2 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, set that usually attends the passage of ships from Cape Finisterre 
southward. From this cape to Point Naga, our error in that direction, 
.Tune, or more correctly S. 33® W., was not less than ninety miles. I do not 
stop to inquire into the cause of this great tendency of the water to 
the equator, which might probably be traced to the remote effect of 
the trade-wind, but merely mention the fact as a guide to persons who 
may pursue the same route. 
We approached the island on a fine sunny day, but from a quarter 
that was highly unfavourable for a view of the lofty Peak, which was 
almost hid from us by intervening mountains. At four o’clock we 
came to an anchor in the roads of Santa Cruz, and there found His 
Majesty’s ship Wellesley, Captain, now Admiral Sir G. E. Hamond, 
Bart., on her way to Eio Janeiro, with His Excellency Sir Charles 
Stuart, the British Ambassador to the court of Brazil. As soon as we 
had exchanged salutes with the fort, we landed to procure the sup- 
plies the ship required, with all despatch ; and met with much assist- 
ance and civility from Mr. Hupland, who was acting in the absence of 
the Consul. 
Santa Cruz, at the time of our arrival, was under the government 
of Don Ysidore Uriarti, who very obligingly allowed me to pitch a tent 
in one of the forts for the purpose of making observations, and placed 
a guard of soldiers to keep watch over the instruments. In Santa 
Cruz there is very little to interest a stranger : when he has paraded 
some inferior gardens which perpetuate the memory of the Marquis de 
Brancifort, cast his eye round the interior of the great church of San 
Francisco, where a flag that once belonged to Lord Nelson will not 
be allowed to escape his attention, and scanned a monument erected 
to the Virgin Mary de la Candelaria, the patroness-saint of the island, 
he has seen all that can offer an inducement to expose himself to a 
dusty walk on a hot day, which he will be sure to find in the month 
of June in this scattered town. The Plaza Beale will amuse those 
persons who wish to indulge their criticism on the manner and costume 
of the inhabitants, who assemble there in the evening to smoke their 
cigars, and enjoy the luxurious freshness of the air. 
At Laguna, the capital, visiters will find a better town, a more 
