8 



ARRIVAL AT MADEIRA. 



The discovery of this rock was considered 

 of such importance, that they immediately 

 returned to Portugal with the news. Next 

 year, Henry sent out a colony, and when they 

 began to be established there, they observed 

 towards the south, a fixed spot in the horizon, 

 like a small black cloud. By degrees they were 

 led to conjecture that it might be land, and 

 steering towards it, they arrived at a consi- 

 derable island, uninhabited, and covered with 

 wood, — which, on that account, they called 

 Madeira.* 



8th. — This morning at four o'clock, the officeT 

 of the watch awoke me, to say we were close 

 to Madeira. I jumped out of my cot, put on 

 a cloak, and ran on deck. We were sailing by 

 the island, with a fresh breeze, and in a smooth 

 sea ; but as we got in under the land, it fell 

 * Spanish word for wood. 



