifteen fathoms; but here not only must the twenty-fathom depth be close to the spot where they had the indications of land, but it must bear E. by S. from the fifteen-fathom depth, and at such a distance as would allow of preparation for anchoring, with four anchors from the stern; for we are not to suppose that ships from sea, unexpectedly falling in with land, can be prepared to anchor in an unusual manner on the instant. Now, about half an hour farther, estimating the ship's rate of progression by the time which had been hitherto consumed, we find the depth to be fifteen fathoms. Here we are told, 'that fearing lest they should have fallen upon rocks,‡ they cast four anchors out of the stern.' This implies. that there were rocks to leeward, on which, if they had 28 Και βολισαντες εὗρον οργυιας εικοσι βραχυ δε διαστησαντες, και παλιν βολισαντες, εὗρον οργυιας δεκαπεντε. 28 And sounded and found it twenty fathoms, and when they had gone a little further they sounded again and found it fifteen fathoms. * The ancient fathom (opyvia) so nearly agrees with the English fathom, that the difference may be neglected. According to Hesychius, it is Tα TWV αμφοτερων χειρων εκτασις, the space between both hands extended. † See chart of St. Paul's Bay to the west of the point of Koura. I have given the soundings as they are laid down in Admiral Smyth's chart. Although the depth of twenty fathoms is not marked, we know it must be between seventeen and twenty-four. Tpaxus is mentioned as a hydrographic term by Julius Pollux, and K not anchored, they must have fallen; but the fifteenfathom depth is as nearly as possible a quarter of a mile from the shore, which is here girt with mural precipices, and upon which the sea must have been breaking with great violence. Upon the former alarm the ship weathered the point; here it was impossible. From the position of the ship's head, the breakers must have been seen over the lee bow. Their only chance of safety, therefore, was to anchor; but to do so successfully in a gale of wind, on a lee shore, requires not only time for preparation, but holding-ground of extraordinary tenacity. In St. Paul's Bay the anchorage is thus described in the sailing directions: 'The harbour of St. Paul is open to easterly and north-east winds. It is, notwithstanding, safe for small ships, the ground, generally, being very good; and while the cables hold there is no danger, as the anchors will never start.' (P. 161.) The proximate cause of anchoring was no doubt that assigned by St. Luke, namely, the fear of falling on the rocks to leeward; but they had also an ulterior object in view, which was to run the ship ashore as soon as daylight 29 Φοβουμενοι τε μηπως εις τραχεις τοπους εκπεσωσιν, εκ πρύμνης ῥιψαντες αγκυρας τεσσαρας, ηύχοντο ἡμεραν γενεσθαι. 29 And fearing lest she should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern and wished for day. classed with the words dvoropuos, aλquevos, etc., lib. i. 101. When Ulysses is wrecked on the coast of Phæacia, Τόφρα δε μιν μεγα κυμα φερε τρηχειαν επ' ακτην. Ενθαι κ' απο ῥινους δρύφθη, συν δ' οστε αραχθη, Ει μη, κ.τ.λ. (Od. v. 425.) |