16 



VOYAGE FROM ENGLAND 



the gratification of this wish did not appear to be of sufficient im- 

 portance to induce us to follow the jangada. 



We rapidly approached the coast ; and about noon were so near, 

 that it could be recognised as the vicinity of Goiana, or Paraiba do 

 Norte, in the capitania of Pernambuco. If we had so nearly ap- 

 proached the land in this direction with a strong wind, and in the 

 night, we might have incurred great danger. Fortunately, we were 

 now able to tack in time, and put out again to sea. In the night, 

 stormy weather with violent rain set in, which obliged us to cruise 

 for several days almost on the same spot. The wind howled ; the 

 ship was tossed about with great violence ; the rain poured down in 

 torrents ; so that we were hardly sheltered even in our beds. Our 

 crew suffered most from the wet : on account of the dangers which 

 threatened us, they were forced to be day and night upon deck ; and 

 even the rum distributed among them was scarcely able to keep up 

 their courage and good humour. The aspect of the sea in these dark, 

 stormy, and rainy nights, was terrible ; the furious waves, piled up in 

 mountains, dashed over the ship, and the whole boundless surface of 

 the waters appeared to be on fire : a thousand shining points, stripes, 

 and even extensive tracts, shone all round us, and changed their form 

 and situation every moment. This light perfectly resembles that of 

 damp rotten wood, which we often see in the forests. In such dark 

 stormy nights we generally look forward with anxious expectation to 

 the return of day ; but day often dawned on us, without bettering 

 our condition : it appeared frightfully gloomy and dark as the night, 

 and the sailors could not suppress their apprehensions of still more 

 violent tempests. They, then, always made the necessary prepara- 

 tions, tightened ropes that had become slack during the night, 

 secured the masts, the bowsprit and so on, and set the pumps in 

 motion, to try whether the ship was leaky, &c. Such preparations 

 were extremely alarming and distressing to the passengers. We had 



