^^6 Voyage of the Novara. 



and a lovely moon, the Novara passed between Flores and 

 Corvo, through the narrow channel of the Azores Islands — 

 the first land that had been sighted since the frigate left the 

 west coast of South America, 71 days before ! The fact that 

 it was hit so accurately, also furnished satisfactory proof, in a 

 scientific point of view, that the seven chronometers in use 

 on board, despite 27 months of constant handling under the 

 most varying and frequently unfavourable conditions, were 

 still in perfect order, and indicated with admirable accuracy 

 the longitude of the ship. 



Unfortunately — a circumstance to be expected in such lati- 

 tudes in the heiglit of summer — the ship now lost entirely the 

 favouring gales which hitherto had filled her sails, and sped 

 her rapidly on her course. When not above a few hundred 

 miles distant from Gibraltar, those on board had to toss about 

 for a number of days in calms that seemed as though they 

 would never cease. Anxiety was at its heiglit. 



