PASSAGES. 



45 



Praya, when we were in 12° 24' north latitude, and 23° 45' west lon- 

 gitude, and experienced squalls, with much rain and lightning. On 

 the 23d of October, the Relief lost the trades in 11° north, and on the 

 meridian of 22° west. The Danish Brig Lion, which vessel we spoke, 

 had lost the southeast trades in 6° 30' north, and the Ship Crusader 

 likewise informed us that she had lost the trades in 7° 30' north, both 

 having crossed the line between 22° and 27° west longitude. 



Patty's Overfalls was the first supposed danger we steered for, in 

 longitude 24° 30' west, and latitude 11° 02' 18" north. On the 11th 

 of October, we reached this position, and we were in its neighborhood 

 for forty-eight hours. Various tide rips were encountered, trending 

 east and west, but no current was found to exist, either by our obser- 

 vations, or by the trial with the current log ; so that I feel satisfied 

 that Patty's Overfalls does not proceed from reefs or shoals. At 

 other seasons there may be an appearance of broken water, but there 

 are no dangers existing. 



It was with some difficulty we reached the position of Warley's 

 Shoal, in latitude 5° 04' north, and longitude 21° 35' west. We exa- 

 mined this locality thoroughly, but without success. From the man- 

 ner of our search, I am well satisfied it does not exist in the position 

 assigned it. 



The westerly wind which we found in this latitude enabled us to 

 run to the eastward as far as longitude 13° 53' west, to look for the 

 French Shoal. The positions assigned it by both French and English 

 hydrographers were passed over, the first in latitude 4° 05' north, 

 longitude 20° 35' west, and the second in latitude 4° 15' north, longi- 

 tude 19° 20' west. 



When we had reached 5° north latitude, we passed out of the sultry 

 and damp weather that we had been subjected to for twenty days. 

 Since we had lost the northeast trades, in 12° north latitude, we had 

 comparatively little rain, and the expectation of filling our water-casks 

 were not realized. I mention this circumstance, as I find from inves- 

 tigation, that there appears to be less rain in October and November, 

 than other months of the year; therefore, those who pass at one sea- 

 son, and obtain a supply, may be disappointed in another. About the 

 equinoxes, particularly the vernal, more rain falls than at other 

 times. The quantity of rain that fell during this passage, was only 

 6*15 inches, and the greatest fall in 24 hours was 1*95. 



As we approached the southeast trades we had a long swell from 



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