CAPE VERDE INLAND ^. 583 



It is common for ships that come loaded from Europe to Santa Cruz, 

 Tenerife, to have part of their cargoes to unload at Port Orotava ; these 

 ships, when the Trade Wind blows hard, will sometimes find it imprac- 

 ticable to weather Anaga Point. When this is the case, bear away to the 

 leeward point of the island (Rasca Point), and keep near the shore, where 

 if 70U do not meet with a southerly wind, you will be carried by the 

 current, in the space of twenty-four hours, from the S.W. point of the 

 island to Point Tefio, whence you may easily beat up to Port Orotava ; 

 for when the wind blows excessively strong at Anaga Point, it is moderate 

 weather all the way from Point Teiio until within 2 or 3 leagues of Anaga 

 Point. But I would not advise a ship to bear away as above directed, 

 unless when the Trade Wind blows so fresh that she cannot weather 

 Anaga Point ; because in moderate weather there is little or no wind stir- 

 ring on the coast between Tefio and Port Orotava. 



CAPE VEEDE ISLANDS.— In August, September, and October, the 

 climate is very hot, wet, and unhealthy, and strong gales from the South 

 are experienced, also Tornados and calms. The rest of the year is known 

 as the dry season, and, though hot, is healthy, probably owing to the 

 strength of the N.E. Trade Wind. Destructive droughts sometimes occur, 

 especially in the Windward group, causing great distress. Observations 

 show that the mean temperature ranges from 64° F. in March to 84° in 

 July. 



Winds. — Among the Cape Verde Islands the N.E. Trade Wind blows 

 from January to March, varying between N.E., North, and N.N.W., and 

 the Harmattan also occurs. From April to June it blows North, N.E., and 

 East, weakening in force as it draws to the eastward. From July to 

 October the Trade Wind is varied by winds between S.E. and S.W., with 

 squalls. Tornados, calms, rain, and fog. In November and December the 

 Trade Wind blows between N.N.E. and East, and the Harmattan is also 

 felt. Land and sea breezes blow near the coasts, and calms extend some 

 distance to leeward of each island, as at the Canaries. 



Captain FitzRoy, who visited Porto Praya in H.M.S. Beagle, made 

 the following observations : — 



** The wind being always from the North or East during this season of 

 the year (December to June), a ship can moor as close to the weather 

 shore as may be convenient ; but during July, August, September, and 

 October, no vessel should deem the bay secure, or anchor near the shore, 

 because southerly gales sometimes blow with great strength, and the 

 rollers, or heavy seas sent in by them, are dangerous to ships which have 

 bad ground-tackle, or are lying near the land. As I have myself ex- 

 perienced the force of these gales, in the vicinity of the Cape Verde 

 Islands, and witnessed the sea raised by them, I can confidently warn 

 those who are inclined to be incredulous about a gale of wind being found 

 in 15° of North latitude, beyond the limits of the Hurricane regions." 



In December, January, and February, the fine dust blown from the 

 African desert frequently envelops the islands in a dense haze, when the 

 greatest caution is necessary in making the land. Some remarks on this 

 have been given previously, on pages 499—^500. 



