10 CAPTAIN TUCKEY’S NARRATIVE. 
patched with snow. In the afternoon we passed along the 
west side of Ferro, also at the distance of six leagues. 
As far as the Canaries our route had been very barren of 
any event of interest; we saw several vessels, but spoke none. 
After losing our English gulls, two birds only were seen on the 
day before making Madeira, the one a large bird resembling 
a raven, the other an ash coloured gull. ‘This almost total 
absence of sea birds in the vicinity of Madeira and the 
Canaries seems the more extraordinary, as it may be sup- 
posed that the Dezertas, Salvages, and other rocks would 
afford them undisturbed breeding places. 
After passing Madeira the winds were generally from 
N.N.E. and N.E., blowing moderately with fair weather ; 
the days rather hazy, but the nights so bright that not a 
star was hid in the heavens. Our route laying to the east- 
ward of the islands of Cape Verde, the trade wind, as we 
approached the coast of Africa, lost its steadiness, veering 
from N.N.E. to N.W. 
On the 5th, in latitude 22°, longitude 19° 9’, the sea 
being much discoloured, we tried for soundings, but did not 
get bottom with 120 fathoms of line. Cape Cowoeira, the 
nearest point of Africa, was at this time 32 leagues 
distant. The atmosphere extremely hazy, and a large 
flight of fishing-birds was seen ; both being indications of 
