178 NARRATIVE. 



afterwards passed to mine, where he found every thing apparently 

 quiet. He then drew out his knife, and crossed over to Mr. Bow- 

 dich ; my agony was excessive, but he only proceeded to a locker 

 close by, took out a piece of cold pork, cut off a large shce, and 

 bore it triumphantly away. I greatly hoped that this proceeding 

 had passed unnoticed by Mr. Bowdich, and I should certainly 

 have kept my own secret ; but a peal of laughter soon convinced 

 me I had not escaped, and had for life exposed myself to his 

 ridicule. I was so ashamed, that I should not now have related 

 the circumstance, but for the hope it might serve as a useful 

 lesson to those of ray own sex, who, like me, may indulge in 

 groundless apprehensions. 



After having been tossed about by contrary winds for ten days, 

 the Captain evidently ignorant of his longitude, and uncertain of 

 his latitude, yet so perfectly at his ease as to sleep half the day, 

 and to grumble at being awoke in the night when squally, we 

 heard the cry of land ; and though the Peak of Teneriffe is not 

 more than three days' sail from Madeira, we scarcely regretted our 

 snail-hke progress, when we went upon deck, and enjoyed a superb 

 view of this stupendous mountain. We passed within four miles 

 of the back of the island, and as the weather was quite clear, its 

 snowy summit and smallest peaks were visible. We fancied we 

 could trace the routes of the illustrious travellers who had visited 

 it, and this incident served to heighten Mr. Bowdich's impatience 

 to explore Fogo. 



On the sixteenth day we came in sight of the island of Sal, 

 looking like a coffin of sand, and passing it, reached Bona Vista, a 

 name which must have been given in derision, for no land was 

 ever so unpleasing to the sight ; being a mere sand bank, with 

 two peaks of bare basalt toward the middle, and not a trace of 

 vegetation or humanity. The collection of hovels, called the 

 town, is so completely hid in the bay, that being all strangers, and 



