506 PASSAGES OVEE THE ATLANTIC. 



considerable distance to the Westward and Southward of it. The land is 

 here extremely low, and should not be approached in the night nearer 

 than in 8 or 10 fathoms, unless by a vessel prepared to anchor. 



After making the land, the oldest and most experienced traders to the 

 Oil Kivers are frequently deceived as to the position of their vessel ; for the 

 best description of the rivers from Formosa to Bonny is but vague and 

 imperfect ; and I therefore proceed to give such directions as I think, from 

 my own experience, will be found useful to vessels bound to the Bonny or 

 New Calabar Elvers. 



The rivers between Terra Formosa and Bonny have all shoal bars at the 

 entrance, and generally appear from the offing to be narrow. They have 

 no peculiar feature to distinguish them, other than their being open to 

 such points of the compass as are expressed in the Sailing Directions. 



The Seasons here appear to have been imperfectly described. The rains 

 generally commence in the latter end of May, or early in June, and gra- 

 dually increase, with strong S.S.W. and S.W. breezes, during the months 

 of July, August, and great part of September, towards the end of which 

 month they as gradually terminate. In July and August heavy squalls 

 frequently prevail ; and in these months the wind very rarely shifts more 

 than between S.S.W. and S.W., and the rain is incessant from sunset to 

 nearly noon next day, when it ceases for a few hours, and again com- 

 mences with more or less violence in the evening. In October the weather 

 becomes more settled, with light land winds, and occasionally showers of 

 rain, which, however, yield to the moderate sea breeze that sets in about 

 10 or 11 a.m. In November the Tornados commence, and are at first 

 violent, gradually decreasing in strength as the Harmattan or dnj season 

 commences, although they are occasionally prevalent from this month to 

 May. In December, January, and February, is the Harmattan season ; 

 and in these months the sea breeze sets in about noon, and blows with 

 very moderate force from the W.S.W. and Westward until sunset, when 

 it dies away to a calm. During the night there is little or no wind, and 

 the weather is extremely sultry and oppressive, and very heavy and 

 unwholesome dews. '' After daylight a light air springs up from the North- 

 ward or N.N.E., which gradually increases to a moderate force, and 

 continues until about 11 a.m., when it falls calm, and soon after is suc- 

 ceeded by the light Westerly breeze. The Harmattan, however, sometimes 

 blows steadily and without intermission from the N.E. quarter for several 

 days together, especially about the new and full moon. It is at this 

 season that the smokes prevail, and are exceedingly injurious to the 

 European constitution. These smokes are so dense that it is impossible to 

 see a cable's length from the ship for days together ; and any vessels that 

 may be in the offing, inward bound, have no resource but to anchor, and 

 wait with patience for clearer weather. 



In March, April, and May, the weather is clear, with light land winds 

 at day-break, which gradually die away, are succeeded by the W.S.W. 

 breeze about 10 a.m. : and this breeze blows with moderate force durins 

 the remainder of the day and greater part of the night. In these months 

 the atmosphere is serene and clear, particularly during the nights, which 

 are very fine indeed. 



