I04 DEEP-SEA SOUNDING. 



For several days light breezes and variable airs from 

 N.E. to N. wafted us on our course, although we were 

 well within the belt of the S.E. trades. 



Casts were taken daily, sails being clewed up, with 

 topsail yards mastheaded. When the wire had been 

 reeled in to 2000 fathoms topsails were sheeted home, 

 care being taken to keep the speed of the ship down to 

 four knots ; when the cup was within 1000 fathoms of 

 the surface all sail was made. Steam was raised as usual 

 for each cast. 



On February 3d we were 200 miles to the eastward 

 of the outward-bound track, but from this time on light 

 breezes headed us off, so that on the 7th of February 

 our track was again crossed, when a cast was immediately 

 taken in 2878 fathoms (between two of our former 

 casts) in lat. 8° 26 S., long. 31° 31' W.; yellow-brown 

 mud. 



Our course took us about 140 miles to the eastward 

 of Pernambuco and Cape St. Roque and about 20 miles 

 to the eastward of "The Rocas." 



The breeze continued very light, the ship sometimes 

 not making more than half a knot an hour ; still, as the 

 current was favorable and the vessel had steerage way, I 

 did not care to use steam except for sounding. 



On the 1 2th our last cast was taken in the South 

 Atlantic, and during the night the equator was crossed. 



On the 13th we were in the doldrums, experiencing 

 rainy squally weather, with little or no wind. 



We got up steam at 2 a.m., and on the 14th started 



