I am well satisfied that the positions assigned to the above three shoals, on the chart and their vicinity, are free from all dangers. I am of opinion, also, that the particular and indefatigable search made by Captain Bartholomew, of H.M.S. Leven, and the opportunities afforded me of covering, with the squadron of five vessels, so large a space, at the same time, ought to be sufficient evidence that no such dangers exist, as they are laid down in those positions, and should cause them to be obliterated from the charts.

From Port Praya we steered for Patty's Overfalls, as laid down in the chart, in latitude 11° N., and longitude 24° 30′ W., and had a good opportunity of examining their locality. A few rips were observed within a degree of the situation assigned them, but little or no current was found; and I feel confident in asserting that no danger exists in this vicinity, as we were becalmed in the position, and in close proximity to it for 48 hours, the squadron as usual being spread apart, and having a broad expanse of ocean under view. Owing to contrary winds, it was some days before we reached Warley's Shoal, said to be in latitude 5° 4' N., and longitude 21° 25′ W. This point was also carefully examined, but no shoal, or appearance of shoal water, or any danger, discovered.

Our next examination was of a French Shoal, said to be (as laid down) in latitude 4° 5' N., and longitude 20° 35′ W. This was also examined, and no danger or appearance of shoal discovered. From this point I took advantage of the southerly wind, and proceeded east, which carried me as far as 13° of west longitude, and over the position assigned to the shoal by the French hydrographers, to enable me to cross the equator eastward of the 17th degree of west longitude. We succeeded in crossing the equator in that longitude on the 5th of November, and then stood off the Triton's Bank, said to be in latitude 0° 32′ south, and longitude 17° 46′ west. When within a short distance of its position, the squadron hove-to, for the purpose of ascertaining our position accurately; after which, a course was steered nearly west. Being at the time well to the eastward, we ran on a line due east and west over it, the vessels of the squadron being spread about three miles apart, on a line north and south. We did not, however, find it in our progress, or any bottom, or indication of soundings; no discolouration of water was visible, or change of temperature, although the line extended 30 miles east and west of its reported position; after which, we again stood to the north, and ran over a vigia, as laid down on the charts, but none such was found in existence. Our next examination was for Bouvet's Sandy Island, which was, in like manner, carefully searched after, in and around its position, as laid down in the charts, but our search was equally unsuccessful."

Finally, search was made in and about latitude 2° 43′ S., and longitude 20° 35′ W. Extending to the N.N.W. of this point a distance of 30 miles, hereabout having been assigned as the situation of the sub-marine volcano, reported by Admiral Krusenstern, which it was supposed might have left a shoal. This locality was twice run over in different directions, and carefully examined, with the squadron in open order, but none such was found in existence."

Lieutenant Hudson, of the Peacock, having separated from me on the 16th of October, proceeded on a different course, in search of the same shoals which we were looking for, but was equally unsuccessful in finding any, as appears by the following extract from his report to me, which affords further evidence, if it were needed, of their non-existence.

Having separated from you on the 16th of October, it was not until the 23rd that I had worked up to the Warley's Shoal; and, at 8 o'clock that night, was directly on the spot where it was laid down on the chart. We placed

good look-outs, and kept our patent lead going, for 50 miles, before reaching the location of this shoal, as laid down on the chart; also, observing our drift at night, in hope of sweeping over it at early day-light. I continued cruising in this vicinity in various directions, getting casts of lead in from 50 to 100 fathoms, without finding bottom. I now continued my examination, and after having swept over a circle of 40 or 50 miles, in different directions, am perfectly satisfied that Warley's Shoal exists nowhere in the neighbourhood laid down on the chart.

I then proceeded for the French Shoal, the wind ahead (S. by W.), where I arrived on the 25th of October, and continued cruising all the following day, with a fine breeze, immediately over the location of the shoal as laid down, and in every direction, for miles in its vicinity. After thus thoroughly searching the English locality of this shoal, I directed my course for the French position, 76 miles distant, making nearly an east course, with lookouts and the lead going, until I had run immediately over and around the spot, sailing in various directions a distance of 40 miles, without effect.

I then made the best of my way for the Triton Bank, with the wind veering and hauling from S.S.W. to S.S.E., and passed the equator, on the night of the 3rd of November, in longitude 17° 40′ W., and continued over and around the locality of that bank, until the morning of the 5th, getting casts of the lead during the time, in from 50 to 250 fathoms, up and down, without finding bottom. I have, in our search, fully satisfied myself, and hope our examination will prove equally so to you and all others that these shoals do not exist."

37. GARCIA SHOAL.-The existence of this shoal receives fresh probability from the following:

On the 17th and 18th of January, 1848, on board H.M. brig, Villa Flor, on her way from Loando to Lisbon, wind N.N.E. and N.E., fresh and steady. At 3h. 30m. p.m., on the 17th, the men on watch reported that a breaking of the sea was seen to leeward on the bow, and I and other officers having got up to the foremast crosstrees, saw, beyond all doubt, that it was a shoal, which we marked W. N.W., magnetic, at 6 miles distance; the ship being then to the eastward of it, and having taken the ship's reckoning to that hour, it was found that her position, at 3 o'clock, was lat. 12° 30′ N., and long. 28° 56′ W., the longitude being determined by a very correct chronometer, and the latitude by observation.

From the observations taken at noon on the 18th, and from the course followed, the ship ought to have passed over the shoal named the Garia or Garcias, as she was then in its latitude, and 11° 45′ W. of it, but I did not see it, which shows that the real Garcia Shoal is that which was seen at 3h. 30m. p.m., on the 17th. (Signed) P. V. du Costa Louveiro è Pinho.

38. DELAWARE SHOAL.-Captain Ross, in the brigantine Delaware, from Charleston, on the 16th September, 1839, at noon, in latitude 10° 38′ N., struck soundings in 37 fathoms, shells and sandy bottom. At 3 p.m. steering south, passed over a rocky bank, having 5, 7, and 10 fathoms, and bottom plainly seen: inferred from the distance run that the latitude of the shallow part of the bank must lie in 10° 37′ N., longitude, by chronometer, 60° 3′ W.; at 34 p.m. had 70 fathoms water.

39. CESAR'S BREAKERS.-The following confirmation of their existence appeared in the Nautical Magazine, 1846. Page 613.

"On the night of the 4th of July last, at 7 p.m., fresh breeze, ship running 6 knots, saw breakers on the port bow, distance a quarter of a mile, strong currents setting towards them, wore ship and stood along them; when first seen, they bore by compass, N.W. by N,, and seemed to be a long ledge o

rocks in a crescent shape; at 3 a.m. the following morning, saw the southeast end of the reef on the starboard bow; a strong breeze coming on prevented us making any further examination; the man, in heaving the lead, struck it upon a hard rock, but had no bottom the second cast.

66

There can be no doubt as to the existence of this reef, and so convinced were the crew, that they stood ready to clear the long boat, neither was it any optical delusion from effect of current or phosphorescence of the sea.

"As they are in the longitude of vessels crossing the equator, it is surprising they have not been reported: by good sights at noon, with chronometer and computation of distance run, their position when seen, was lat. 3° 07' N., long. 24° 14′ W. Charles Price, Supercargo.

40. BLAESDALE'S REEF.-The brig Richard, of Ulverston, Captain Blaesdale, on the 15th of October, 1819, struck on a coral reef, in about 0° 56′ or 0° 57′ N. and longitude, by account, beyond 41° W. "In fine moderate weather, the ship going at the rate of 3 knots, at 6 p.m. grounded, and remained fast about 10 minutes. The water was smooth, and no breakers seen. Upon sounding a few minutes after, no bottom could be found at 125 fathoms. The vessel drew 11 feet of water, and in one hour there were 18 inches of water in the well. On a subsequent survey at Para three holes were found, each about the size of a man's hat, and nearly through the vessel's bottom, and several large pieces of white coral, as large as a man's hand, were found sticking in different parts."

41. ST. PAUL, OR PENEDO DE ST. PEDRO, is a cluster of five steep craggy rocks, without verdure, covered with birds' dung, and with no place fit for anchoring, or convenient for landing. This small island has been seen by Indiamen, both outward and homeward bound, although it is considerably to the westward of the common course of the latter; and no ship bound to the southward should cross the equator so far west. Its appearance is that of a heap of rugged rocks with gaps between them, and a modern navigator has said that a vessel may be aground upon them in the night, unless the surf beating up against them should be loud enough to apprize him of his danger, for close to them are 30 and 40 fathoms water. This islet, or properly speaking islets, may be seen at the distance of 3 or 4 leagues, and always makes like three sail when first seen. The current, Lereabout, sets N.W. by N. (true) one mile an hour.

SECTION IV.

COAST OF BRAZIL.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS.-It is usual for ships bound from England to South America, or Brazil, to shape their course so as to give Cape Finisterre a berth of about 40 leagues, and, passing the Coast of Portugal, steer toward the Island of Porto Santo, or Madeira, making a large allowance for the current setting eastward, toward the Strait of Gibraltar, and south-eastward, toward the shore of Morroco, and still more southerly, toward the coast eastward of the Canary Islands.

After passing to the westward of Madeira, the track most advisable is to the westward of the Canary and Cape Verde Islands, at any discretional distance, or barely in sight of them. By adopting this course you will not

only avoid the light winds and calms, which frequently prevail among these islands, as well as several dangers in their vicinity, but may reasonably expect a steadier breeze; although there are instances of ships, after passing in sight of the Canaries to the westward, having the wind from that quarter, which obliged them to pass to the eastward of the Cape Verde Islands.

During the winter months, those who are not desirous of stopping in Funchal Road, should endeavour to pass to the westward of Madeira; also, at any convenient distance, exceeding 6 or 7 leagues, because strong westerly gales prevail in November, December, and January, which produce severe squalls and eddy winds, near the island, on the east side.

Having passed to the westward of the Canary and Cape Verde Islands, steer on southerly, and endeavour to cross the line in and from 20° to 23° W. longitude, but by no means further to the westward, lest the westerly current which sweeps round Cape St Roque, should lead you into danger; and in approaching the Coast of Brazil, considerable attention should be paid to the season of the year, periodical winds prevailing from S.S.E. and S.E., from March to September, the current then runs northerly; but from September to March, the wind blows from the N.E. to E.N.E.,-the current sets to the northward. Mariners, therefore, should endeavour to make the land to the windward of the port they intend to touch at; and, according to these periodical winds, which commonly govern the current, when the sun is in the northern hemisphere, the winds on the Brazil coast will incline more from the south-eastward, than in the opposite season, when the sun is to the southward of the equator, for then they prevail to the eastward. It also appears, that in any season of the year, if the coast be not made to the northward of Cape St. Augustine, there will be no difficulty in getting to the southward; for ships which have made the land in latitude 7° and 8°, even in the unfavourable season, by making a few tacks, always readily proceed to the southward, and experienced little or no northerly current; nevertheless, in a bad sailing ship, it would be highly imprudent to make it to the northward of Cape St. Augustine, especially between the months of March and October, and certainly it never should be made to the northward of Cape Ledo, or near Cape St. Roque, on account of the S.E. winds, and W.N W. currents, before-mentioned, which might fatally sweep you round to the northward of the cape.

Every navigator should, therefore, be attentive to the time of the year he makes the Brazil coast, there being a kind of monsoon or trade-wind blowing from the N.E. and E.N.E., with a current setting south, from the month of September to March; while, from March to August, the winds are from the S.E., E.S.E., and S.S.E., the current then setting north: according, therefore, to these seasons, he should run into a higher or lower latitude than the port he is bound to. From Cape St. Roque to Cape St. Augustine, the land may be approachei by soundings, of moderate depth, and gradually lessening as you approach the shore. A strong southerly current commences from Cape St. Augustine, about the middle of October, and continues until January. No particular current succeeds till the month of April, when, generally about the middle of that month, a strong one sets in northerly until July, when it again subsides until October; and near the shore, the wind, for nine months in the year, generally blows north-easterly in the morning, and north-westerly during the night, continuing, gradually changing along the coast, until, at Rio Janeiro and the Rio de la Plata, it becomes a regular land-breeze from evening to morning, and throughout the day the reverse. From the end of February till the month of May, the wind is

mostly from the south,blowing strong and stormy, with frequent squalls from

the S.W.

THE NORTHERN COAST.

The

CAPE ST. ROQUE is a headland lying in lat. 5° 28′ 17′′ S., and long. 35° 17′ W., at nearly 27 miles to the S.S.E. of Point Toiro, or Calcanhar, the N.E. point of Brazil. To the northward of Cape St. Roque, the coast gradually falls, or declines in height, as far as the distance of 8 miles, when it forms the low Point Petetinga; here the shore on the north forms a low bay. point is not more remarkable than Cape St. Roque, and is to be ascertained at a distance, by the difference of latitude only. The extremity of Point Petetinga is given by Baron Roussin in latitude 5° 21′ 35′′ S., and longitude 35° 19′ 23′′ W. Point Toiro, or Calcanhar, in latitude 5o 8′ 20′′ S., and longitude 35° 30′ 33′′ W., is situate at the distance of 6 leagues, N.N.W. W. (N.W. by N.) from Point Petetinga. From Cape St. Roque to Point Toiro, the shore is bordered by the Recife, or that remarkable ridge of coral rock, which characterises the coast in general. The more elevated part of this reef, within the present extent, named Pedras de Garca, is about 8 miles to the northward of Point Petetinga, and near it there is good anchorage.

BANKS OF ST. ROQUE.-These banks commence at Cape St. Roque, in the south, and terminate beyond Point Tuberao, or Tuberon, in the N.W., an extent of 34 leagues. The northern edge lies in latitude 4° 51' S.; the longitude of the N.E. part is 35° 25′ W., and of the western part 36° 30′ W. Between the shore and the banks there is a channel, which is known and used by the coasters; there are also passages between the dangerous spots on the banks, but they should never be attempted by strangers. The shallowest parts of the bank are distinguished generally by breakers; of these the easternmost is a little to the west, distant about 4 leagues from Point Toiro, but its breakers are seldom seen. The second lies to the west, off a point named Tres Irmaos, or the Three Brothers; this is named Lavandeira, and occupies a great extent from east to west. The third, or westernmost, is a group of rocks, named the Urcas, in longitude 36° 18′ W. The breakers on the Lavandeira and Urcas are very heavy at all times, but particularly when the wind blows from the offing towards the shore. The Bank or Paracel of St. Roque, with 6 or 7 fathoms, terminates at about 6 leagues west from the Urcas. On approaching to the edge of the bank, soundings of light sand will be found, with an admixture of broken coral, and a sudden discolouration of the water from a blue to a green colour. Hereabout the tide rises from 6 to 8 feet. From the outer edge of the bank, the coast, although low, may generally be seen, in clear weather, at from 10 to 12 miles off.

Beyond Point Toiro the coast, extending W.N.W., is generally low, having few distinguishing objects. To the south-eastward of Ciara there are, however, many inland hills, and the coast is bordered with a remarkable ridge or reef of coral rocks. This reef, with frequent breaks, continues along shore 19 leagues to the north-westward of Ciara; and within this extent the land is moderately high, but it declines thence westward, and presents a low shore, with sand-downs, some of which are very little above the surface of the sea. The soundings are mostly regular, and decrease gradually toward the shore, from a distance of 4 or 5 leagues.

POINT DO MEL, in latitude 4° 55′ S., and longitude 36° 59′ W., is a broad headland, bordered with the Recife, and dividing two spacious bays on the