Patty* Ovrrralls, 

 Warley*. Shual. 



TO RIO JANEIRO. 



Sujipneed jmsition »f the 

 Triti n Shoal, 



!l 



iimined there a week, and vi 1 svfnri-iv.il at I'uvu, 

 Pray a elcvi-n days mwiiit, The Relief, pursuing 

 i\if direct route, had light baffling winds during 

 hr>r whole passage. Although something fa un- 

 doubtedly due ta her dull sailing, yet the differ- 

 ence is ttKi great to be entirely attributed to that 

 cause. The winds were generally found by her 

 from the northward and eastward, and southward 

 and eastward, whilst we, in a higher latitude, had 

 them from iIil south-west and tin ■ westward. 



On the /th of October we left Porto Prnya, and 

 stood for Patty's Overfalls, ua laid down on the 

 ehart, in latitude 11° N., and longitude 24° 25' \V. 

 We lost the trade winds the day after we left 

 Porto Prnya, the 8th of Oetober, in' latitude 12° N., 

 .ii nl longitude 23'- ill' W, Tin- winds then be- 

 came variable, and squalls of rain ensued. The 

 upper clouds had still a quick motion to tlie west- 

 ward. 



On the 9lh we reached tho supposed position of 

 Patty *j» Overfalls, and were becalmed close iu their 

 proximity fur forty-eight hours. Nothing w;is 

 seen of them. If any had existed, we must have 

 been made aware of it during the time wo were 

 becalmed, for we rema'mcd nearly iu the eainc posi- 

 tion forty-eight hour*. Thence we stood for "War- 

 ley's Shoal. The weather had the same indistinct- 

 ness that we bad first observed at Porto Praya. 

 ft might be termed a dry haze. 



The 24th we reached the position assigned to 

 Warley's Shoal, in latitude 5' J 4' N., longitude 

 21 n 25' W. We passed over the supposed locality, 

 luit saw nu aj»|>earanee of hIumU water, or danger of 

 any kind. 



We now ran Tor the French Shoal, in latitude 

 4° 5' N., longitude 20° 35' W. Here the wind 

 inclined to the southward, and we proceeded as far 

 east an longitude 13° W., passing over the two 

 positions laid down by the French and English 

 hydrogniphers, but saw nothing of it. 



Wr now tacked to the southward, to cross the 

 equator in longitude 17° W. The weather had 

 changed, the rains which we had experienced at 

 night ceased, and the extremely indistinct atmo- 

 sphere which at times had prevailed for the last 

 fortnight disappeared. It fa dilhcult to describe 

 the peculiar etfVct this haziness produced. It 

 seemed to me an effect the opposite of that of 

 looming, apparently diminishing all objects. Al- 

 though the horizon was seen, yet tho sea and sky 

 were so blended together, that it was difficult for 

 the eye to fix upon or define it at any moment. It 

 was impossible to use the dip sector. At the same 

 time it was perfectly clear over head, with a bright 

 sun, and the upper cirrous clouds, when seen, were 

 in rapid motion to the westward. 



The nights were now beautiful until near morn- 

 ing, when it generally clouded over, and remained 

 nvrreust with Hying clouds until evening. The 

 zodiacal light was once or twice observed, but the 

 presence of these clouds for the most part pre- 

 vented it from being seen. 



On the 29th, in latitude 3° 40' N., our observa- 

 tions gave, a current of ten miles iu twenty-four 

 hours, to the north. Until the 3d of November 

 we had light winds; the upper stratum of clouds 

 was now seen moving from the east. On the -lib 

 we had a cry of breakers from the mast-head. We 

 immediately changed our course and ran for the 

 appearance, but it proved on nearing it to have 



i-.-.-n urn' >■] ihe main optica! illusions seen nt sen, 

 from the effect of light and shadow. 



On board the Peacock, on the 30th of October, 

 in latitude P 3D' N,, longitude 18> W., they wit- 

 nessed a remarkable appearance, resembling the 

 aurora boreal is, radiating from the north-west point 

 <-l the horizon in different directions, and extend- 

 ing from south-west round by the north to the east- 

 ward, at ait altitude of from 10 Q to 50°; afterwards 

 reaching to the zenith, and passing over the moon's 

 disk, encircling her with a faint halo of twenty 

 degrees in diameter. It continued an hour, and 

 although it was bright moonlight, the phenomenon 

 was very distinct and beautiful. 



On the 5th the winds drew to the south-south- 

 east, and wo crossed the line, as we had intended, 

 iu longitude 17 J W., which enabled ua l«> pass over 

 and examine the supposed locality of the Triton 

 Hank, in longitude 17 40' W,, latitude 32' S. 



We had now heavy deposits of dew, on several 

 fine and cloudless evenings. Indeed the sun had 

 scarcely Bet before the ship was quite wet with it. 

 One of the essential requisites supposed necessary 

 by Dr. Wells for a deposit of dew was certainly 

 wanting in this case, viz. that " the temperature of 

 the body on which it whs deposited should be con- 

 siderably lower lhan the surrounding air;" — the- 

 temperature of the air and ship having remained 

 the same for several days at about 70": all objects, 

 hammock-cloths, spars, sails, and rigging, so far as 

 could bo ascertained, showed tho same. And at 

 the time when the dew wns observed to be most 

 copious wo had a fine breeze. It has generally 

 been supposed that dew never falls off sounding*. 

 This at least is an old saving among seamen: but 

 our observations are at variance with this notion; 

 for as far as every indication went, both by sound- 

 ing and blue water, we certainly had no bottom. 



The supposed position of the Triton Shoal was 

 now passed over, and examined carefully in the 

 same manner as heretofore described, Hounding at 

 the same time with two and Untie hundred fathoms 

 Of line. Nothing Of the kind was perceived, tior 

 was there any indication of soundings in the dis- 

 coloration of the water, or any change in its tem- 

 perature. 



On the 7th November at noon we were in longi- 

 tude 1 H 3 20' W., and latitude 3° 30' N. I then 

 stood for pjouvefs Sandy Isle, «-r its reported posi- 

 tion. We saw nothing of it whatever. I was very 

 desirous of continuing my search farther to the 

 west, from the report 1 had seen of various vessels 

 having experienced shocks of earthquakes, and (ho 

 belief having been entertained that shoals might 

 have boon formed by them. The equatorial cur- 

 rent having been felt, I was aware that in getting 

 farther to the west, 1 should lose the opportunity 

 of examining the locality where that distinguished 

 navigator, admiral Krusenstern, supposed he saw a 

 volcano. I therefore gave up proceeding further 

 to the westward in this latitude, and hauled up for 

 its position. 



It was now the 9th of November; we had de- 

 lightful weather, and moderate breezes from the 

 south and cost. 



An amusing circumstance occurred this night. 

 I u our course we passed very near a large sail, 

 which, from the night being dark, the officer of the 

 deck of the Porpoise mistook for the Vincennes, 

 although wailing on a different course. He iintne- 



