PAMPERO. 



17 



lug the blockade still remained in force^ it may 

 naturally be supposed that we were all anxiety 

 as to how we should be able to get to Buenos 

 Ayres. 



On making an offings we got a fine steady 

 breeze fi:-om the NNE. On the I2th, the stormy 

 peterels^ or cape pigeons^ came screaming close 

 to the ship ; this circumstance is looked upon by 

 the sailors as the sure indication of an approach- 

 ing storm : several were caught with a hook and 

 line — they are not eatable^ being very strong 

 and oily. In the evening clouds began to rise, 

 and lightning was observed playing about the 

 horizon in the SW. Sail was immediately 

 shortened, and every preparation made for what 

 now appeared pretty evident was coming. The 

 lightning increased vividly, with heavy claps of 

 thunder, which brought down torrents of rain, and 

 it came on to blow a heavy pampero, that lay us 

 under our close-reefed topsails^ lowered down on 

 the cap for nearly an hour, it then settled into a 

 gale, with a heavy cross sea running, (occasioned 



c 



