At The Same Time That The Boats Of The Fleet Were Sent
On This Pursuit, Information Was Given To The Spanish Governor
Of What Had Happened, Who Immediately Detached Parties Every Way
In Order To Apprehend The Delinquent.
Having remained a week at Teneriffe, and in that time completed our stock
of water, and taken on board
Wine, &c. early on the morning of the 10th of June
we weighed anchor, and stood out to sea with a light easterly breeze.
The shortness of our stay, and the consequent hurry, prevented
our increasing much any previous knowledge we might have had of the place.
For the information of those who may follow us on this service, it may not,
however, be amiss to state the little that will be found of use to them.
The markets afford fresh meat, though it is neither plentiful nor good.
Fish is scarce; but poultry may be procured in almost any quantity,
at as cheap a rate as in the English sea-ports. Vegetables do not abound,
except pumpkins and onions, of which I advise all ships to lay in
a large stock. Milch goats are bought for a trifle, and easily procured.
Grapes cannot be scarce in their season; but when we were here, except figs
and excellent mulberries, no fruit was to be procured. Dry wines,
as the merchants term them, are sold from ten to fifteen pounds a pipe;
for the latter price, the very best, called the London Particular,
may be bought: sweet wines are considerably dearer. Brandy is also
a cheap article. I would not advise the voyager to depend on this place
for either his hogs or sheep. And he will do well to supply himself
with dollars before he quits England, to expend in the different ports
he may happen to touch at. Should he, however, have neglected this precaution,
let him remember when he discounts bills, or exchanges English money here,
not to receive his returns in quarter dollars, which will be tendered to him,
but altogether in whole ones, as he will find the latter turn to better account
than the former, both at Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope.
The latitude of the town of Santa Cruz is 28 deg 27 1/2 min north,
the longitude 16 deg 17 1/2 min west of Greenwich.
CHAPTER IV.
The Passage from Teneriffe to Rio de Janeiro, in the Brazils.
In sailing from Teneriffe to the south-east, the various and picturesque
appearances of the Peak are beautiful to the highest degree. The stupendous
height, which before was lost on the traveller, now strikes him with awe
and admiration, the whole island appearing one vast mountain with
a pyramidal top. As we proceeded with light winds, at an easy rate, we saw it
distinctly for three days after our departure, and should have continued
to see it longer, had not the haziness of the atmosphere interrupted our view.
The good people of Santa Cruz tell some stories of the wonderful extent
of space to be seen from the summit of it, that would not disgrace the memoirs
of the ever-memorable Baron Munchausen.
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