San Antonio, from which point there are two modes of steering for Veracruz. The first is to run up as high as 24 North latitude, by which means all the shoals and rocks that we are yet acquainted with, between the Island of Cuba and the Mainland, are left to the Southward; and the second, to keep within the shoals, and close along shore, passing between the Bank of Sisal and the town, with the coast of Yŭcătān constantly in view, from about 88 to near 91 of West longitude. In steering the first course, it requires a slant of wind from the North to reach Veracruz, and this it would be in vain to look for between the months of May and October; but at all other times, in as far as a landsman may presume to give an opinion upon such a subject, I should think it by far the safest line to take, on account of the extreme shallowness of the water near the coast of Yucatan, and the very inaccurate manner in which the reefs between Campeche and Veracruz are laid down. On the 6th of March, (in West longitude 88,) we had soundings in 2¾ fathoms, and on the night of the 8th, we were very near terminating our voyage at some distance from the place of our original destination. We had lost sight of land for upwards of twenty-four hours, and were running down, in the direction of Veracruz, with a beautiful breeze of about eight knots, when one of the leadsmen, whom Captain Roberts had taken the precaution of keeping in the chains, with orders to continue soundings every quarter of an
