A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay | Page 7

the ship, and floated to a boat that lay
astern, into which he got, and cutting her adrift, suffered himself to be
carried away by the current, until at a sufficient distance to be out of
hearing, when he rowed off. This elopement was not discovered till
some hours after, when a search being made, and boats sent to the
different parts of the island, he was discovered in a small cove, to
which he had fled for refuge. On being questioned, it appeared he had
endeavoured to get himself received on board a Dutch East Indiaman in
the road; but being rejected there, he resolved on crossing over to the
Grand Canary, which is at the distance of ten leagues, and when
detected, was recruiting his strength in order to make the attempt. At
the same time that the boats of the fleet were sent on this pursuit,
information was given to the Spanish Governor of what had happened,
who immediately detached parties every way in order to apprehend the
delinquent.
Having remained a week at Teneriffe, and in that time completed our
stock of water, and taken on board wine, &c. early on the morning of

the 10th of June we weighed anchor, and stood out to sea with a light
easterly breeze. The shortness of our stay, and the consequent hurry,
prevented our increasing much any previous knowledge we might have
had of the place. For the information of those who may follow us on
this service, it may not, however, be amiss to state the little that will be
found of use to them.
The markets afford fresh meat, though it is neither plentiful nor good.
Fish is scarce; but poultry may be procured in almost any quantity, at as
cheap a rate as in the English sea-ports. Vegetables do not abound,
except pumpkins and onions, of which I advise all ships to lay in a
large stock. Milch goats are bought for a trifle, and easily procured.
Grapes cannot be scarce in their season; but when we were here, except
figs and excellent mulberries, no fruit was to be procured. Dry wines,
as the merchants term them, are sold from ten to fifteen pounds a pipe;
for the latter price, the very best, called the London Particular, may be
bought: sweet wines are considerably dearer. Brandy is also a cheap
article. I would not advise the voyager to depend on this place for either
his hogs or sheep. And he will do well to supply himself with dollars
before he quits England, to expend in the different ports he may happen
to touch at. Should he, however, have neglected this precaution, let him
remember when he discounts bills, or exchanges English money here,
not to receive his returns in quarter dollars, which will be tendered to
him, but altogether in whole ones, as he will find the latter turn to better
account than the former, both at Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good
Hope.
The latitude of the town of Santa Cruz is 28 deg 27 1/2 min north, the
longitude 16 deg 17 1/2 min west of Greenwich.

CHAPTER IV
.

The Passage from Teneriffe to Rio de Janeiro, in the Brazils.
In sailing from Teneriffe to the south-east, the various and picturesque
appearances of the Peak are beautiful to the highest degree. The
stupendous height, which before was lost on the traveller, now strikes
him with awe and admiration, the whole island appearing one vast

mountain with a pyramidal top. As we proceeded with light winds, at
an easy rate, we saw it distinctly for three days after our departure, and
should have continued to see it longer, had not the haziness of the
atmosphere interrupted our view. The good people of Santa Cruz tell
some stories of the wonderful extent of space to be seen from the
summit of it, that would not disgrace the memoirs of the
ever-memorable Baron Munchausen.
On the 18th of June we saw the most northerly of the Cape de Verd
Islands, at which time the Commodore gave the fleet to understand, by
signal, that his intention was to touch at some of them. The following
day we made St. Jago, and stood in to gain an anchorage in Port Praya
Bay. But the baffling winds and lee current rendering it a matter of
doubt whether or not the ships would be able to fetch, the signal for
anchoring was hauled down, and the fleet bore up before the wind. In
passing along them we were enabled to ascertain the south end of the
Isle of Sal to be in 16 deg 40 min north latitude, and 23 deg 5 min west
longitude. The south end of Bonavista to be in 15 deg 57 min