The wind was more favourable to the HyaenaV return to Plymouth, (which
port Are was directed to make) than to our progrefs fouthward, for the two following
days ; but it then coming found to the N. W ., by the 24th we had
reached the latitude of Cape Ortegal.
On the 25th, the fignal was made for Lieutenant Shortland, the agent on
board the Alexander, who, at his coming on board, was directed to vifit the feve-
ral tranfports, and collefl from each a lift o f the different trades and occupations
o f the refpedtive convifts, agreeably to a form given him for that purpofe by
Captain Phillip. From this time to the 29th the wind continued favourable,
but blowing exceedingly frefh, and attended with a heavy rolling fea; The Supply
was now direfled to make fail and keep fix miles a-head during the day, and
two during the night; and to look out for the land, as it was expeQed that the
fleet would on the morrow be in the neighbourhood of the Madeira Hies. A ccordingly,
fopn after day-break the following morning, fhe made the fignal for
feeing land, and at noon we were a-breaft of the Deferters— certain high barren
rocks fo named, to the S. S. E v of the Hand of Madeira, and diftant about
three leagues.
In the afternoon o f the 3,1ft, the Supply a-head again made the fignal for feeing
land ; and fhortly after we were a-breaft of the ridge of rocks fituated between
the Madeira and Canary Hies, called the Salvages.
Our llrong trade-wind appeared to have here fpent its force, and we were
baffled (as frequently happens in the vicinity of Hands) by light airs or calms.
With thefe and contrary winds our patience was exercifed until the evening of
the 2d of June, when a favourable breeze fprang up, which continued during
that night. A t fix the next morning the Hand o f Teneriffe was feen right
a-head ; and about feven in the evening the whole fleet came to an anchor in
the road o f Santa Cruz. The lhips were immediately moored, taking the precaution
of buoying their cables with empty calks, to prevent their being injured
by rocks or foul ground, an inconvenience which had frequently been experienced
by navigators in this road. We found riding here a Spanilh packet, an
Englilh brig bound to London, and fome ftnaller veffels.
Captain Phillip defigned to have fent an officer forward in the Supply, to announce
his arrival to the governor, and to fettle as well the hour of his waiting
upon him, as fome neceffary arrangements refpecting frelh provifions, water,
& c .; but as it was growing dark before the fleet anchored, and night coming
on, when bufmefs of that nature could not well be tranfafted, his vifit was poft-
poned until the morning. Before we came to an anchor the port-officer, or
harbour-mafter, came on board to make the cuftomary inquiries, accompanied
by fome Spanilh officers and gentlemen of the town. The ceremony of a falute
was on their fide declined, having, as was alleged, but two or three guns
11 mounted
mounted for ufe; and on our part this omiflion was readily acquiefced in, as '
expediting the fervice which brought us thither, that of watering the lhips, and
taking on board wine and fuch other refrelhments as could be procured ; an ob-
je d of more confequence than the fcrupulous obfervance of compliment and etiquette,
particularly in the then neeeffarily crowded ftate of the Sirius. And as
it was afterwards underftodd, that it was not ufual at this place- to return an
equal number of guns upon thofe occafions, (a cifcumftanee always infilled on
by his Majefty’s lhips when they falute,) all unpleafant difcuffion of this point ■
was thereby avoided.
Early in the morning the officer was difpatched on lhore hy Captain Phillip
to learn at what time he might pay his refpeds to the governor. The hour of
noon was appointed for that ceremony ; and accordingly at that time Captain
Phillip, accompanied by the civil, military, and naval officers under his orders,
waited on his excellency the Marquis De Branceforte, and were received by him
with the utmoft politenefs.
• The fame reafons which induced Captain Phillip to acquiefce in omitting to
falute on his arrival at this port, operated againft his talcing public notice of
his Majefty’s birth-day, which he would otherwife have made a point o f celebrating
with every mark of refpect.. -
In the afternoon of this day the marquis fent an .officer on board the Sirius,
politely offering Captain Phillip whatever affiftance he might Hand in need of,
and that was in his power to furnifti. In the forenoon of Wednefday the 6th,
he came in perfon on board, attended by feveral o f his officers, to return Captain
Phillip’ s vifit; and afterwards entertained him, the lieutenant-governor, and
other officers o f the fettlement, navy, and marines, to the number of ten, at
dinner.
The next being the day of Corpus Chrifti, a day of great religious obfervance
and ceremony in Roman Catholic countries, no boats were fent from the tranfports
to the lhore. The bufinefs of watering, getting off wine, &c. Was fuf-
pended by Captain Phillip’ s direflions until the morrow, to prevent the leaft interruption
being given by any of the people under his command to the ceremo-
nies and proceflions which were to take place. Thofe officers, whofe curiofity
led them to obferve the religious proceedings of the day, very prudently attended
uncovered, and knelt, wherever kneeling was required, in the ftreets, and in
their churches; for, when it was confidered that the fame great Creator of the
univerfe was worlhipped alike by Proteftant and Catholic, what difficulty could
the mind have in divefting their pageant of its tinfel, its trappings, and its confers,
and joining with fincerity in offering the pureft incenfe, that of a grateful
heart ?
The