20 
A VOYAGE TO 
[At Madeira. 
1801. 
August. 
Sunday 2. 
Monday I 
shore until near three in the afternoon, when it was necessary to think 
of returning. 
A small ledge of rocks, which projected a little from under 
the cliffs at the south-west part of Bujio, afforded a landing place ; 
but it was impossible to ascend the top of the island. We saw no 
other animated beings than a few birds something like green linnets, 
but which were said, at Madeira, to have been canary birds ; and 
the other productions were scarcely sufficient to afford amusement 
even to a naturalist. The cliffs over head showed marks of irregular 
stratification, and in some of the lines there was a red tinge, appar- 
ently of iron. The base underneath was black and honey-combed, 
as if it had been in the fire, resembling in this respect the common 
stone at Fimchal. 
We left Bujio well satisfied that, so far as we could judge of 
the islands, the name Dezertas, or Desert Islands, was well chosen ; 
and soon after dusk, reached the ship. There was then a good 
breeze from the north-eastward, with which we steered for Madeira, 
tacking occasionally during the night, to take advantage of the dif- 
ferent flaws of wind. At the following noon, the ship was under 
Brazen Head, which forms the east side of Funchal Road ; and being 
there becalmed, we towed in with the boats, and came to an anchor 
at four o'clock, in 22 fathoms, steadying with a kedge to the north- 
west. In this situation, which seems to be as good as any in the 
road, the bearings by compass were as follow : 
Brazen Head, - - - S. 71 0 E. 
Punta de Cruz, on the west side, - N. 85 W. 
Loo Fort, distant one-third of a mile, N. 12 W. 
The north-east winds usually prevail at Madeira in the summer 
season, and sometimes blow very strong. To reach Funchal Road, 
ships are accustomed to sail between the east end of Madeira and the 
Dezertas, before the wind. They are not very desirous of passing 
close to Brazen Head, where they would be becalmed, but keep off a 
