[A6] VI.—­On the Refusal to answer the Signals of the Echo.

It would probably have been of no use to inform Mr. de Chaumarey’s of the signals of the Echo.  The commander of the Medusa, the chief of the division, had declared already in the roads of the island of Aix, his intention to abandon his vessels, and to proceed alone in all haste to the Senegal.  Though he spoke of strictly following the pretended instructions of the minister respecting the route to be followed, it was, however, violating the principle one, since it is useless to form a division if it is not to go together.  The corvette, commanded by Mr. Venancourt succeeded, it is true, several times in joining the commander; but soon, by the superior sailing of the Medusa, they lost sight of him again, and every time they rejoiced at it.  This resolution, not to sail in company, was the chief cause of the loss of the principal vessel.  The Echo having determined, as was proper, to follow its commander, alone passed to the north west of the bank.  The two other vessels which had remained long behind and were much more at liberty, passed more than thirty leagues to the west of it, and thus proved that it was the safest and shortest rout.  (A)

[A7] VII.—­On the Stranding of the Medusa.

From ten o’clock in the morning the colour of the water visibly changed, and the head pilot, calculating after his sea-torch before mentioned, declared, at half past eleven, that they were at the edge of the bank, and this was probable.  From that moment the sailors were entirely employed in drawing up the lines thrown out alongside of the vessel, and the astonishing quantity of fish, all of the cod species, which were drawn on board, added to the weeds that floated on every side, were more than sufficient to make it believed that they were sailing upon a shoal.  We shall speak below of the species of this fish; but as for the weeds, which were perceived on every side, besides that they gave reason to suppose that we were approaching the land, their appearance in this gulph, also gives ground to presume, that the currents of these seas, at this season, set north, since the plants, with exception of some Zosteres, were nothing but long stalks of grasses; most of them still furnished with their roots, and many even with their ears, belonging to the tall grasses of the banks of the Senegal, and the Gambia, which these rivers bring away at the time of the inundations.  All those which could be observed were Panios or millets. (A)

[B1] VIII.—­Moment of the Stranding of the Frigate.