26 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
so as to get through the Straits before dark. After 
passing the Pillars of Hercules, the wind freshened 
considerably, and the intention of making a short 
detour from our course so as to visit Tangiers had to 
be abandoned. Early next morning we passed the 
most southerly point of Europe, and as we steamed 
on, we gradually lost sight of the coast, which was 
beautifully illuminated by the rising sun, affording us 
the last glimpse of the Old World. 
A westerly course was now shaped to continue the 
line of soundings we had dropped off Lisbon. Deep 
water, with a soft oozy bottom, was found to exist, 
favourable for telegraph cables ; and day by day, as 
the weather moderated, so the dredging and trawling 
became more successful, and a number of strange new 
forms of animal life were found ; some wondrous 
formation of sea-urchins and lily-stars, some clustered 
sea-polyp of singular beauty and of great scientific 
interest. Thus a week passed, and, on the 2nd Feb- 
ruary, Porto Santo was sighted — a barren, rocky spot, 
but, as its name (Holy Port) indicates, viewed by its 
first tempest-tossed discoverers with thankful hearts, 
when in their attempt to circumnavigate Africa 
they were driven out to sea and on the point of 
perishing. 
The island, when first discovered (1416), was, 
according to some accounts, inhabited, according to 
others, desolate ; however, the voyagers were so de- 
ighted with the discovery that it was resolved to dis- 
