NOETH-WEST COAST OF AFRICA, ETC. 323 



The Current generally produced by the wind sets to the N.E. and North, 

 when that is from any point between South and West, and it sets to the 

 South when the wind is anywhere between West and East from the North- 

 ward. In winter, the Current sets mostly from some point between North 

 and East, and in summer from some one between North and West ; and 

 its hourly rate is about 2 miles, and even more, with a strong Vendaval. 



The navigator who finds himself off Cape Finisterre with a Vendaval to 

 beat against, must be careful of the shore in bad weather, for he will be 

 drifted insensibly to leeward until he has passed Cape Prior. 



With respect to ships off Cape St. Vincent, bound towards Cape Finisterre 

 with fresh N.E. winds, they will find enough to do, to overcome the Current 

 they will meet with along the coast. And with fresh N.W. or S.W. winds 

 there is also a rise in the level of the sea, in all the estuaries and ports of 

 the Peninsula, the reverse of what takes place at Cadiz and in the Bay of 

 Biscay with N.E. winds. 



(273.) The Baron Roussin's Remarks on the Currents between 

 Cape Bojador and the Isles de Los. 



The general Currents on the African coast, between Cape Bojador and 

 the Isles de Los, with the exception of some places subject to a more or 

 less regular tide, are uniform during the eight months which comprise the 

 fine season. They follow exactly the trend of the coas*i from North to 

 South. 



From Gape Bojador to the Bay of St. Cyprian (lat. 22° 20') they there- 

 fore set to the S.S.W. ; from that bay to Cape Blanco, and along the whole 

 extent of the Bank of Arguin to its Western point, which is in the parallel 

 of 20° 6' 20" N., they set S. by W. To the Southward ar this point the 

 waters, being no longer guided by the edge of the bank, which turns 

 abruptly to the S.E., do not follow in a body, within a certain space, any 

 fixed or determined direction. One part of their mass experiences a number. 

 of irregular windings, until, finding itself in the active body of the general 

 Current, which left the bank at its most salient point, it rejoins it, and is 

 carried on as before. 



hi the vicinity of Tanit Bay, in the parallel of 19° 10' N., it again resumes 

 its former direction, and follows the trend of the coast, thus setting to the 

 Southward as far as near Portandik, and from thence S.S.W. to the 

 Marigot of Musquitos. It then sets S. ^ W. till abreast of the Bar of the 

 Senegal, where, in a space of 12 miles in circumference, it is disturbed by 

 the stream of that river. This stream is so strong as to oblige vessels at 

 the anchorage off the bar to trend to it, in spite of the strongest winds. 

 The Current, joined by the waters or tne Senegal, pursues its course along 

 the coast, which trends to the S.W., observing a very gentle curve, which 

 forms the Bay of Yof, and which terminates at Cape Verde. The strong 

 Currents hitherto pretended to set into the Bay of Yof are, therefore, 

 merely chimerical. Cape Verde being the most Western point of Africa, 

 and hence forming an obstruction to the general direction of the waters 

 which flow along that coast, must occasion a great variety of Currents in 



