114 VOYAGL IN SLARCH 



It is uncommon, at this fealbn of the year, to 

 acrofs the Straits of Mozambique at a 

 little diftancc from land, without meeting with 

 violent ltonns. The north-eait wind came from 

 this large opening, when the gradual fall of 

 eight lines in the mercury of the barometer, an- 

 nounced to us a gale, which blow with almoft 

 incredible fury. The electric matter with which 

 the clouds were charged was lb abundant, that, 

 notwithftanding the direction given to it by our 

 conductors, the lightning fell ievcral times at 

 the diilance of a few meters from the fhip. The 

 wefterly wind, which brought back fine weather, 

 was preceded by a rife of two lines in the mer- 

 cury of the barometer. On the ift of March 

 this wind had raifed fo heavy a fea, that our 

 confort was often concealed by the height of 

 the waves. That fhip, beheld at a few hecto- 

 meters diftance, afforded us a fine fight ; we 

 faw her lofe herfelf in the billows, ifiue from 

 them in an inftant, then rife on the top of the 

 fea, fhewing, at the fame time, a great part of 

 her k 



On the 3d, we were convinced, by the lea 

 going down, that we had pafled the entrance 

 of the Straits of Mozambique; fur, notwithltand- 

 iie wind ntinucd to blow nearly with the 

 fame force .cceding days, we were fail- 



ing < ir.ely ruffled, for we were now 



fhcltcred 



