Sept.] 



ST. SEBASTIAN'S. 



33 



here on the days of new and full moon, until nine o'clock, and rises 

 about five feet. 



Vessels bound to Rio Janeiro, when approaching Cape Frio by 

 night, from E. to S.E., should be careful not to run into the bay to 

 the north of the cape. Such neglects or inattentions to the ship's 

 reckoning often prove fatal to the vessel. The appearance of the 

 cape in approaching it from this direction is somewhat remarkable ; 

 rising in two well-defined mounds or hummocks, pointed at their sum- 

 mits, bearing a very exact resemblance to a lady's bosom. The 

 water about the cape is deep, as it is also around the islands in the 

 vicinity. Consequently ships may run for the cape at night with 

 safety, provided proper attention be paid to the reckoning, and the 

 weather be tolerably clear. 



At the distance of sixty-four miles from Cape Frio, lat. 23° 2' 

 45" S., is a small low island, called Flat Island, on which stands a 

 lighthouse, and at one and a half miles to the west is another island, 

 more elevated, called Round Island. These islands are sometimes 

 called Maurice Islands, and are very useful marks for ships running 

 for the harbour of Rio Janeiro. Vessels bound for this harbour, after 

 passing Cape Frio, should steer due west, keeping about four leagues 

 from the shore in the night, and about one league and a half in the 

 daytime, till they make Round Island, which will be seen before Flat 

 Island, although the former lies nearly two miles farther to the west- 

 ward. The currents on this coast generally set due east or west, and 

 often at the rate of one and a half miles an hour. 



Between Cape Frio and the entrance to Rio Janeiro, the greatest 

 part of the coast is low and sandy, and within the beach are several 

 extensive lagoons. The only remarkable headland between the cape 

 and Rio Janeiro is Point or Cape Negro, which is the extremity of a 

 ridge of high land extending from the north to the seashore. This 

 headland lies thirty-two miles to the westward of Cape Frio. 



In the direction of W.S.W. four leagues distant, within about a 

 league from the shore, are three small islands, called the Maricas, 

 about four leagues E. by S. from the entrance to Rio Janeiro. With 

 Round Island in sight to the westward, the Marica Isles (in a direct 

 line with each other, nearly north and south) will be descried to the 

 northward, and may be passed in safety within half a mile. 



September 4th. — We arrived at St. Sebastian's, Rio Janeiro, on 

 Wednesday, the 4th day of September. The entrance to this cele- 

 brated river is very plain, being formed by a narrow opening in a 

 ledge of rocks, which skirts the coast in this vicinity, and is easily 

 distinguished by the Gavia Corcovadia mountains, on the south-west 

 side of the harbour. There are no pilots to be found off tho coast ; 

 for as there are no hidden dangers to encounter in going into the har- 

 bour, the assistance of professional pilots is deemed unnecessary. 

 When the sea-breezes are strong enough to enable ships to stem the 

 ebb-tide, vessels of any size may enter this port, by day or night, and 

 repose in the beautiful basin above with perfect safety. On entering 

 at night, however, the fort Santa Cruz makes a signal to the city, by 

 firing two guns, and showing two lights. This is not to be under- 



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