APPENDIX III. 



473 



universally covered with wood ; tlie shore shelves to a 

 smooth sandy beach, which is guarded by the islands and 

 reefs noticed. Steady moderate north-easterly winds, 

 with fine weather, but damp, and dews at night. The 

 thermometer at 78 J*^. Lat. observed at noon 0^ 21' S. 



5th, Tuesday. In course of the afternoon passed by a 

 deep inlet where some boats were riding at anchor, and 

 at sunset were abreast of several large woody islands sup- 

 posed to be those immediately north of Patta ; between 6 

 and 7 p.m. came to twelve fathoms, fine sand. That part 

 of the coast of Africa stretching from the equator south 

 beyond our present anchorage, promises in its aspect some- 

 thing very interesting to the enterprising investigator. 

 The numerous richl}^- clothed islands which line the shore, 

 separated by beautiful and frequently spacious inlets and 

 bounded behind by a delightful continent, rich in all 

 the charms of luxuriant vegetation, present to the eye a 

 prospect extremely enchanting, and would seem to indicate 

 a degree of natural wealth equal to the most favoured 

 regions of the known globe. JN^othing could form a more 

 striking contrast with that in view than the barren coast 

 to the eastward of Juba.^ Fine steady easterlj^ breeze, 

 with pleasant weather. It is, worthy of remark, since in 

 the latitudes on this coast near the line, a heavy dew had 

 been observed to begin falling immediately after the sun 

 went down, and continued till some time after its rise next 

 morning ; during the day the air felt very dry,^ ther- 

 mometer at 79*^. Lat. observed at noon 1*^ 23' S. ; long, per 

 chron. at noon 41° 59' E. ; variation 13° W. 



' The voyagers had now passed from the barren Somali Coast 

 (Azania) to rich Zanzibar, where the tropical rains extend, 



- The cause of the dryness was tlie immense evaporation which the 

 coolness of night deposited in the form of dew. 



