by E., and a peak on the island S.E. by E. E. There are several good streams of water on the south side of the bay. This place is secure from troverdoes, though open to N.W. winds, but the latter seldom occur.

In the vicinity of Prince's Island, the winds are generally between the south and west; in sailing, therefore, out of the harbour, or port St. Antonio, with a land-wind, endeavour to get under weigh with this breeze, keeping well over towards the south shore, for, on advancing outward, the wind will be found to draw gradually to the southward, which, with the swell, may set you over to the north side, near the Diamond Rocks. If bound to the westward, you need not beat to the southward of St. Thomas; but if to windward of Prince's Island, and the wind admits of your making westing without northing, keep on the port tack, and so proceed as to take advantage of the equatorial current.

About Prince's Island are several rivulets of excellent water, but it does not equal St. Thomas, for the goodness and abundance of its provisions.

ST. THOMAS.-This island bears about S.W. by W., 22 leagues fron Prince's Island. It is 8 leagues in extent from north to south, of an oval form, with the south point nearly on the equator. It is high, conical, and well wooded; its highest peak is usually covered with a cloud, and appears like smoke. Vessels from the Windward and Gold Coasts, bound to St. Thomas, must choose the time of the ventanias, or hard breezes, which blow from April to September, and make proper allowance for the currents.

MAN-OF-WAR BAY, on the N.E. side of St. Thomas' Island, is considered a safer anchorage than that of St. Anna de Chaves which is more to the southeastward. Vessels coming in along the north end of St. Thomas, will perceive the land mountainous and very high; when abreast of the island, it sometimes seems divided in two, and it will then be proper to keep to the E. by S. till you are past Cabrita Island, which separates one anchorage from the other. Man-of-War Bay is a safe place for small vessels, but large vessels are obliged to lie out in the open road, in 10 to 18 fathoms, which is a safe place, except during the season of the tornadoes, as they prevail from N.E. directly upon the shore. Anchor in the bay, with Cabrita Island (which

makes like a saddle) bearing S.E. S.; Misericorda Chapel, seated on a hill, on with a black rock on the shore, S. by W.; and the white mansion, named Fernandilla House, S.W. W. The ground in the bay is good, and the water in general smooth, except during the season before mentioned; the soundings in are irregular, from 30 to 6 fathoms, which latter depth is about one mile from shore. From the anchorage the watering-place is about a quarter of a mile to the eastward, and is easily obtained.

ST. ANNA DE CHAVES BAY, OR ROADSTEAD, is defended by a stone fort, standat its southern entrance. In sailing to this place you will find it best and most convenient to stretch round the south part of the island, for then you will be favoured by both wind and current, which latter sets strongly to the northward; and the shore, to the southward of the fort, may be approached with greater safety than that to the northward, though not within the distance of one mile and a half, until you get the fort to bear W. by N. About two miles to the eastward of the town lies a shoal of white sand, with only 24 fathoms over it, on which the Chesterfield struck in 1781. This ship went round the northern part of the island, obtaining no ground at 60 and 50 fathoms, until the rocks were seen alongside of the vessel; soon after this she sounded in 16 fathoms, and suddenly grounded. When aground, the fort bore W. by S., Cabrita Island N.W., and the eastern point of the island S. by W., distant from shore about 4 or 5 miles, and from Cabrita nearly 3 miles. Being hove off this shoal, she steered for the road, bringing the fort to bear from W. to W. by S., auchoring in 6 fathoms, sand, shells, and coral rock, the fort bearing W.S.W., Cabrita Island N. by W. W., south end of St. Thomas S. W., and its northernmost point N.W. W., about two miles distant from the shore.

The Tartar anchored in 5 fathoms, the fort bearing S.W. by W. only one mile from shore; the Blandford much farther out, and the Grampus found good anchorage in 6 fathoms, the fort bearing West, and Cabrita Island N.N.E. It thus appears that vessels coming in from the northward, must not depend upon the lead, because, from ne ground a ship may have 12 fathoms, and be aground before they can obtain another cast of the lead.

ROLAS ISLAND lies about two miles off the S.W. end of St. Thomas, the channel between lying directly under the equator, and affording safe anchorage for the largest vessels. It must be entered from the eastward, as a bank extends from the north shore of the island. About 5 miles eastward from Rolas Island, is a cluster of high rocks, appearing from the northward like ships under full sail, named the Seven Stones, or Brothers, which are sometimes mistaken for part of the island itself.

Vessels from the northward, and bound to St. Anna de Chaves Bay, should make St. Anna's Isle, or Postillion Cap, which lies off the eastern coast; and when this comes in sight, you will perceive a small black fort in ruins, on the shore towards the S.W.: steer for the latter, until St. Anna's Isle comes in a line with the low green point, to the southward of the black fort; and with this mark on, bring the new fort or castle, on the S.E. point of the bay, to bear W.S.W.: here you will have 6 or 7 fathoms, sandy bottom, distant a mile and a half from the castle, with Cabrita Island bearing N. by W. W Ships should not approach Cabrita nearer than to bring the new fort to bear S.W., for beyond that bearing the water is shallow, full of coral branches, the depth not more than 10 or 12 feet.

ANNO BON is a high circular island, about 8 leagues in circumference, situated about a degree and a half to the southward of the equator, in the meridian of 5° 45′ E. The anchorage is on the N.E. side, abreast of the town, in 7 to 16 fathoms, white sandy bottom, which holds well. If you

moor near the shore, the mark is a round islet, of a sugar-loaf form, between which and the land there is a fair channel: here you will perceive seven rocks above water lying near the shore Anno Bon is considered healthy, and affords abundance of fruit, vegetables, and other provisions, all of which may be had cheap in barter There is a rivulet of good water at the south end of the island, but it is rendered somewhat difficult of access.

ANCHORAGE OF ANNO BON.-Extract from the Nautical Magazine for 1843, page 89.-Commander W. B. Oliver says, "Open the low rocky point, to the westward of Pyramid Rock, with the east end of the church, (the eastern building detached from the village); you may then, by keeping Pyramid Rock on with a high rock over it, resembling a fort, steer in on that line, and carry sandy bottom from 19 to 34 fathoms, within two cables' length of the beach, when Islet Point will bear W. N.; Pyramid Rock S.E. by S., and Turtle Island S.E. by E."

The Vansittart anchored in May, 1821, at Anno Bon, in 11 fathoms, rocky bottom, with a conspicuous peak in the centre of the island bearing W. S., off shore about three-quarters of a mile. Ships touching here should keep the lead going, the soundings being very irregular, with great overfalls from 19 to 11 fathoms, then 3 fathoms. Although the vessel here stated lay in 11 fathoms, a small anchor was necessary to steady her, and keep the bower anchor clear; for half a cable's length in shore there was only a quarter less 3 fathoms, rocks.

THE GOLD COAST.-The following remarks on a voyage to the Gold Coast are by Captain Midgley.

"The extensive tract of sea between the meridians of 14° W. and 9° E., and the parallels of 9° N. and 3° S., is yet imperfectly known by the majority of navigators being bordered by a range of coast, in a great measure peopled by an uncivilized and semi-barbarous race, who require peculiar address and management in the method of dealing with them for the produce of their country. I shall suppose that a vessel bound to this coast has got out of the Channel, or, at least, clear of Tuskar and the Smalls, in which case the master's mind will be comparatively at ease to what it was when he had less searoom in the narrows of the Channel. But whilst the ship is in soundings she will be more or less exposed to a Northerly or N N.E. indraught of tide or current, which sets nine hours out of every twelve, even at a considerable distance to the westward of Scilly, and this indraught is liable to be augmented or retarded by the direction and force of the wind.

The stream named Rennell's Current sometimes sets strongly to the N.N.W. and N.W., about the edge of channel soundings at other times very weak, and there is occasionally a strong set to the eastward. But it is highly probable that Rennell's Current will be found to prevail for some days after a long series of westerly gales, as these winds materially contribute to accelerate the velocity of the currents setting into the Bay of Biscay, and by keeping up the level of the water upon the iron-bound precipitous shore of the bay itself, forces that water to find an egress out of the bay to the northward and westward; and it is not improbable that the ebb-tide of the English Channel may in some measure contribute to its westerly tendency.

To the southward of the 48th parallel, it is very probable that there will be found a south-east current, the velocity of which will gradually increase until the 40th or 38th parallel is attained, where I have generally found this cur

rent to get weaker, and vary more to the eastward. On the 11th of February, 1833, I threw a bottle overboard, containing the vessel's position in latitude 41° 50′ N., and longitude by chronometer 14° 23′ W., and this bottle was picked up in the entrance of the Harbour of Vigo on the 1st of March following: it had consequently traversed 80 leagues in a true E. N. direction, or about 14 miles per day.

I would strongly advise all mariners bound to the southward, to pass to the westward of Madeira, if possible; as it may prevent their being entangled with the Canary Islands.

On the 29th of December, 1840, the ship John Campbell was in latitude 33° N., and longitude 19° 24′ W., about 2° to the westward of Madeira, and with a light wind from S.S.E.; the ship, about 2 p m., got suddenly amongst some rollers. At first these rollers did not appear alarming, as the vessel, on her gradual approach to them, seemed to be only experiencing a gradual rising sea. But the rollers soon attained a considerable height, and set in regular ridges from the north-west quarter, toppling in many places like a bore, and causing the vessel to labour and roll heavily to windward. In the evening there was an increasing breeze from the south-west, with cloudy overcast weather, and much vivid lightning in the N.W. quarter. As the weather had been moderate for several days before, I can scarcely think these rollers could have been caused by wind, as they were very unlike the sea that marks the termination of gales of wind: they came in regular ridges, and sometimes topped in a considerable breaker. The ship was suddenly among them, sailed for 21 miles through them; the rollers rapidly increased, and as rapidly subsided. The sea was of a deep blue colour. No bottom at 70 fathoms; barometer steady at 30° 20′, and the temperature of the air 64°, and of the water 57° of Fahrenheit thermometer.

After much consideration of the subject, I must candidly confess my inability to assign any just cause or reason for this sudden, and to me unaccountable undulation of the surface water; but, perhaps, some such occurrences may have an influence in contributing to the sudden rise of the water, which is occasionally experienced at Ascension, and, I believe, also at some other elevated islands.

It was on the same passage out, and on the 3rd of January, 1841, that I passed through many clusters of the Gulf, or Fucus Natans weed, all of which was very much decayed. The ship was then in latitude 28° 8' N., and longitude by time-keepers 21° 46′ W.; a position, I believe, much to the eastward of the generally assigned eastern limits of the Sargasso Sea, or portion of the North Atlantic, in which this weed is generally found. But as I shall presently have occasion to revert again to this subject, I will proceed to notice the winds and currents usually found in the neighbourhood of the west coast of Africa.

Among the Canary Islands, and in their vicinity, the N.N.E. and N.E. winds mostly prevail; and the general set of the currents between Madeira and these islands has a southerly and S.S.E. tendency. Indeed the whole surface of the ocean, from the 48th to the 30th parallel, has a general tendency to flow to the eastward and south-east quarter; and the mariner will do well to guard against its treacherous and too often fatal influence.

Outward-bound African vessels have of late, very generally, and very properly, run through the passage to the eastward of the Cape de Verd Isles, for by so doing they avoid a tract of sea, which is notoriously subject to violent squalls, calms, and heavy rain. Vessels make this run in the general limits of the north-east trade-wind, and I have myself invariably found the current setting to the southward. I am aware that I have the high authority

of Mr Finlayson of the Royal Navy, and of Commander Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition, against me in this assertion, both of these officers having found currents in this route setting to the north-east. I must add that I have not tried the current by any actual experiments, other than the usual method of estimating it by the difference found by an attentive dead-reckoning and actual observation; and in this case it is of course very possible that errors creep into the reckoning, by inattention to the steerage, particularly in the night, as well as by an improper allowance for the magnetic variation, an inaccurate log-line, and other causes.

Vessels bound to the Coast of Africa, in the wet season, or between May and September inclusive, need not be too anxious to make easting, for they will lose the N.E. trade-wind very soon after passing the parallel of St. Jago, and after a short interval of calm, will fall in with the variable S.W. winds and their usual accompaniments of squalls, heavy rain, and close damp unsettled weather. In proportion as the vessel advances to the southward, she will find more settled weather, and probably be influenced by a current to the south-eastward: this is a branch of the great Guinea Current, which I shall presently attempt to describe. The track I have just noticed is perhaps the most luminous part of the Atlantic Ocean. In the wet season, vessels should give St. Anne's shoals a large berth to the eastward, as the current, as well as the sea, runs with great velocity into the bight of Cape Mount; and vessels which may unfortunately happen to fall in with the land to the northward of Sinou, in the wet season, will find considerable difficulty in working to the southward.

The first influence of the Guinea Current will be found in about 9° 30' N. and inshore of the 22nd meridian, and gradually verges from thence in a S.S.E. and S.E. direction, running with considerable velocity in a parallel direction to the trend of the land, and at least 50 leagues from it. On approaching the land the current will be found to increase in velocity, and requires constant and unremitting vigilance to prevent the vessel running to leeward of her destination. On the 18th of January 1841, in latitude 6° 48′ N., and longitude 14° 58′ W., whilst in the influence of the Guinea current setting true S.E. by E., at the rate of 30 miles in the 24 hours, at daylight in the morning, during a perfect calm, I was surprised to see the vessel surrounded by sprigs of the Sargossa weed, and was still more surprised at its fresh and luxuriant appearance. One of the many sprigs brought on board contained two very lively little crabs, and I observed no marks of decay about any of the weed. I ordered a cast of the deep-sea lead, but found no bottom, at very nearly 100 fathoms. Sir Hans Sloane, in his History of Jamaica, says that this weed has been seen upon the Coast of Africa; but I am disposed, notwithstanding, to think that it is of rare occurrence, as I had four very intelligent natives of the Krou Coast of Africa on board, and they unanimously declared that they had never seen any Sargossa weed, or indeed any other weed similar to it, attached to any of the rocks, or floating upon the surface of the water near the coast.

From the shoal of St. Anne (which by-the-bye requires the exercise of considerable judgment and caution) the Guinea Current has an easterly and E.N.E. tendency towards the bight or bay of Cape Mount; to the southward of this it sets about E.S.E. along the shore; and from Grand Sestros to Cape Palmas it runs with a velocity of more than two miles an hour. It is this current which has set several vessels upon Coley's Rock, and Cape Shoal, and Rock Town Reef, in the neighbourhood of Cape Palmas; and these dangers can only be avoided, in the night, by the constant and unremitting use of the lead; for by keeping in 38 fathoms, or any greater depth of water, the vessel