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\ KERGUELEN’S VOYAGE TO THE NORTH. 779
were about to conduct them into fome port, where they fhould be made prifoners ; and
that they were much aftonifhed at getting rid of the iflands fo cheaply ; it cofting them
no more than five gallons of brandy, which was the price agreed upon. This priva-
teer was ignorant, without doubt, that there is a refolute conduct to be held on fuch an
occafion, the pilot being a foreigner; it is to promife a handfome reward for putting
the veffel out of danger, and to make him refponfible with his life for any accident
which may befall the veflel.
IT amunable to defcribe all the ports and anchorages of the Orcades. Not having
been within reach of examining them, I could but take foundings and views ; I fhall
therefore only obferve in this place, that in the north of the Orcades where I founded,
there are fifty fathoms water, rocky bottom, at fcarcely two leagues from the fhore ;
and that I was informed there were thirty fathoms water, a quarter of a league from
Jand. Therefore when lefs than fifty fathoms water are met with, it is high time to
tack, in order to avoid thecurrents. I fhall obferve, that having taken the latitude with
an excellent fextant, pretty clofe to land for better fecurity of exa¢tnefs in my bearings
and diftance, I found thefe iflands lay fix minutes more fouth, than they are
marked in the Neptune. This is the whole of the obfervations I made refpedting thefe
iflands: what I was enabled to gather beyond from different navigators, agrees pretty
well with what Mr. Bellin fays of them in his Effai fur les Iles Britanniques, and with a
chart on a large fcale of thefe iflands and thofe of Shetland, which was given me at
Berghen, by the captain of a merchant veffel, who every year takes a trip to the Or-
cades, and to Shetland. I have thought proper to ftate here, notes of what Mr. Bellin
fays of thefe iflands, after making the neceflary corrections, and adding whatever is
ufeful.
Pomona or Pomonia, is the largeft and principal of all the iflands. The lands are
very high on the weltern fide. It is in this ifland the town of Kirkwall is fituated, the
capital of the Orcades, and refidence of a bifhop. This town is on the north fide, it
has a port and road{ted, but the moft confiderable ports of the ifland are Schapa, oppo-
fite to Kirkwall, Cairfton, Carfton, and Durfound.
The port of Cairfton is on the S. W. of Pomona. It is a very fafe port, and fit for
the navigation of the weftern fide, there are feveral paflages to it between the iflands.
The patlage called Hamfound, which is fouth of Pomona, is very good for veffels
coming from theeaft. This paflage is navigated by leaving the point of Rofs-nefs to
ftarboard, which muft not be neared too clofe, as a reef runs out fromit, although to
no great diftance. ‘This point of Rofs-nefs is fouth of Pomona. Afterwards the little
ifland of Lamholm is left to larboard, whence you coaft along Pomona; and if with con-
trary winds, there is anchorage in a creek to the fouth of Pomona in fix fathoms water,
called Schappa-roads. If the weather be favourable, you coaft along Pomona; on the
way a little ifland is pafled, which the country people call Burrer Botter ; it is fafe,
and may be pafled, according to the wind, either on the larboard or ftarboard quarter.
Carra is then pafled to the northward, and afterwards a {mall ifland, both very fafe, and
at equal diftance between Carra and Pomona; whence fteering N. W. quarter W. you
arrive at the port of Cairfton, wheré thereis anchorage in the road in feven fathoms
water ; but if defirous of proceeding higher up and getting in fhore, you may anchor in
four fathoms, perfectly fheltered from all winds, and without any currents or tides to
moleft you.
Cairfton is a fmall town, at the bottom of the port; provifions may be obtained
there. It is moft eafy to approach Cairfton from the welt, and the road is much
the fhorteft ; but care muft be taken not to near the fouthern point of Pomona, as there
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