328 OBSERVATIONS ON THE GUliliENTS. 



(277.) One of the most remarkable examples of this Easterly Current 

 recorded, and one which unmistakably demonstrates its existence and 

 activity, was encountered by John Alexander Mann, Esq., F.K.G.S. and 

 F.R.A.S.* He left Cayenne in French Guayana, in the brigantine Monte 

 Christo, 120 tons, bound for Paranahyba, on July 26th, 1862, the day of 

 the new moon ; the wind blowing from the East. A direct Northerly 

 course was steered until the 30th, when the ship was in 7° N., and the 

 log, by dead reckoning, was the same as Cayenne, i.e. 52° 14'. On 

 August 7th, spoke the Austrian brig Barita, which gave longitude 27" 14' ; 

 that of the dead reckoning of the Monte Christo gave 42^ 14', so that the 

 vessel had been drifted nine hundred miles to the Eastward, and for eight 

 consecutive days she had been drifted 3f knots an hour to the E.S.E. 

 There was a great doubt as to the accuracy of the longitude, but at noon 

 of the 15th, in lat. OP 45' S., they spoke a Dutch brig, which gave the 

 longitude as 27° 8', while the D.R. placed them in 44^^ 0', which, com- 

 pared with the position on the 7th, shows that they were drifted 120 

 miles farther to the Eastward. In fact, had the ship been left to the 

 Current, it would have soon reached the African coast, having drifted 

 1,020 miles in 20 days. 



Throughout the remainder of the voyage, which lasted 14 days longer, 

 the same Current was experienced. The captain of the Loyal, which 

 arrived some days after, abandoned his chronometer from the same cause, 

 believing it to be out of order. Afterwards, in sailing from Surinam to 

 Cayenne, in the Alecton, French man-of-war steamer, Mr. Mann met with 

 the same phenomenon. 



(278.) These facts are very important, in connection with the Westerly 

 crossing of the Equator, which has been strenuously advocated, and the 

 influence of this powerful Current, which appears to have much constancy 

 during the Northern summer months, may have much to do with the 

 readiness with which vessels, having reached too far to the Westward, 

 contrive to weather the Eastern extremity of Brasil. This will be adverted 

 to hereafter. 



(279.) The Easterly Current thus passing across the Atlantic strikes the 

 coast of Africa about Sierra Leoue and the coast of Liberia. Of course, 

 when near the shore, it assumes its direction to the S.E., and runs with 

 great velocity. As is shown by the Chart of the Currents, at page 295, its 

 mean annual velocity is between 14-1 miles and 26'5 miles per day, 

 strongest in the summer months. 



Its mean direction off Cape Palmas and Cape Coast Castle is E. 12° N., 

 and its calculated velocity from Major Rennell's and Captain Maury's 

 observations is — for January, 17'4 miles to 27*6 miles; February, 26 miles 

 to 32 miles ; April, 11-5 miles to 33-7 miles ; May, 22-7 miles to 36 miles; 

 June, 30 miles ; July, 18-2 miles ; August, 157 miles to 264 miles per 

 day. These are from the records of 75 observations. 



(280.) Its Southern edge appears to be in about 2^° to 2° N. up to the 

 head of the Bight, and as the Southern streams set in an opposite direction, 

 they are serviceable in making a return passage as presently explained. 



• See Proceedings of the Royal Geographioal Sooiety, Vol. VII., 1863, pages 50, 51, 



