ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND. 525 



On the 9th"vve were again on our way homeward. 

 Touching^at.St. Helena* and Ascension, we crossed 

 the equator on the forenoon of the 15th, in long. 

 19" 45' W, where we endeavoured to obtain sound- 

 ings with 2000 fathoms of line, which parted at 1600 

 fathoms. Respecting deep-sea soundings, there 

 are some sceptical persons who, in consequence of 

 the bottom not being brought up from the great 

 depths reported to have been found, are inclined to 

 doubt that soundings were actually obtained on those 

 occasions. 



On the 24th a continuation of westerly windsf 

 brought us in sight of St. Jago and Bravo, of the 

 Cape de Verd Group ; on passing which we got the 

 N. E. trade, and, after staying a part of the 10th 

 and 11th at Fayal, where we met Her Majesty's 

 Steamer Styx, Captain Vidal, who, on parting, gave 

 us three hearty farewell cheers, we did not, in conse- 

 quence of easterly winds, arrive at Spithead until 

 the 30th day of September, after an absence of up- 

 wards of six years. During this period we only lost 

 two men, and preserved throughout almost the same 



* This place is famed for its large flying-fish, of which some 

 are from 18 to 24 inches in length: and not a little so, for those 

 monsters of the finny tribe called sharks. In the " Admiralty 

 book of directions," the fact is related of an artillery-man being 

 found fully accoutred in the stomach of one taken there. 



f Ships availing themselves of these winds, when, also, the 

 westerly current ceases near the equator, might, by running 

 away to the eastward in them, shorten the passage to either 

 Ascension or St. Helena. 



