MADEIRA. 
17 
We weighed anchor shortly before noon of the 5th February, and were already on our 
way towards the Canary Islands, when a large ship was seen coming round the eastern point 
of Madeira. It turned out to be H.M.S. “ Orontes,” bound with troops for Bermudas. 
Having received her signal that she carried letters for us, we turned back, and, the 
welcome messages from home in our possession, once more spread our sails, when a 
fine breeze from the north-east soon carried us out of sight of land. Next day at noon we 
had left 174 miles behind us ; and the rising sun of the 7th shone upon the fantastic cliffs 
of Teneriffe. Many an eye, during our approach to the island, had been strained to catch 
sight of its far-famed Peak ; but the snow-clad giant, enthroned behind the clouds, was, for 
that day at least, invisible. 
FUNCHAL, MADEIRA- 
