146 NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



tliirty-six hours, and then supposed that we might be about twenty-eight 

 miles South-east of the island. About noon we made sail again, and, 

 steering to the North-west, expected to see it long before night-fall ; at 

 sun-set, however, no land was visible from the mast-head, though the 

 evening was clear. We continued the same course, going, on the average, 

 four knots an hour ; the soundings from twenty to twenty-four fathoms. 

 At the end of eighty-eight hours, in a dark yet fine night, we dis- 

 tinctly heard the sound of a long heavy surf, and, in consequence, 

 anchored, waiting the approach of day. It was now evident that we had 

 fallen into a very rapid current, for when there was day-light enough to 

 distinguish objects, we saw near us the Castellos, a hundred miles from 

 the place where we expected to have been on the first evening. These 

 currents are uncertain, yet this should not prevent a skilful Navigator 

 from endeavouring to mark them as accurately as possible, and he will be 

 always on his guard against their effects. 



In a subsequent voyage, on board a fine vessel, formerly the Orestes, 

 Venetian Brig of war, we had just passed the tail of the Ortiz Bank, 

 steering for El Hombu ; when the day being beautifully fine with bil- 

 lowy clouds, and a steady breeze, a thin grey haze hanging in the 

 South-east, we observed an appearance to windward, which we took for a 

 small water-spout, rapidly approaching. It was actually the surface of 

 the water, lashed into spray by " the Demon of the coming blast." 

 There was only time to order the steersman to mind his helm, ere the 

 water dashed completely over us, and brought the bank a-head. The 

 Captain, a brave man and excellent seaman, perceiving our imminent 

 danger, sprang to the helm, put it down, threw the vessel into the wind, 

 and ordered the anchor to be let go ; it fortunately held. We were 

 instantly on our beam-ends, the lee-guns, taff'rail, and boom, in the water, 

 and the sea making a thorough breach over the ship ; the people having no 

 other means of securing themselves than by clinging to the first firm thing 

 which they could seize. We looked anxiously for the masts to give way, 

 and relieve the vessel, but they stood fast. After a pause of a few 

 moments the wind burst through the sails with the noise of thunder, and 



