ACEOSS THE EQUATOE. 497 



Kept a man oft the foretopsail-yard. He quickly saw a long line of broken water 

 right ahead, it being part of Lihou Shoal, extending farther to the Eastward than 

 laid down either in charts or books. I find that in moderately clear weather, 

 when observations show that the land may be sighted, a good night-glass on the 

 forecastle and a patent lead are first-rate safeguards ; indeed, the three L's are all 

 right enough, but much depends on the quality of these said L's. 



" Now it remains to be decided how we should have fared if on the 15th we 

 had stood to the Eastward, making Easting, with a little Northing, until we 

 thought ourselves far enough to windward. In our present case we certainly had 

 to tack off America (though it is the first time in my extreme Westerly routes 

 that I have had to do so), yet in two days we beat 111 miles tc the South and 27 

 to the East, and cleared the difficulty. It would not be right, however, to tempt 

 ships near reefs and land unless they gain by it ; and merely by a comparison of 

 my own voyages of other years at the same season I should condemn this route, 

 for I never did worse from 10° N. to the Equator than this year. Once at the 

 very same date I passed between the Cape de Verdes and Africa. Then we were 

 13 days from 10° N. to the Line, but were not troubled near South America an(f 

 had a better S.E. Trade. This time we were only 12 days, but lost a day near 

 South America. In October, 1852, I passed 10° N. about 2° farther East within a 

 day or two of our date, and was only 8^ days to the Equator, which we crossed 

 in 20° W., having been carried into 18° W. by a strong S.W. monsoon, which 

 turned into the S.E. Trade without a calm. Still, this probably was an exception, 

 and I should like and shall try to see the logs of some ships which passed through 

 the Doldrums with us. 



*' September 25th, 1856, and October 15th, 1857, I cifossed the Equator much 

 in the same longitude as this year — that is, 31° W. ; in September passed 25 miles 

 to the Westward of Fernando Noronha, and in October still nearer, and both 

 voyages we weathered America with ease. Once in May I crossed the Equator 

 between 28° and 29° W., and could not weather America, but was much bothered 

 off Cape St. Augustine. 



" Again, from Cape St. Augustine to the Abrolho9>, the ships which pass far 

 West do not seem to do so well as those which go far to the Eastward. For 

 instance, as I aia now writing on the 26th of October, we have done but S. 14° W. 

 51^ miles, and on the 25th, S. 23° W. 85 miles. For all this, one feels inclined 

 to blame the Westerly route ; at any rate until it is proved that the ships which 

 ■went to the Eastward have done as badly or worse than ourselves. 



" The conclusion I am inclined to draw from all this is, that in October, when 

 once your ship is so near the Equator as to expect the S.E. Trade, and the wind 

 sets in from S. by W. by compass, go on the port tack with the yards sharp up, 

 and keep well full ; then the wind is almost certain to turn into the S.E. Trade, 

 with beautiful weather. My experience would lead me to say that in October, 

 when you are below 5° N., with a steady S. by W. by compass wind, you have the 

 commencement of the S.E. Trade, and should stand boldly on the port tack ; but 

 I am not yet quite decided as to how a ship ought to steer after passing to the 

 Westward of the Cape de Verdes, though I think as we have done this year ; that 

 is, due South with a fair wind, and the tack on which you make the most 

 Southing with a foul ; because the probability is, that you will have a S.W. 

 monsoon, which will drive you v/ell to the Eastward. If there were not this pro- 

 bability I would have a ship in October steer to get to the S.E. Trade, or rather the 

 S. by W. wind, in about 20° W., for if she does not get into the latitude of Cape 

 St. Roque quite so soon, I think she will be in a better position by the time she 

 loses the S.E. Trade." * 



• See the " Nautical Magazine," 1859, pages 169—177, and 561—663. 

 'N. A. 0. 64 



