COAST OF MOROCCO. 567 



has been, when a ship is stranded, and the crew compelled to surrender, 

 to take everything portable from the vessel, and then, if the sea do not 

 dash it to pieces, they set fire to it, that it may not serve as a warning to 

 other ships which may be so unfortunate as to follow the same course. 



Reference has previously been made to this subject on pages 319 — 320. 



Currents. — During five months (from March to August, 1835), the time 

 occupied by H.M.S. JEtna and Raven in the survey of the coast between 

 the parallels of 35f° and 28° (those of Cape Spartel and Cape Juby), a 

 distance of 750 miles, no day passed in which the former was not at least 

 twelve hours at anchor, usually at the distance of 4 to 5 miles from shore, 

 and in positions well adapted for making observations on the currents, 

 which were constantly attended to. Independently of this, the Raven 

 was repeatedly sent to the distance of 20 and 30 miles from land ; par- 

 ticularly when fixed and conspicuous ©bjects afforded opportunities for 

 ascertaining her exact position ; by comparing which with that which 

 should have been given by the course steered, the rate and direction of 

 the current could be ascertained to a considerable degree of exactness. 



From Cape Spartel, along the coast, to Arsila, and also to the distance 

 of 7 or 8 miles from the shore, a regular tide was experienced, running 

 parallel to the coast ; but its strength was rather greater to the northward 

 than to the southward. In this distance, at 15 miles from land, no tide 

 or current was perceptible. 



From Arsila, to the southward, a tide was still experienced, gradually 

 diminishing in strength till its direction could not be ascertained. From 

 the parallel of 34° 30' N. to the distance of 20 miles in the offing, a steady 

 southerly set was first experienced. This current, in the offing, continues 

 invariably to follow the direction of the land ; its velocity increasing or 

 diminishing, from the rate of four-tenths to 1 mile an hour, according to 

 the strength or duration of the north-easterly winds. 



From Mogador to Cape Bojador, except in particular instances, the 

 current continues invariably to run in the direction of the coast. Its 

 greatest strength is usually at the distance of from 3 to 6 miles from the 

 land, gradually decreasing on receding from it. Its average rate between 

 31^° and 28° N. is from one-half to three-quarters of a mile in the hour. 

 At Cape Juby, probably from its stream being in some measure confined 

 by the projecting cape, and perhaps by the Canary Islands (distant 56 

 miles), it increases its rate to 1|: mile, but diminishes of! Cape Bojador to 

 1 mile. It did not appear that this current was influenced by the wind, 

 but near the shore a tide was generally perceived. — (See remarks on the 

 Currents on pages 317 — 324.) 



Winds, &C. — During winter North and N.N.E. winds prevail on this 

 coast, with occasional gales from the westward frequently attended by 

 fog. In summer, fresh winds prevail between N.N.W. and E.N.E., 

 through North. Between November and March the heavy surf renders 

 landing difficult ; in summer, and with strong winds off the land, there is 

 no great difficulty. 



Cape Juby. — The climate is healthy, and, from observations made in 

 1884 and 1885, the heat is found to be modified by the cool N.N.E. wind 

 ■which prevails for eight months (March to October) out of the twelve. 



