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‘Gazelle’ sounded in 1,640 fathoms, it therefore
appears both from this and from the remarkable
change in bottom-temperatnre, tbat ^Ye bad crossed
tbe ridge, aud that our sounding on tbe 7tb Avas in
tbe eastern basin of tbe Atlantic, AA'bere all experience
led us to expect a considerably higher temperature
than in tbe soutb-Avestern. MY took a series of
temperature-soundings doAvn to 1,500 fathoms, and
in tbe eA'ening AA'e crossed tbe equator for the sixth
time since leaA'ing borne.
On tbe 9tb AA'e AA'ere close to our position on
tbe 21st of August, 1873 (Station 102), and
AA'e put OA'er tbe dredge in 2,450 fathoms. Tbe
dredge came np nearly empty, Avitb only a small
Eiqdectella, and a fragment of a large bexactinellid
sponge. Tbe bag contained a small quantity of
globigerina-ooze.
Eor the next few days aa'C continued onr course,
sometimes stopping to take temperature soundings
for tbe first couple of Imndred fathoms. Tbe weather
AA'as fine Avitb light northerly and nortb-Avesterly
breezes, AA'bicb somewhat retarded our progress. On
tbe afternoon of tbe 16tb AA'e sighted tbe peaks of
Eogo and San lago, and after dark the lights of
Porto Praya, and as tbe night Avas remarkably fine
Ave AA'ent into Porto Praya Hoads and anchored in
tAA'elA'e fathoms ofi the toAvn. Tbe next day Ave
landed and revisited tbe ‘ sights ’ of tbe toAvn and
neigbbourbood. In tbe evening Ave Aveigbed and
proceeded under steam and sail toAvards Porto Grande
in San Vicente, Avbere Ave anchored on tbe evening of
the 18tb.
AVe remained a Aveek at Porto Grande, as tbe
good old ship bad to be p u t all to rights for
inspection and paying-ofi ; and we bad some pleasant
rid e s ‘among tbe bills. The town Avas Avonderfully
improved since our former visit, many ncAV bouses
built, the whole place cleaned up and made more
tidy, and in many places trees planted along the
streets. I n main features, boAvev'er, San Vicente
Avas ju s t tbe same—the same barren unlovely
Avilderness and tbe same fervent beat, and the
vultures still gorging themselves on tbe putrid
flesh of tbe carcases h a lf buried in the sand outside
tbe toAvn.
On the morning of tbe 26tb we Aveigbed and left
Porto Grande. ToAvards mid-day Ave rounded the
southern part of fbe island of San Antonio and shaped
onr course towards tbe Açores with a good breeze
from tbe north. Por tbe next week we proceeded
on our course, the Aveatber fine Avitb light winds ;
and on tbe 3rd of May we stopped and sounded in
2,965 fathoms Avitb a bottom of red clay, and a bottom
temperature of 2°'3 C., lat. 26°16' N., long. 33 33' M^.
M^e Avere therefore, on tbe combined evidence of tbe
depth and the temperature, in tbe prolongation to
tbe westward of nearly tbe deepest portion of the
eastern basin of the Atlantic. M''e sounded again
on tbe 6tb, lat. 32°30' N., long. 36°8' Mg, in 1,675
fathoms, Avitb a temperature of 2°-7 C., and a
bottom of pure globigerina-ooze, so tb a t Ave bad
now passed over tbe edge of tbe trough, and were
once more on tbe ‘Dolphin PGse.’ Here Ave fixed
the position of our 354tb and last deep-sea observing
station.
Prom this point aa'C made onr Avay borne as speedily