20 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



readily perceived, from the tossing, cracking, and 

 rolling of the ship, which struggled with the foam- 

 ing sea, — from the creaking of the masts, the 

 roaring of the wind, the cries of the sailors running 

 backwards and forwards, and the whistling of the 

 boatswain's pipes, that we were in a great storm. 



The Bora, a cold, very violent north-east wind, 

 which, especially in spring, frequently blows from 

 the Istrian mountains, and prevails in the northern 

 part of the Adriatic sea, had suddenly assailed the 

 two ships. A black cloud, hanging very low, was 

 the only indication that the officer on duty had of 

 the approach of the gale ; so that there was scarcely 

 time to take in the sails. In a few minutes we 

 lost sight of the Augusta, which hitherto had kept 

 at a small distance from us. A thick fog enveloped 

 our ship ; a cold rain, mixed with hailstones, 

 which the storm furiously drove before it, covered 

 the deck with pieces of ice of considerable size, 

 and almost froze the crew. The ship was tossed 

 violently ; the yards and tackle were torn and 

 broken ; the waves rushed through the window 

 into the forecastle, partly filled the hold with 

 water ; and at last, when the storm was at its 

 height, the bowsprit broke short off. The hurri- 

 cane raged with the utmost fury till noon, when 

 the sea grew calmer, and the bleak Bora being suc- 

 ceeded by a mild east wind, we cast anchor in the 

 middle of the sea, about three miles to the west of 

 Rovigno. In this situation we awaited the break 



