Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

CHAPTER III. Ready for sea— Detained— Sail from England— Well provided — Bay of Biscay — Compasses — Local attraction — Eight Stones — Madeira Deception — Squall — Teneriffe — Santa Cruz — Quarantine — Squalls Cape Verd Islands — Port Praya — Produce — Arehilla — Bad season St. Paul Rocks — Cross Equator — Fernando Noronha — Bahia — Slavery — Abrolhos — Cape Frio. I^' November, the Beagle was ready for sea, but a succes- sion of hard gales from the westward prevented her leaving England until the end of December. Twice she sailed, and went a few leagues ; yet was obliged to return in order to avoid the risk of being damaged, or losing a boat, at the very beginning of her voyage. At last the westerly gales seemed exhausted, a dead calm succeeded, and, warned by the ap- pearances so peculiar to easterly winds, we unmoored at day- light on the 27th, and, as soon as the tide would allow, for there was still no breeze, we warped from our sheltered and picturesque retreat in Barn-pool, under that beautiful place Mount Edgecumbe. Vessels in the offing, and distant land ' looming' much ; a few mottled, hard-edged clouds appearing in the east ; streaks (mare's tails) across the sky, spreading from the same quarter ; a high barometer (30. 3) ; and the smoke from chimneys rising high into the air, and then going westwai'd ; were the signs which assured us of a favourable wind. A light ' cat's paw' rippled the water, we made all sail, the breeze increased, and at noon our little vessel was outside the Breakwater, with a fresh easterly wind. Of the bitter feelings experienced by most of us when every sail was trimmed, and the land sinking fast from our view, I will say nothing : yet there were enlivening hopes, and all were glad to be freed from the tiresome vmcertainty of the past month, all were anxious to enter upon a voyage which, though