1776* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 117 



S. W. by W., something more than half a mile an 

 hour. We had reason to expect this, from the differ- 

 ences between the longitude given by the watch and 

 dead reckoning, which, since our leaving Teneriffe, 

 amounted to one degree. 



While we were amongst these islands we had light 

 breezes of wind, varying from the S. E. to E., and 

 some calms. This shows that the Cape de Verde 

 Islands, are either extensive enough to break the 

 current of the trade-wind, or that they are situated 

 just beyond its verge, in that space where the variable 

 winds, found on getting near the line, begin. The 

 first supposition, however, is the most probable, as 

 Dampier* found the wind westerly here in the month 

 of February; at which time the trade-wind is sup- 

 posed to extend farthest towards the equinoctial. The 

 weather was hot and sultry, with some rain; and, for 

 the most part, a dull whiteness prevailed in the sky, 

 that seems a medium between fog and clouds. In 

 general, the tropical regions seldom enjoy that clear 

 atmosphere observable where variable winds blow; 

 nor does the sun shine with such brightness. This 

 circumstance, however, seems an advantage; for 

 otherwise, perhaps, the rays of the sun, being un- 

 interrupted, would render the heat quite unsupport- 

 able. The nights are, nevertheless, often clear and 

 serene. 



At nine o'clock in the morning of the 13th, we 

 arrived before Port Praya, in the island of St. Jago, 

 where we saw two Dutch East India ships, and a 

 small brigantine at anchor. As the Discovery was 

 not there, and we had expended but little water in 

 our passage from Teneriffe, I did not think proper to 

 go in, but stood to the southward. Some altitudes 

 of the sun were now taken, to ascertain the true 

 time. The longitude by the watch, deduced there- 

 from, was 23 48' W.; the little island in the bay 



* Dampier's Voyages, vol. iii. p. 10. 



i 3 



