Patty's Overfalls. 

 Warley's Shoal. 



TO RIO JANEIRO. 



Supposed position of the 

 Triton Shoal. 



J 



nmined there a week, and yet we arrived at Porto 

 Praya eleven days sooner. The Relief, pursuing 

 the direct route, had light baffling winds during 

 her whole passage. Although something is un- 

 doubtedly due to her dull sailing, yet the differ- 

 once is too great to be entirely attributed to that 

 cause. The winds were generally found by her 

 from the northward and eastward, and southward 

 and eastward, whilst we, in a higher latitude, had 

 diem from the south-west and the westward. 



On the 7th of October we left Porto Praya, and 

 stood for Patty's Overfalls, as laid down on the 

 chart, in latitude 11 N., and longitude 24 25' W, 

 We lost the trade winds the day after we left 

 Porto Praya, the 8th of October, in latitude 12 N., 

 and longitude 23 30' W. The winds then be- 

 came variable, and squalls of rain ensued. The 

 upper clouds had still a quick motion to the west- 

 ward. 



On the 9th we reached the supposed position of 

 Patty's Overfalls, and were becalmed close in tlu'ir 

 proximity for forty-eight hours. Nothing was 

 seen of them. If any had existed, we must have 

 been made aware of it during the time we were 

 becalmed, for we remained nearly in the same posi- 

 tion forty-eight hours. Thence we stood for War- 

 ley's Shoal. The weather had the same indistinct- 

 ness that we had first observed at Porto Praya. 

 It might be termed a dry haze. 



The 24th we reached the position assigned to 

 Warley's Shoal, in latitude 5 4' N., longitude 

 21 25' W. We passed over the supposed locality, 

 but saw no appearance of shoal water, or danger of 

 any kind. 



We now ran for the French Shoal, in latitude 

 4 5' N., longitude 20 35' W. Here the wind 

 inclined to the southward, and we proceeded as far 

 east as longitude 13 W., passing over the two 

 positions laid down by the French and English 

 hydrographers, but saw nothing of it. 



We now tacked to the southward, to cross the 

 equator in longitude 17 W. The weather had 

 changed, the rains which we had experienced at 

 night ceased, and the extremely indistinct atmo- 

 sphere which at times had prevailed for the last 

 fortnight disappeared. It is difficult to describe 

 the peculiar effect this haziness produced. It 

 seemed to me an effect the opposite of that of 

 looming, apparently diminishing all objects. Al- 

 though the horizon was seen, yet the sea and sky 

 were so blended together, that it was difficult for 

 the eye to fix upon or define it at any moment. It 

 was impossible to use the dip sector. At the same 

 time it was perfectly clear over head, with a bright 

 sun, and the upper cirrous clouds, when seen, were 

 in rapid motion to the westward. 



The nights were now beautiful until near morn- 

 ing, when it generally clouded over, and remained 

 overcast with flying clouds until evening. The 

 zodiacal light was once or twice observed, but the 

 presence of these clouds for the most part pre- 

 vented it from being seen. 



On the 29th, in latitude 3 40' N., our observa- 

 tions gave a current of ten miles in twenty -four 

 hours, to the north. Until the 3d of November 

 we had light winds; the upper stratum of clouds 

 was now seen moving from the east. On the 4th 

 we had a cry of breakers from the mast-head. We 

 immediately changed our course and ran for the 

 appearance, but it proved on nearing it to have 



been one of the many optical illusions seen at sea, 

 from the effect of light and shadow. 



On board the Peacock, on the 30th of October, 

 in latitude 1 30' N., longitude 18 W., they wit- 

 nessed a remarkable appearance, resembling the 

 aurora borealis, radiating from the north-west point 

 of the horizon in different directions, and extend- 

 ing from south-west round by the north to the east- 

 ward, at an altitude of from 10 to 50; afterwards 

 reaching to the zenith, and passing over the moon's 

 disk, encircling her with a faint halo of twenty 

 degrees in diameter. It continued an hour, and 

 although it was bright moonlight, the phenomenon 

 was very distinct and beautiful. 



On the 5th the winds drew to the south-south- 

 east, and we crossed the line, as we had intended, 

 in longitude 17 W., which enabled us to pass over 

 and examine the supposed locality of the Triton 

 Bank, in longitude- 1 7 46' W., latitude 32' S. 



We had now heavy deposits of dew, on several 

 fine and cloudless evenings. Indeed the sun had 

 scarcely set before the ship was quite wet with it. 

 One of the essential requisites supposed necessary 

 by Dr. Wells for a deposit of dew was certainly 

 .wanting in this case, viz. that " the temperature of 

 "the body on which it was deposited should be con- 

 siderably lower than the surrounding air;" the 

 temperature of the air and ship having remained 

 the same for several days at about 78: all objects, 

 hammock-cloths, spars, sails, and rigging, so far as 

 could be ascertained, showed the same. And at 

 the time when the dew was observed to be most 

 copious we had a fine breeze. It has generally 

 been supposed that dew never falls off soundings. 

 This at least is an old saying among seamen: but 

 our observations are at variance with this notion; 

 for as far as every indication went, both by sound- 

 ing and blue water, we certainly had no bottom. 



The supposed position of the Triton Shoal was 

 now passed over, and examined carefully in the 

 same manner as heretofore described, sounding at 

 the same time with two and three hundred fathoms 

 of line. Nothing of the kind was perceived, nor 

 was there any indication of soundings in the dis- 

 coloration of the water, or any change in its tem- 

 perature. 



On the 7th November at noon we were in longi- 

 tude 18 20' W., and latitude 3 30' N. I then 

 stood for Bouvet's Sandy Isle, or its reported posi- 

 tion. We saw nothing of it whatever. I was very 

 desirous of continuing my search farther to the 

 west, from the report I had seen of various vessels 

 having experienced shocks of earthquakes, and the 

 belief having been entertained that shoals might 

 have been formed by them. The equatorial cur- 

 rent having been felt, I was aware that in getting 

 farther to the west, I should lose the opportunity 

 of examining the locality where that distinguished 

 navigator, admiral Krusenstern, supposed he saw a 

 volcano. I therefore gave up proceeding further 

 to the westward in this latitude, and hauled up for 

 its position. 



It was now the 9th of November; we had de- 

 lightful weather, and moderate breezes from the 

 south and east. 



An amusing circumstance occurred this night. 

 In our course we passed very near a large sail, 

 which, from the night being dark, the officer of the 

 deck of the Porpoise mistook for the Vincennes, 

 although sailing on a different course. He imme- 



