DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5542#0057
Chap, xxxiii.]
HARBOURS OF RHODES.
47
town and harbour facing the N.N.E., we had some difficulty
in deciding into which of the two ports to enter, not from a
desire to know which was the best, but which was the least
bad. The first and most westerly of the two is very small,
and is as it were divided into two by a ruined pier, which
renders the inner one snug and protected against every
wind, whilst even a small vessel can scarcely swing in
the outer one. The passage from one to the other is
extremely narrow, and between two broken rocky pier-
heads, the fallen debris of which have still further im-
peded the passage, through which we were doubtful
whether there was room for the vessel to pass. We
accordingly lay to, and off and on, while we sent in a boat
to sound, which reported sufficient water, in consequence of
which we entered the outer harbour, where we dropped our
anchor with the intention of warping into the inner basin.
However, on further examination, it was discovered that
although there was water enough in the passage, yet in
front of the entrance, in consequence of fallen blocks, there
was only nine or ten feet water, besides a narrow tortuous
channel between the broken blocks which had fallen from
the pier. The "Royalist" was therefore obliged to put
to sea again, and while we visited the consul and peram-
bulated the town, she worked round into the eastern har-
bour : this, however, proved also to be small, crowded, and
shallow, and much exposed to the N. and N.E. To avoid
this inconvenience Mr. Brooke sent his vessel to Marmorice,
and we engaged a week's lodging on shore.
HARBOURS OF RHODES.
47
town and harbour facing the N.N.E., we had some difficulty
in deciding into which of the two ports to enter, not from a
desire to know which was the best, but which was the least
bad. The first and most westerly of the two is very small,
and is as it were divided into two by a ruined pier, which
renders the inner one snug and protected against every
wind, whilst even a small vessel can scarcely swing in
the outer one. The passage from one to the other is
extremely narrow, and between two broken rocky pier-
heads, the fallen debris of which have still further im-
peded the passage, through which we were doubtful
whether there was room for the vessel to pass. We
accordingly lay to, and off and on, while we sent in a boat
to sound, which reported sufficient water, in consequence of
which we entered the outer harbour, where we dropped our
anchor with the intention of warping into the inner basin.
However, on further examination, it was discovered that
although there was water enough in the passage, yet in
front of the entrance, in consequence of fallen blocks, there
was only nine or ten feet water, besides a narrow tortuous
channel between the broken blocks which had fallen from
the pier. The "Royalist" was therefore obliged to put
to sea again, and while we visited the consul and peram-
bulated the town, she worked round into the eastern har-
bour : this, however, proved also to be small, crowded, and
shallow, and much exposed to the N. and N.E. To avoid
this inconvenience Mr. Brooke sent his vessel to Marmorice,
and we engaged a week's lodging on shore.