CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 417 



eight were reported on the sick-list. These affections were imputed 

 to the damp and wet weather which we had experienced after leaving 

 the Straits of Sunda. 



As we were making our passage across the Indian Ocean in those 

 months during which hurricanes most prevail, some little anxiety was 

 felt on this account ; and as we neared the longitude of the Mauritius, 

 the appearances of the weather were carefully scanned. On the 16th, 

 signs of a change in the weather were evident ; there was also a fall 

 in the barometer, and we encountered a heavy and rising swell from 

 the southward and westward, which continued for about seventy 

 miles. So well defined were the waves, and so large, it satisfied me 

 they were caused by a violent gale blowing at no great distance from 

 us. On the 17th, we passed for fifty miles through swells from the 

 southward and eastward, and of the same character as those seen on 

 the day before. I made many endeavours to measure the velocity of 

 these waves, and their altitudes, and found the former to be from 

 twelve to twenty miles per hour, and the latter about eighteen feet: 

 I was not satisfied, however, that these measurements were quite 

 accurate, nor was there sufficient opportunity to render them so. 



On the 20th, we had fine weather until noon, at which time the 

 wind shifted to the northward. This change was accompanied by a 

 fall of the barometer, and every other indication that we were about 

 to experience one of the phenomena peculiar to this ocean. Every 

 preparation was made to encounter the bad weather whose approach 

 the wind and sea indicated. The barometer gradually fell from 

 30 inches to 29-89, -85, -83, -81, -80, -79, in six hours; it then re- 

 mained stationary for three hours, afterwards rose one-tenth of an 

 inch, again fell to 29-79, and remained at that height for more than 

 twenty-four hours. During this time the sea changed its direction, 

 and set heavily from the westward, causing the ship to pitch deeply. 

 We had a light wind from the same quarter for several hours, which 

 afterwards veered to the southward and eastward, enabling us again 

 to lay our course. The height of the waves last spoken of, as deter- 

 mined by a mean of several measurements, was about twenty-three 

 feet, and their mean velocity about twenty-five miles per hour; but 

 some of them, which I lost the opportunity of measuring, were cer- 

 tainly higher. 



On the 23d, Benjamin Vanderford, master's mate, died. During the 

 cruise, I had often experienced his usefulness, and now regretted his 

 loss. He had formerly been in command of various ships sailing 

 from Salem, and had made many voyages to the Feejee Islands. 

 During our stay there he was particularly useful in superintending 



vol. v. 53 



