ACEOSS THE EQUATOR. 479 



which is frequently powerful along the North coast of Spain, and the 

 «ffect of the prevalent Westerly winds to horse the vessel to leeward and 

 into the Bay of Biscay, which is especially to be avoided. The prominent 

 headlands of the coast of Spain being now marked by lighthouses,* there is 

 •less danger of mistaking the country than there was formerly, as in many 

 parts it is diflficult to make out the bays and the inlets, and of course it is 

 a most dangerous iron-bound and lee-shore. 



"We have previously, on pages 308 — 309, drawn attention to the necessity 

 of guarding against the insidious Easterly drift into the Bay of Biscay, 

 with some account of recent disasters arising apparently from neglect of 

 due precaution. When bound to the Southward, in overcast weather, 

 and the dead reckoning shows that the vessel must be approaching the 

 parallel of Cape Finisterre, at night especially, care must be taken by the 

 use of the deep-sea lead, and other precautions, to ascertain the true 

 position, as the lights cannot always be depended on. 



By sighting Madeira an opportunity is afforded of testing the rate of the 

 chronometers, as a sufficient interval will have elapsed to gain a sea-rate, 

 and having it thus early in the voyage will avoid much uncertainty in the 

 subsequent passage. It may be stated that any point of the island will 

 answer equally for giving a longitude. The tables on page 45 will give the 

 positions of the most prominent points, or the description and chart here- 

 after will give further information. 



It is better to pass 20 or 25 miles off Madeira, as the winds are 

 generally steadier in the offing, particularly in winter. In November, 

 December, and January, Westerly gales prevail, which produce eddy 

 winds and severe squalls near the land, occasioned by the mountains 

 obstructing the regular course of the gales, and beside the weather here is 

 then very precarious. 



However, notwithstanding all that has been said in former directions 

 as to passing within sight of Madeira and the Cape Verdes, it is a ques- 

 tion whether a more Westerly course to the Equator may not be attended 

 with some advantages. There is some reason to think that the nearer the 

 land the more baffling and uncertain the wind is, and as its tendency is to 

 the Eastward, it is argued that some gain of time has been found to arise 

 from crossing the parallel of 30° (as well as the Equator) on a mora 

 Westerly meridian than that of Madeira. 



Captain Maury says : — The winds along this route are an exact counter- 

 part of those found in the Pacific, on the route from California to Peru, 

 Chile, or Cape Horn ; for the deserts of Mexico and the United States hold 

 very nearly the same relation to the N.E. Trade Winds of the Pacific that 

 the deserts of Africa do to those of the Atlantic ; and though quick runs 

 may be made now and then, both along the West American and West 

 African coasts, yet, in the long run, experience in the Pacific has amply 

 proved that the navigator saves time by keeping off from the coast, and so 

 I apprehend it will be here. Indeed, experience in the Atlantic goes 



• As will be seen by a reference to "Lighthouses of the World," there are frequflnt 

 reports of many of the Spanish lights being at times unreliable, so due caution must 

 toooordingly be exercised. 



