10 
SPTLSBUR\'*S 
VOYAGE TO 
AFRÎCA. 
and Tenerifte S. W. by S. The Q2d, we gave chace to a Vessel j 
which proved to be the Tigress East Indiaman, who had lost 
her consort. In the afternoon, a privateer came amongst our 
convoy, to which v*?e gave chace, and fired several broadsides at 
lier : she got under the land, but we did not give over the 
chace until dark ; when we sent our second lieutenant on board 
the Anderson schooner with twenty men, but they could not 
come up with her. ft unfortunately happened, that the schooner 
was without shot to lit her guns; she therefore loaded them up 
to the muzzles with broken glass, &c.; they chaced her until 
dark, when she escaped. All our men were now busily 
employed in preparing for crossing the line, by making masks, 
and other accoutrements, for the burlesque ceremony which 
takes place on that occasion. 
We were at this time in lat. 38° 27' N . and close under the 
land, the Peak of Teneriffe bearing W. I N. Doctor Heberdeu 
calculates it to be 15,000 feet above the surface of the sea; its 
different names are Teneriffe, Tenerife, or Teyde ; its appear- 
ance is very remarkable. 
October 23d. During the firing of yesterday, large sharks 
came round the vessels, which, they say, is often the case in 
these latitudes. This afternoon parted company from us, the 
Andrew, Hammond, bound for the Bermudas. We found our 
situation very troublesome among these islands, being so fre- 
quently becalmed: most accounts of these parts, mention the 
same occurrence to be common. 
25th. We had this day a man taken ill at the wheel, with the 
usual symptoms of fever. 
On the 26th, we were very near running on shore in the 
morning; it was very thick and misty, and the land was mistaken 
for a fog-bank, until the breakers were heard very plain ; we 
supposed ourselves to be near Cape Bojador. At noon we 
were in lat. 25° 47' N. long. l6° 9' W. 
November 1st. This day we crossed the line ;* and to see'' 
tbe ceremony, ensign Forbes and lady, with the gentlemen of 
the Anderson, came on board. It was as follows :- When 
every thing was prepared, a hoarse voice was heard under the 
boWs hailing tlje ship — " From whence come you — " Whither 
are you bound, &c.r" — The ship's name, and the commander's^ 
were mentioned in answer, as also its destination. Neptune then 
made his appearance with his wife and two sons dripping wet, 
as if he had just arisen out of the sea; his dress consisted solely 
* By the lifiCj the authoi* must in ihii> instance mean the tropic of Cancer* 
Editor. 
