THIRD VOYAGE. 



TO THE 



SOUTH AND WEST COAST OF AFRICA. 



CHAPTER T. 



The Schooner Antarctic, built expressly for this Voyage — Sails from New- York 

 — Reflections on leaving Land — A vertical Sun — Arrive at the Cape Verd 

 Islands — General Description of the Group — Island of St. Antonio, with its 

 natural Productions — St. Lucia — St. Vincent — St. Nicholas — Natural Produc- 

 tions — Indolence and Slavery — A Peep at the Interior — Condition of the Slaves 

 •—The Influence of Music — Abundance of Fish — Island of Sal — Dreary Aspect 

 of the Country — Arrive at the Island of Bonavista. 



From the high destiny which awaited the justly famed schooner 

 Antarctic, in being the first visitant to a thickly peopled country, never 

 before seen or heard of by civilized man, it may be inferred that her 

 keel was laid under the auspices of some benign planet, whose in- 

 fluences are favourable to the progress of geographical science. What- 

 ever may be the reward or the fate of him who guided this gallant little 

 vessel through the perilous and pathless regions of unexplored seas to 

 a new world of countless riches, nothing shall deprive the beautiful 

 Antarctic of her due share of honour and fame. Her fine-modelled 

 hull and keel of genuine American oak were the first that ever dis- 

 turbed the crystal waters and silver sands of this new-discovered archi- 

 pelago ; and her name shall be remembered with respect and gratitude 

 by every future mariner who gathers up a cargo of the treasures which 

 lie scattered, in boundless profusion, around the shores of these highly 

 favoured islands : treasures which are now unvalued bv the natives, 

 and unknown to the rest of mankind. 



But under whatever auspices her keel might have been laid, the 

 schooner Antarctic was built under my own directions and superintend- 

 ence, by Christian Bergh, Esq., of this city ; a first-rate ship-builder, 

 a highly respected citizen, and a most worthy man. She was as fine 

 a vessel of her class as ever floated on salt water, being only one hun- 

 dred and seventy-two tons burthen ; of an admirable model, and most 

 completely rigged. The Antarctic was owned by Messrs. Christian 

 Bergh & Co., Charles L. Livingston, and Captain William Skiddy ; 

 and first rested on the bosom of her appropriate element on Saturday, 

 the 3 1st day of May, 1828, 



