Gwifse
.across, the
Atlantic.
Sir ErasmusGo-\fcer Obsferves, that “ the entrance of
;V >Karbh«tfwaH ishe# itself by discovering the^a^tl«
« or fort of Santa Graz,- and a small fortified island,
“ called Fort Lucia, nearly abreast of it. Between these
i£-is- the.channel into the harbour-, ne&r a'mile.-wide;
“ both .slfores'tteistee^th^t o f Santa.Gsuzjis; perpeni
“ dicuiar, there being six fathoms in the wash of' the
“ sea. The.narrowness of the channel causes strong
“ tides;, but as the sea breeze/blows, frfesh, they do not
tl impede; entering, into the harbour. Tni^Mng .i®, it is
“ best to-skeop hpA' tffiaiin&>’ec'evgnnearer to .SafhM
“ Gruz, Abs«t four miles outsideAh^irbour-s mbfith;
“ depth of water is eighteen and ninefeeh fathoms,
“ which will decrease, gradually; to eight or seven';
“ and thiisf being the shallowest paffoihay be called' the
U bar, whfoh is. about two miles outside the fort, r The
“ water again deepens, on approaching to Santa Gruz;
“ to seventeen and eighteen fathoms; nor will less'be
“ found in the fair way of the great road. -Large ships
“ may moor in shoaler water; but that depth, of there*
“ abouts, is .more advisable, as such a situation affords
“ the full advantage of the sea breeze, as well as that
“ ° f avoiding the insects, which are very troublesome
when nearer to the shore. The Lion anchored in
Xl eighteen fathoms, the Sugar-loaf bearing south by east
“ half east; the castle of Santa Cruz south-east by south.;
“ a convent on an eminence over the south part of the
city south-west b y west ; one mile and a h a lf from thé
landing-pïâcë opposite the viceroy’s'palace. -
“ Bèforé-ir ship attempts to enter into-the harbour, it
will be proper to send a boat, with an offiçcri to the
castle: of Santa Cruz, who will be conducted, from
thence, to the palace o f the viceroy, to give him in formation
of the sh ip ’s arrival, and the' occasion of
h er calling. T he sh ip ’s colours should, also, be
hoisted early,, unless the pratique, or usual visiting
boat from ’-shore, be already on board ; a vessel,
even of the Portugueze nation, attempting to pass
the fort, will be hailed, and peremptorily desired to
anchor, until permission- be granted for proceeding.
Every particular of the ship, her condition, force,
destination, and wants, are required to be declared,
under the -signature of the captain ; after which every
indulgence and assistance are readily promised to be
given; but the ship’s people are not suffered to land,
at any place, e-x-cept at the stairs opposite the palace ;
and a military officer -or soldier, generally, attends
ev e ry person from ton board while he remains on
shore. Guard-boats, also, surround the ship, to p re vent
landing, except when and where permitted.
And those regulations are still more rigidly enforced
with -regard -to ^mercantile vessels than to ships of war.
In the’inner harbour, formed >by air island called Ilheo.
dos Cobras, or serpent island, are proper wharfs for
Rio de
Janeiro.