6 MADEIRA. 



position, but saw nothing of it, although the sea was running suffi- 

 ciently high to have made a heavy break on it, if it did exist. 



On the 15th, as we were making sail, George Porter, one of our 

 maintop-men, in loosing the top-gallant sail, was caught by the 

 buntline, and dragged over the yard, where he was seen to hang, as it 

 were quite lifeless, swinging to and fro by the neck. 



On the alarm being given, two men ran aloft to his assistance. It 

 now became doubtful on deck whether they would not be all dragged 

 over by the weight of his body, until several others gave assistance 

 and relieved them. It caused a breathless anxiety to us all to see a 

 fellow-being in the momentary expectation that he would be dashed to 

 the deck. He was fortunately rescued and brought below yet living. 

 Here he speedily came to his senses, and recollecting that the drum 

 had rolled to grog just before his accident, he, sailor-like, asked for his 

 portion of it. It was truly a providential escape. This young man 

 died on our way home, in the China Seas, of an inflammatory fever. 



On the 10th we made the island of Madeira, and having a strong 

 westerly wind, I determined to pass to Funchal, on its southern side. 

 This may be done at this season, but vessels bound to that port usually 

 prefer going round the eastern point of the island. When off the 

 western point of Madeira we experienced a very long heavy swell, 

 which gave me an opportunity of trying the velocity of the waves, 

 by noting the time the same wave was passing between the vessels. 

 The result gave twenty-three miles per hour, but I was not altoge- 

 ther satisfied with it. It was difficult to measure the correct angle 

 subtended by the Porpoise's masts for the distance, on account of the 

 motion of both vessels. The measurement of the height of the waves 

 I found still more difficult, and the results varied too much to place 

 confidence in them, principally owing to each succeeding swell or 

 wave being less than the preceding one. The different observations 

 gave from twenty-five to fourteen feet ; the width of the wave, from 

 the same causes, was equally variable, and each successive result 

 varied from that which preceded it. 



Before sunset, we cast anchor in company with the Porpoise and 

 Sea-Gull, and were the next morning joined by the Peacock and 

 Flying-Fish. 



Shortly after coming to anchor, we were boarded by the health 

 officer, with the captain of the port, who, on being assured of our good 

 health, gave us permission to land. The United States' Consul, Henry 

 John Burden, Esq., also came on board, and kindly offered us all the 

 attention that lay in his power. 



