12 



NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



broad as the ocean is between the coasts of Africa and Brazil, a difficulty 

 exists in clearing Fernando de Neronha and Cape St. Augustine. 

 With a good Chronometer on board I should run boldly on to the 

 American coast, being only careful to avoid falling to leeward of Cape 

 St. Roque, and into the heavy current which sets close round it. With- 

 out a Chronometer, or knowledge enough to use it with advantage, I 

 should allow, from seventeen degrees north latitude ,a westerly drift, begin- 

 ing with five miles for twenty-four hours, increasing the allowance until 

 the latitude of five south be attained, when it should be at least twenty 

 miles per day. From that parallel to thirteen degrees south the drift 

 will decrease, and then again become variable. If nine degrees south 

 can be obtained, without seeing the land, the navigator may generally 

 proceed with confidence, even close in shore, particularly in the months 

 from October to March • for the daily land wind will carry him 

 sufficiently out, while it blows, to render his passage easy and safe 

 when the sea breeze returns ; and close to the land he will find fewer 

 calms than at the distance of thirty to fifty miles from it. Upon the 

 coast of Brazil it may be taken almost as a general rule, that the sea 

 breeze blows at nearly right angles to the line of the shore, reckoning 

 that line from Cape to Cape ; within the Bights it frequently fails, and 

 even strong South-westers do not always blow home. The period of the 

 year vv^hich has been mentioned as most favourable for running down 

 the coast of Brazil, differs, I am aware, very considerably, from the 

 opinions which prevail at the British Post-Office ; yet, when speaking of 

 commercial affairs, I hope to prove that these months are best adapted 

 for such a purpose. The allowances, too, for drift, which have been 

 explained, it is obvious, ought to be influenced, in some measure, by 

 accidental circumstances ; the most important are the place where, and 

 the direction in which we cut the current. The advice given above is 

 most applicable to cases where the Equator is crossed in about twenty- 

 nine degrees of longitude, and the course steered directly upon St. 

 Augustine. The cause of this mighty current, or marine river, is now 

 well understood ; but its strength, and in some measure its direction^ 



