1825. 



2 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap. As I purposed touching at Santa Cruz, we irame- 

 ^w diately hauled up for the land, and it was a fortu- 

 june, n ate circumstance that we did so, for so strong a 

 current set to the southward during the night, that 

 had we trusted to our reckoning, the port would 

 have been passed, and there would have been much 

 difficulty in regaining it. I mention the circum- 

 stance with a view of bringing into notice the great 

 southerly set that usually attends the passage of 

 ships from Cape Finisterre southward. From this 

 cape to Point Naga, our error in that direction, or 

 more correctly S. 33° W., was not less than ninety 

 miles. I do not stop to inquire into the cause of 

 this great tendency of the water to the equator, 

 which might probably be traced to the remote 

 effect of the trade-wind, but merely mention the 

 fact as a guide to persons who may pursue the same 

 route. 



We approached the island on a fine sunny day, 

 but from a quarter that was highly unfavourable 

 for a view of the lofty Peak, which was almost hid 

 from us by intervening mountains. At four o'clock 

 we came to an anchor in the roads of Santa Cruz, 

 and there found His Majesty's ship Wellesley, Cap- 

 tain, now Admiral Sir G. E. Hamond, Bart., on her 

 way to Rio Janeiro, with his Excellency Sir Charles 

 Stuart, the British Ambassador to the court of Bra- 

 zil. As soon as we had exchanged salutes with 

 the fort, we landed to procure the supplies the ship 

 required, with all despatch; and met with much 

 assistance and civility from Mr. Dupland, who was 

 acting in the absence of the Consul. 



Santa Cruz, at the time of our arrival, was under 

 the government of Don Ysidore Uriarti, who very 



