TRAVELS 



THE BRAZILS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Voyage from England to Rio de Janeiro. 



"W^RAZIL, to which a number of travellers have recently been 

 attracted, has the advantage of being separated from Europe 

 by a sea comparatively tranquil. At some periods, particularly 

 at the equinoxes, that immense ocean is certainly subject to 

 storms, but they are less dangerous than in other quarters, as for 

 example ; in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope and 

 Cape Horn. 



I left London at the most favourable season, and had therefore 

 reason to anticipate an agreeable voyage. While our ship, the 

 Janus, of 320 tons, dropped down the Thames, the weather was 

 excellent. The mornin;g of the second day promised a favorable 

 wind, and we passed Margate, got round the North Foreland, 

 entered the Channel, and towards evening anchored in the Downs, 

 off Deal. Whilst we lay at anchor, the captain took on board 

 fresh beef and sea stock of every kind. On the first change of 

 wind we sailed round the South Foreland, under convoy of the 

 Albatros brig, commanded by captain Harrison. The wind, how- 

 ever, became unfavourable, and we were obliged to put back to our 

 old anchoring ground off Deal. 



During the night a severe gale arose, and blew with such vio- 

 lence that it was found necessary to keep a great part of the hands 

 on deck : the sky became gradually more and more overcast, till 

 at length the South Foreland was almost totally obscured. The 

 yards were struck and braced round to the -wind. For several days 

 the storm continued raging with more or less violence, and gave 



Voyages and Travels, No. 3, Vol III, B 



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