H A YEAR IN BRAZIL. 



Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote are the principal; while 

 Gomera, Palma, and Hierro or Fer are the smaller. Tene- 

 riffe is about fifty-three miles long by thirty-five broad at 

 its widest (southerly) end ; and Canaria about thirty-three 

 miles north to south, by thirty-five east to west, or roughly 

 circular. Canaria lies about two degrees W. from the coast 

 of Africa. When nearly opposite the Peak, we saw the Island 

 of Gomera to the S.W. through the mist ; its highest point 

 is 1342 metres, or 4403 feet. We passed the south end of 

 Teneriffe at 8 a.m., and the summit of the Peak remained 

 in sight till 1.30 p.m., when it was lost in the mist; we 

 only saw it about sixty-five miles off, but the appearance 

 was very fairy-like. 



We are fast losing the long evenings, which is very 

 sad; to-night (June iSth) the sun set at 6.53, and it was 

 quite dark by 7.30. I have been much interested in 

 examining all the French captain's charts, with his voyages 

 marked on them. He has rounded Cape Horn twenty- 

 four times. It was from one of his maps I obtained the 

 particulars of the Canary Islands. 



June 16. — At seven this morning we passed the only 

 ship we have seen since leaving Lisbon, a French steamer 

 from Bahia and St. Vincent. At 8.30 this morning we 

 crossed the Tropic of Cancer. The French captain tells 

 me that on ships which do not cross the line, e.g: going to 

 the Antilles, on fait la fite du tropique ; but as we 

 shall cross the line, Neptune's visit is deferred till then. 

 Went forward this evening to hear the Spaniards singing 

 in chorus to their guitars. The singing was beautiful, and 

 the scene most picturesque in the clear moonlight, but the 

 guitars sounded very wiry. Captain Hayes says he shall 

 note this as the calmest voyage he has made so far. We 

 have had no rolling or pitching since we got on the 



