PORTO GRANDE, ST. VINCENT. 
83 
made : still it did not deter onr stopping daily a 
few hours for sounding and dredging purposes, depth 
being found from 1125 to 2400 fathoms. Palma, 
one of the Canary Islands, was sighted "on the 19th, 
and sounding and dredging carried on in its vicinity. 
On one occasion we alighted apparently near the 
same spot dredged in the February previous, bring- 
ing up in the dredge some of the dead hard coral 
and volcanic sand, as on the former occasion. 
Thus the time passed pleasantly enough. We had 
found deep water day after day close up to the island 
of Antonio (Cape de Yerde), which was sighted on the 
26th ; the soundings now got less, and showed that 
this island was connected by a ridge with St. Vincent, 
only 52 fathoms of water being found in some places 
on it. On the morning of July 27th we anchored off 
Porto Grande, St. Vincent, and remained until the 
5th August. During the stay a survey was made of 
the anchorage, and the vessel filled up with coal. 
What a contrast in the scenery between this place 
and Madeira ! Here are barren rocks, and not the 
faintest indication of vegetation to be seen in any 
direction, although its formation, there can be no 
doubt, is precisely similar. 
The town, if it can be so named, consists of a few 
straggling houses and the stores of Messrs. Millar 
and Co., the coal contractors, situated along the 
shore, while, stretching away behind, are several 
high, rough, and jagged peaks and mountains, afford- 
