HYDROGRAPHICAL NOTES. 
169 
Remarks. — At sunset, on the 1st of June, the wind was 
«so moderate, and the weather looked so fine, that I was al- 
most tempted to believe we should not have any very bad 
weather ; however, the mercury still continuing to fall, in- 
duced me to close-reef the topsails, and get top-gallant 
yards on deck. At 8 r. m. there was no appearance of a 
gale, but the mercury still falling, I got top-gallant masts 
on deck, and all the storm-sails bent, and every thing pre- 
pared for a gale. About 1 a. m. the gale commenced, 
blowing very hard in squalls from the NE. We were on 
the starboard-tack, and quite prepared for being taken 
a-back with the wind from the SW., which happened ac- 
cordingly at half-past 2. The wind came after this very 
steadily from the W. by S. and W., blowing exceedingly 
hard, with very heavy squalls. We found it here, and I 
have in general observed it to be the case, that, just at the 
time when the mercury begins to rise, the squalls increase 
in violence, but do not last so long. From noon of the 2d, 
till 4 P. M., I think the sea was heaviest, very irregular, and 
breaking exceedingly : some of the seas broke so much as 
to have the appearance of high breakers. It went down, 
however, xery fast, and at 8 p. m. there was not mAich sea. 
Had we been to southward and eastv/ard of the Cape, we 
should have had a much heavier sea, in consequence of the 
currents being stronger there. The strength of the currents 
here is very extraordinary, and it will appear the more so, 
when it is mentioned that they are strongest during a NW. 
gale, which blows exactly in the opposite direction to them. 
On the 7th January 1818, I was set to the westward 
against a strong NW. gale TO miles during the first 24 
hours, and 63 miles during the next. With a SE. wind. I 
never observed the current; very strong off tlie Cape. 
The predominating colour of tlic clouds during tliose 
^vcstcHv gnles is a very light soot colour, in large rounded 
