TO RIO JANEIRO. 37 
found by her from the northward and eastward, and southward and 
eastward, whilst we in a higher latitude, had them from the south- 
west, and the westward. 
On the 7th of October we left Porto Pray a, and stood for Patty's 
Overfalls, as laid down on the chart in latitude 11° N. and longitude 
24° 25' W. In the afternoon we spoke the Danish brig Lion, from 
Rio de Janeiro. She had crossed the line in longitude 27° W., and 
had brought the trades to 6° 30' N. We lost the trade winds the 
day after we left Porto Praya, the 8th of October, in latitude 12° N., 
and longitude 23° 30' W. The winds then became variable, and 
squalls of rain ensued. The upper clouds had still a quick motion 
to the westward. On the same day we spoke the Crusader, seventy- 
five days from Bombay, which vessel was in want of medical aid. 
I sent the surgeon on board, and administered to their wants every 
thing that was in our power. It afforded us no small pleasure 
to supply them with some fruit and vegetables, which were very 
acceptable to the numerous passengers. The Crusader had crossed 
the line in longitude 22° W., and lost the trades in latitude 7° 30' N. 
On the 9th we reached the supposed position of Patty's Overfalls, 
and were becalmed close in their proximity for forty-eight hours. 
Nothing was seen of them. We had passed through rips trending 
east and west, but no current was found on the trials which were 
made, nor did the reckoning show any. If any had existed, we 
must have been made aware of it during the time we were becalmed, 
for we remained nearly in the same position forty-eight hours. 
Thence we stood for Warley's Shoal. The weather had the same 
indistinctness that we had first observed at Porto Praya. It might 
be termed a dry haze. 
In this part of the ocean we passed through spaces of water, from 
ten to thirty miles in width, in which the temperature of the water 
frequently rose three or four degrees. This increase seemed to me 
to indicate the existence of currents. I was, therefore, very parti- 
cular in watching for them, and the only indication we had was of a 
very slight one to the southward and eastward. Our winds continued 
light and variable, and sailing in squadron, we had many opportu- 
nities of observing their different courses. On the 12th of October 
a remarkable one happened, in which all the squadron, while sailing 
with a brisk breeze from the southeast, were taken aback, and at 
one time all apparently had the wind from different quarters, 
although but a few cables' length distant from one another. The 
i7i-ir t. 1" 
