6 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, rapid current which sets past Cape St. Roque rendering it impossible 
to beat round it. 
.June, During the forenoon of the 26th, we observed an unusual number 
1 825 . . ^ 
of birds. To our companions, the tropic bird, shearwaters, and Mother 
Carey’s chickens, were added the gannets and boatswains : they were 
conjectured to be the forerunners of land ; and, at three o’clock, the 
island of Fernanda Norhona was seen from the deck, bearing south- 
west, twelve leagues. When we had neared it within six leagues, there 
was an irregular sea ; but we had no soundings at 351 fathoms’ depth. 
Our observations reduced to the Peak, placed it eighteen miles to the 
eastward of its position in the East India Directory. Some squally 
weather, which occasionally broke the ship off her course, increased our 
anxiety ; but we kept clean full, to pass as quickly as possible the cur- 
rent, which here runs with great rapidity. 
On the 29th we had the satisfaction to find ourselves to the south- 
ward of the promontory, and that it would not be necessary to make a 
tack. The wind, however, led us in with the coast of Brazil, which 
July, was seen on the morning of the 8th. The same evening we passed 
the shoal olF Cape St. Thomas — a danger which until very lately was 
erroneously placed upon the charts, and not sufficiently marked to warn 
ships of the peril of approaching it *. Thence, our course was for Cape 
Frio, a headland which all vessels bound to Rio Janeiro should, on 
several accounts, endeavour to make. In fine weather the south-east 
winds blow home to the cape, and gradually fall into either the land or 
sea breeze, according to the time of day, though the prevailing wind 
off it is from the north-east : with either of these winds, a ship can 
proceed to her port. The southerly monsoon, which, while it blows, 
materially facilitates the navigation along the coast to the northward, 
scarcely affects the wind close in with the cape. The greatest interrup- 
tions to which they are liable are from the pamperos, which in the 
winter blow with great violence from the river Plate, sweep past Rio 
* A merchant-vessel on her way from Rio Janeiro to Bahia, when about ten miles from 
the land, struck upon this shoal, and beat over it, fortunately with the loss of her rudder 
only. She afterwards stood for five hours along the shoal, to the eastward, and her master 
stated that the sea broke upon it out of sight of land. 
