4 



A VISIT TO THE INDIAN ARCrilPELAGQ. 



performed ; and the presence of passengers imparted to 

 it an unusual degree of excitement. 



On the 24 th we arrived at Eio de Janeiro, which we 

 found as dirtj as ever, with the slave trade in full vigour. 

 A few months afterwards the philanthropic and enduring 

 exertions of the British Government, seemed to have 

 finally tnnmphed, and this vile traffic tt> have received 

 its death-blow ; hut we find it still attempting to struggle 

 into a new existence- 



Among the tnen-of-war lying here we were glad to 

 see the Comm, Commander D'Eyncourt, showing im 

 symptoms of havitig been some weeks at tlie bottom of 

 the muddy lilo de la Plata. May the time be far distant 

 when a British officer shall despair of saving what by 

 others might be given up as a lost affair I Besides tlio 

 CofJi'^ we have the splendid examjjle of tlio Gorgmi 

 steam-frigate, recovered in almost the same locality. The 

 etrcnmstaiices just diifered sufficiently to make each 

 instance rciiiarkahle on its jjecuhar grounds ; the former 

 vessel was as tar under water as the latter was above the 

 usual level of the river. 



March 2Sth, sailed from Eio Harbour. On the prin- 

 ciple of great circle sail,ing:» wc continued to make 

 southing, until wc were in tlio 56'th deg. of east longi- 

 tude, by which time we had attained the 48th of south 

 latitude. 



On the IDth April we made Prince Edward's Island, 

 the summits of whose mountains were covered with snow: 



