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we found the current had advanced us upwards of fifty miles on 

 our course. Nicholson remarks, that in these latitudes a wind pre- 

 vails from south-east to south-west; which, blowing strong, with 

 squalls and rain, meets the north-east winds, and these repelling 

 each other with great fury, occasion terrible storms and tempests. 

 These winds fly about like a whirlwind ; the sky is dark and gloomy, 

 and the clouds pour forth deluges of rain, succeeded by calms, a 

 sultry atmosphere, and oppressive languor. 



For there the line its torrid influence throws, 

 The sky turns gloomy, and the ocean glows ; 

 Along the heavens th' incumbent vapours brood, 

 Eclipse the day, and darken all the flood ; 

 No gentle air allays the smother' d heat, 

 While nature sickens with the sultry weight ; 

 The breath grows short, the heart but feebly plays, 

 And the dim orb of light forgets to gaze ; 

 At length the slumbering combination breaks, 

 The lightning kindles, and the storm awakes ; 

 Th' assembled winds from every quarter roar, 

 The weeping skies a liquid deluge pour. 



Continuing our course along the eastern shores of Africa, 

 on the 2d of January we saw Cape St. Sebastian, at ten leagues 

 distance; the currents, which had hitherto ran to the south, 

 now changed their direction, and carried us westward of our 

 reckoning. On leaving St. Sebastian we encountered rough seas, 

 and having run down the thirty-third degree of latitude, con- 

 sidered our voyage as nearly terminated. While anticipating the 

 pleasure of shortly landing and enjoying the summer refreshments at 

 the Cape, a storm suddenly burst upon us from the south-east, and 



