INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VOYAGE. 333 



ment, but those of the company's ships mostly resemble each 



It is hoped that the foregoing remarks will be found use- 

 ful to persons bound for India. The remainder of this ar- 

 ticle shall be devoted to a description of the usual route 

 pursued by the regular Indiamen and free-traders. Some 

 aoolocry may be necessary for the nautical phraseolog}- em- 

 ployed ; but it is at all times difficult to communicate pro- 

 fessional knowledge except in the terms commonly applied 

 in each particular profession ; and as public attention has 

 lately been much occupied with works on naval subjects, it 

 may be presumed that most readers are familiar with the 

 pecuUar language of seamen. 



As ships are generally in the hands of a pilot till they 

 get well down Channel, it would be superfluous to give m- 

 structions for any part of the voyage above the Isle ot 

 Wiffht. With a fair wind the course from the back ot the 

 Wight is west-by-north-half-north by compass, and it will 

 be useful to note which way the wind is inclmed to veer. 

 If to the northward and westward, it will be advisable to 

 keep the shore on board till past the Lizard. If the wind 

 is inclined to the south-eastward, a west-by-north course is 

 the best. With a raw ship's company m winter, the ba- 

 rometer falling, and an increasing gale, after the pilot has 

 left the ship it is considered hazardous to attempt beating 

 down Channel. The different ports in England are so well 

 known, the pilots and others so constantly on the look-out, 

 that with common prudence a ship may always find shelter 

 below the Owers. The heaviest gales in the Channel are 

 from south-west to west-south-west. Steering out with a 

 fair wind ships generally stand to the southward too soon. 

 The south-west and westerly winds prevail for a great 

 part of the year in the Bay of Biscay and off Cape Fims- 

 terre. By standing well to the westward a ship may avoid 

 the necessity of making a board, should she meet with 

 south-westerly winds ; and if enabled to clear Cape Finis- 

 terre at a moderate distance, standing to the southward, the 

 wind will generally veer to west-north-west and westward. 

 Madeira may be passed at a moderate distance on either 

 side ; but ships passing to the westward must be careful 

 to .rive a good berth to the Salvages, a dangerous group of 

 rocks which lies to the southward of Madeira, in lat. 30 



