1SS2, 



REEL — CAPE VEllD ISLANDS. 



51 



to these simple observations, so familar to persons who have 

 been some time at sea, may save young officers unnecessary 

 anxiety in one case, and prompt them to shorten sail at a 

 proper time in the other.* 



In again trying for soundings with three hundred fathoms 

 of line, near the Island of St. Jago, we became fully con- 

 vinced of the utility of a reel, which Captain Beaufort had 

 advised me to procure, and of which Captain Vidal had 

 spoken to him in very favourable terms. Two men were 

 able to take in the deep sea line, by this machine, without 

 interfering with any part of the deck, except the place near 

 the stern, where the reel was firmly secured. Throughout 

 our voyage this simple contrivance answered its object ex- 

 tremely well, and saved the crew a great deal of harassing 

 work. * 



15th. In consequence of a thick haze, very prevalent about 

 the Cape Verd Islands, land was not distinctly seen until we 

 were within three miles of it, and we then found ourselves 

 rather too far westward, owing to a current setting towards 

 the west, at the rate of two knots an hour ; this was close to 

 the north point of St. Jago. Next day we anchored in Port 

 Praya. 



The wind being always from the north or east during this 

 season of the year (from December to June), a ship can 

 moor as close to the weather shore as may be convenient ; 

 but during July, August, September and October, no vessel 

 should deem the bay secure, or anchor near the shore, because 

 southerly gales sometimes blow with much strength, and the 

 rollers, or heavy swell sent in by them, are dangerous to 

 ships which have bad ground tackle, or are lying near the 

 land. As I have myself experienced the force of these gales 

 in the vicinity of the Cape Verd Islands, and witnessed the sea 

 raised by them, I can confidently warn those who are inclined 

 to be incredulous about a gale of wind being found in fifteen 

 degrees of north latitude, beyond the limits of the hurricane 

 regions. 



* In the Appendix are a few remarks on clouds. 

 E 2 



