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

1832. aUAEANTINE — SWELL SQUALL. 49 regulation was adopted on account of the reports which had reached them respecting the cholera in England. Observations on shore being indispensable for our purpose, and finding, after some discussion, that there was no chance of attaining our object in a manner that would at all compensate for the delay caused by anchoring and performing quarantine, we weighed without further loss of time, and made sail for the Cape Verd Islands. This was a great disappointment to Mr. Darwin, who had cherished a hope of visiting the Peak. To see it — to anchor and be on the point of landing, yet be obliged to turn away without the slightest prospect of beholding TenerifFe again was indeed to him a real calamity. During the whole of the 7th, the Peak was visible ; but on the following day no land was in sight, and we made rapid progi-ess. A very long swell from the north-west, which we felt until the 10th, was probably caused by a gale in the nor- thern Atlantic ; and, judging from its size and velocity, I should think that it could not have subsided before traversing many, perhaps ten more, degrees of latitude ; which would be to about 10° north. It is interesting to notice how far the undulatory movement of water reaches : in this case it ex- tended through at least ten decrees of latitude where the wind was from different quarters, and probably much farther. An unusual appearance was observed on the 12th. A cloud like a dense fog-bank approached ; and as it drew near, the lower and darker part became arched, and rose rapidly, while under it was a white glare, which looked very suspicious. Sail was immediately reduced — we expected a violent squall but the cloud dispersed suddenly, and only a common fresh breeze came from the foreboding quarter. Neither the sympie- someter nor the barometer had altered at all ; but the cloud was so threatening that I put no trust in their indications, not being then so firm a believer in their prophetic movements as I am at present. Nevertheless, I would by no means advocate the neglect of any precaution suggested by appearances of the VOL. II. E