1843.] MEET A WRECK. 5 



Her drift, therefore, between these two positions during 

 this interval may safely be assumed as evidence of the 

 prevailing southerly currents. I have little doubt that 

 the next report of her will be from a more westerly 

 position ; influenced by the trade winds and intertropical 

 currents of these regions, she will probably be driven past 

 the Cape de Verds towards the West Indies. She is 

 rather a dangerous object in the way of navigation, but 

 having broken up from her centre and slipped all her 

 weights, there is little chance of sinking much deeper. 

 She might be mistaken for rocks at night, and may 

 possibly have been reported as such. 



On the 2nd of March we passed along the eastern side 

 of the Island of Bonavista, and much closer to the breakers 

 than we should have ventured had I been aware of the 

 dangers reported in that neighbourhood ; the next day 

 we anchored in the Bay of Porto Praya in the Island of 

 St. Jago, Cape de Verds. Here we remained four days, 

 refitting, watering, and completing astronomical and 

 magnetic observations; our observing position being 

 upon Quail Island, rather nearer to the landing place 

 than the centre of the island, and just below the highest 

 ground.* 



I deem it necessary to be particular in stating these 

 facts, because discrepancies are frequently noticed by 

 successive visitors to the same port, which may be traced 

 to the differences of locality. Magnetic observations, for 

 correct comparison, should always be conducted in one 

 particular site, and especially amongst islands of volcanic 

 origin ; at Tahiti the differences of observation are often 

 * For notes on the Botany, &c. of St. Jago, vide Appendix. 



