268 



CAPE VERDS. 



[1828. 



they will have ten fathoms of water, and a clear passage to the anchor 

 age of Bonavista, giving the reef that lies off the beich at Old Town a 

 berth of one cable's length. 



The Cape Verd Islands, with respect to climate and vegetation, are 

 more like lands of the temperate than those of the tropical zones, al- 

 though they are situated in the latter nearly in the middle of the north- 

 ern equinoctial belt. In the African country of Senegambia, which lies 

 5 opposite, in the same latitude, the rains and the hottest seasons arrive 

 together, and continue during the months of May, June, and July : but 

 among these islands the rains do not set in until the middle of August, 

 and continue, with few intermissions, until January. 



When we arrived at Bonavista the dry season had commenced about 

 six months ; and, as I have already stated, the hot winds from Africa, 

 in crossing the water to the islands, become so highly charged with 

 humidity that the least diminution of temperature causes an abundance 

 of vapours to be deposited on the islands. It is this moisture that 

 reduces the mean temperature at Bonavista so much below that on the 

 African coast. The thermometer on board the Antarctic, at twelve, 

 M., stood at 74°, and in Bonavista town it stood at 89°, on account 

 of the wind blowing fresh from east-north-east. 



At Goree, a small island of Africa, near Cape Verd, subject to 

 the French, the thermometer ranges between 88° and 100° from May 

 till November; while at Senegal it is at 113°, and sometimes 131°. 

 During the whole year, the sun at midday is insupportable. 



Ship-masters should be careful while lying at Bonavista to prevent 

 their crews going on shore or sleeping on deck in the months of May, 

 June, and July, as they are very liable to take the fever that is common 

 among these islands at this season of the year. Officers also should 

 make it a point of duty to see that their men avoid getting wet, as far 

 as practicable, either from fresh or salt water, as such exposures are 

 very apt to bring on the fever and ague. 



July 26th. — Having taken in our salt and arranged my business with 

 Don Martinez, without forgetting my friend the captain, together with 

 his pretty wife and daughters, the word was given, " All hands, un- 

 moor !" This was on Saturday, the 26th, at nine o'clock, A. M., when 

 we got under way with a fine breeze from north-north-east, and pleas- 

 ant weather. We passed between the reef before mentioned and the 

 west point of the island, with not less than six fathoms of water, and 

 steered for the east point of St. Jago Island, with the intention of sight- 

 ing the Leton Rocks. 



July 27th. — At half-past twelve, P. M., on Sunday, we passed within 

 a cable's length of that dangerous reef, on the western side of it, in ten 

 fathoms of water, coral bottom. This reef is of an oblong shape, ex- 

 tending from north-north-east to south-south-west, about one hundred 

 and fifty fathoms in length and nearly half that in breadth. On the 

 shoalest part of this reef the water is not more than five or six feet in 

 depth, and it is very dangerous to approach in the night or in a thick 

 atmosphere, as the sea does not'break upon it except in rough weather. 

 When we passed it, there was scarcely a roller on the shoalest part, 

 although we had a fine breeze from north-north-east. But the coral 



