ASSUME COMMAND OF THE ENTERPRISE. 1 5 



8th, in 1471 fathoms, lat. i6° 35' N., long. 24° 52' 

 W., the bottom being red sand mixed with shells; and 

 the other on the 9th, in 1061 fathoms, lat. 14° 57' N., 

 long. 23° 51' W. Owing to the carelessness of the 

 attendant his guiding-rod slipped and 703 fathoms of 

 wire were lost with the specimen-cup. Before entering 

 port the ship was swung for compass deviations, after 

 which we exercised at target-firing. We remained at 

 Porto Praya just long enough to make official calls and 

 to lay in fresh provisions. 



Porto Praya is also an important coaling station, 

 60,000 tons of coal having been delivered to steamers 

 during the year 1882. It has the advantage over St. 

 Vincent in respect to supplies. Fruit and poultry abound, 

 and fresh water is conducted from the mountains in the 

 interior through pipes to a large cistern in town. 



A contract for laying a submarine cable to the con- 

 tinent had just been signed, and the cable has since been 

 successfully laid. 



On the afternoon of the loth we sailed from Porto 

 Praya for Cape Town, finding the northeast trade winds 

 fairly strong when away from the land. 



A course was shaped to cross the equator between 

 25° and 26° west longitude, and before night a cast was 

 taken in 2742 fathoms, lat. 12° 10' N., long. 23° 45' W. 



In reeling in, the composition part of the specimen- 

 cup, Belknap No. 2, became unscrewed, and the speci- 

 men was lost. 



On the 1 2th the trade winds became lighter, but the 



