TO RIO JANEIRO. 39 



of the 13th, proceeding from the Pleiades, and shooting in a northerly 

 direction. Our position was in latitude 6° 15' S., and longitude 24° 

 25' W. The Peacock, whose situation was about forty miles to the 

 westward of us at the time, saw a number shooting from the constel- 

 lations Orion and Leo. The equatorial current was now strongest, 

 setting thirty miles in a day to the westward ; the breeze had become 

 very steady and strong ; the upper current was found to correspond 

 with the direction of the lower. Every day the wind was observed 

 to freshen as the sun was coming to the meridian, and continued so 

 until the afternoon, when it died away again, freshening after dark, 

 and continuing until near daylight. 



On the 16th of November we passed the magnetic equator in latitude 

 13° 30' S., longitude 30° 18' W. The variation was found by careful 

 observations to be 10° 30' W. We continued to pursue our course 

 rapidly, experiencing the current setting more to the southward, and 

 upwards of twenty miles a day. 



On the 22d we made Cape Frio ; here we fell in with and boarded 

 the ship Louisiana, in fifty days from New York, and were much 

 gratified by getting letters and papers. 



The progressive temperature on the passage from the Cape de Verde 

 Islands to Rio, was as follows : it rose until it reached its maximum 

 in 9° 24' N., water 83-5°, whilst the air was at 81-6°; from thence 

 to striking soundings, it decreased to 75°, and on soundings 69°. 



The soundings obtained off the cape were in fifty fathoms, ouze and 

 shells, the water changing its colour to a deep green, and as we 

 approached the harbour, to a dark olive. On the afternoon of the 23d 

 of November, we took a light wind from the southeast, and with all 

 sail set stood in for the magnificent harbour of Rio Janeiro. Our 

 attention was drawn first to the high, fantastic, and abrupt peaks of 

 Gavia, the Sugar Loaf, and Corcovado, on our left ; whilst on our 

 right, we had the bold point of Santa Cruz ; then before us the city of 

 San Sebastian, and the towns of San Domingo, with Praya Grande 

 opposite, and the islands and fleet that lay between them decking this 

 beautiful expanse of water. These objects, with the pinnacles of the 

 Organ Mountains for a background, form such a scene that it would 

 be difficult to point out in what manner it could be improved. The 

 life and stir created by the number of vessels, boats, and steamers of 

 various forms and of all sizes passing to and fro, give great animation 

 to the whole. 



The mountains present a very peculiar appearance. Their tops and 

 sides have a rounded or worn surface, destitute of verdure, with the 

 exception of here and there a yellowish patch, produced by the 



