HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 369 



The course to St. Helena from the Cape is north-north-west 

 half-west, and it may be safely approached in the night ; 

 but ships are not allowed to anchor till they have commu- 

 nicated with the shore, either by signal or by a boat sent 

 to the fort on Sugar-loaf Point. The best anchorage is in 

 sixteen or eighteen fathoms, with the street of James Town 

 open. The geographical site of the town is long. 5° 36J' 

 west, lat. 15° 55' south.* From St. Helena a ship departs 

 with the trade-wind, and may shape a course to pass on 

 either side of Ascension as most expedient. From Ascen- 

 sion a north-north-west course ma}' be steered for the equa- 

 tor, which should be crossed in 18° or 20° west, as before 

 directed. From the line a ship ought to keep on the tack 

 which will give most northing till she meets the north-east 

 trade. From lat. 24° or 25° north in this route will be 

 seen the gulf-weed, which covers the whole face of the wa- 

 ters to about 40° or 41° north lat. By catching a quantity 

 of this weed in passing, many curious marine animals may 

 be collected which are found upon it. In the gulf-stream 

 the temperature of the water is 4° or 5° higher than the 

 temperature of the atmosphere. The north-east trade 

 generally carries a ship far to the westward, and nothing 

 can be conceived more provoking than the continuance of 

 easterly winds after a ship has got as far as 30° or 35° 

 north, forcing her daily farther in distance from the " desired 

 haven." It is advisable to pass to the westward of the 

 Western Islands or Azores. They are nine in number, with 

 safe channels between them all. The two which form the 

 north-western corner of the group are most commonly seen 

 by homeward-bound ships from India. Flores, the western- 

 most, is in lat. 39° 33' north, long. 31° 11' west. Corvo is 

 separated from Flores by a channel three or four leagues 

 wide, and is in lat. 39° 42i' north, long. 31° 6' west. After 

 passing the Azores, a direct course should be pursued for 

 the Lizard. 



In the foregoing pages the variation of the compass in 

 different parts of the globe is rarely mentioned, on account 

 of its constant fluctuation, and because it is presumed that 

 every careful navigator ascertains the magnetic variation of 

 the compass by observation every twenty-four hours, when- 



* Captain Owen-^t. Helena, town, long. 5° 44' W., lat. 15° 54' 9. 



