1785.
Oâober.
L E T T E R V I I .
IF any thing can exceed the pleafure I have in writing to thee,
it is that I have juft experienced, viz., the fetting my feet on
terra firma. By this thou wilt conclude I have been on fhore,
and confequently expect a defeription of this Ifland. As good a
one as I can give is at thy fervice; but let me refume my narrative
where I laft left thee. .j ..
After fending our letters bn board his Majefty’s fttip, we left
Funchall-Bay, and fleered for this place, with moderate , breezes,
and fine weather.
On the 16th we faw Palma and Ferro, (two o f the Canary
Iflands) ..bearing! .South by Eaft at mbout twelve leagues diftance,
Perhaps thou wilt fmile at my mentioning the bearings and. dif-
tances-, but give me leave to tell thee, that it 'is methodical and
feaman-like : this, I hope, will not only fecure me from thy ani-
madverfions, but merit thy approbation.
On the 19th, we were ijl 22 degrees North latitudes and the
weather being pretty clear, it was very hot and fultry. Our decks
leaked very bad, and the carpenters were very bufily employed in
caulking.
Early in the morning of the 24th, we faw the ifland Bonavifta,
at feven leagues diftance. If 1 miftake not this is the Ifland which
the renowned Columbus firft faw, when he failed in queft of a new
world.
world. At ten o’clock the Ifle of Mayo bore N. N. E. four leagues,. 178;.
and St. Jago, (our intended port) at eight leagues diftance. ■ _ \
Thy knowledge in geography will inform thee, that thefe are -
part of the Cape de Verde Iflands, and are fubject to the Portugueze.
At noon we came to anchor in Port Pray a Bay, St. Jago, in eight,
fathom water. The extremes of the land which forms the Bay,
bore from Eaft by South, to South-Weft. The Caftle and Fort,
North-Weft by Weft, diftance from fhore near two miles.
The Ifland St. Jago Is fituated in near 14 degrees 54 minutest
North latitude, and 23 degrees 29 minutes Weft longitude : L
cannot fpeak with any degree of certainty in regard to its extent,
but 1 think its utmoft circumference cannot be one hundred miles.
It is natural to fuppofe, from its fituation, that the climate is.
very hot, and this is greatly increafed by Eafterly. winds, which,
are generally prevalent here ; thefe conftantly blowing from the
fandy-defarts, of Africa, greatly add to the. natural heat, o f the climate.
Our bufinefs at this place was to water our veflels, procure *
frelh provifionsy and whatever neceflaries the place afforded, that.,:
could by any means conduce to our prefent. or.future accommodation
; in order to do which, our Captains took the firft opportunity
of going on fliore to find, out the. belt and.eafieft method,
of facilitating their purpofe.
The Commander of the Fort treated them at firft in ratlier a.
haughty manner, but on having a trifling prefent made him, he
grew civil, and gave them leave to water the fhips; this, it fee ns,
heing;