40 PASSAGE FROM MADEIRA 



Tillandsias, which in places cover the rocks. The abruptness of the 

 Sugar Loaf Mountain, and those immediately behind Santa Cruz, 

 strikes the spectator very forcibly. 



The shipping do not form as in other places a dense forest of masts. 

 There being no wharves, they are obliged to lie at anchor, exhibiting 

 their proportions and symmetry to great advantage. They are usually 

 seen grouped together, with their different flags flying, forming a 

 picture that a painter would delight in. 



As we proceeded up the harbour, our own flag was seen to wave 

 over that magnificent specimen of naval architecture, the Indepen- 

 dence; and as we passed her, our bosoms beat to the tune of Hail 

 Columbia, played by the band. 



There is a feeling of security on entering the harbour of Rio, that 

 I have seldom experienced elsewhere, not even in our own waters. 

 The mountains seem as it were to afford complete protection from the 

 winds and ocean. We anchored near Enxados or Hospital Island, 

 and found the Peacock had arrived here three days before us, and 

 that she was proceeding with her repairs rapidly. The vessels being 

 altogether unfit for the southern cruise, it became necessary to effect 

 the requisite repairs as speedily as possible. While I could not but 

 deprecate the loss of time and the shortening of the season for our 

 southern operations, I felt it an imperative duty that I owed to those 

 who were engaged with me on this service, not to suffer them to go 

 among the many dangers of our southern cruise badly provided with 

 the means to secure them against ordinary accidents, and to encounter 

 the weather we must necessarily anticipate. 



On our arrival I was told it was the beginning of the hot season, 

 and that rains usually prevailed during the coming months. This was 

 unpleasant news, particularly as I was desirous, whilst making the 

 necessary repairs on the vessels, to complete a set of astronomical 

 observations, and to perform a series of experiments with the pendu- 

 lums, &c. This information, however, I did not find to be correct, 

 and from the examination of the meteorological tables (see Appendix 

 XVII.) obligingly furnished me by John Gardner, Esq., an American 

 gentleman residing at Rio, I am not disposed to credit this common 

 saying. It therein appears that rain falls as often in other months as in 

 December, and my experience during the time of our stay corresponds 

 with these tables. The first fortnight we had occasional rains, but 

 before we left the harbour our parties reported that the country was 

 suffering from drought. 



Mr. Gardner has also obligingly favoured me with a table (see 

 Appendix XVIII.) showing the monthly average of passages from the 



