AN ACCOUNT OF A VOYAGE round the WORLD, IN THE YEARS MDCCLXIV, MDCCLXV, and. MDCCLXVI. By the Honourable COMMODORE BYRON, CHAP. I. The Paffage from the Downs to Rio de Janeiro. [The longitude in this voyage is reckoned from the meridian of London, weft to 180 degrees, and east afterwards.] Ο 1764. June. July. Tuesday 3. N the 21ft of June 1764, I failed from the Downs, with his Majesty's fhip the Dolphin, and the Tamar frigate, which I had received orders to take under my command: as Thursday 216I was coming down the river, the Dolphin got a-ground; I therefore put into Plymouth, where he was docked, but did not appear to have received any damage. At this place we changed some of our men, and having paid the people two months wages in advance, I hoifted the broad pendant; and failed again on the 3d of July; on the 4th we were off Wednef. 4. the Lizard, and made the best of our way with a fine breeze, but had the mortification to find the Tamar a very heavy failer. In the night of Friday the 6th, the officer of the firft' watch faw either a fhip on fire, or an extraordinary phenomenon which greatly refembled it, at some distance: it continued to blaze for about half an hour, and then difappeared. In the evening of Thurfday, July the 12th, we faw the rocks Thursday 12. near the island of Madeira, which our people call the Deferters; from defertes, a name which has been given themfrom their barren and defolate appearance: the next day we Friday 13. stood in for the road of Funchiale, where, about three o'clock Friday 6. in the afternoon, we came to an anchor. In the morning of Saturday the 14th, I waited upon the Governor, who re- Saturday: 144ceived me with great politenefs, and faluted me with eleven. I 1764. July. · Sunday. 15. guns, which I returned from the fhip. The next day, he returned my visit at the house of the Conful, upon which I faluted him with eleven guns, which he returned from the fort. I found here his Majesty's fhip the Crown, and the Ferret floop, who alfo faluted the broad pendant. Having completed our water, and procured all the refreshment I was able for the companies of both the ships, every man having twenty pounds weight of onions for his fea Thursday 19. ftock, we weighed anchor on Thursday the 19th, and proSaturday 21. ceeded on our voyage. On Saturday the 21ft, we made the island of Palma, one of the Canaries, and foon after examining our water, we found it would be necessary to touch at one of the Cape de Verd islands for a fresh supply. During the whole of our course from the Lizard, we observed that no fish followed the ship, which I judged to be owing to her Thurfday 26. being fheathed with copper. By the 26th, our water was Friday 27. Sunday 29. become foul, and stunk intolerably, but we purified it with a machine, which had been put on board for that purpose: it was a kind of ventilator, by which air was forced through the water in a continued ftream, as long as it was neceffary. In the morning of the 27th, we made the ifland of Sal, one of the Cape de Verds, and feeing feveral turtle upon the water, we hoifted out our jolly boat, and attempted to strike them, but they all went down before our people could come Saturday 28. within reach of them. On the morning of the 28th, we were very near the island of Bona Vista, the next day off the Monday 30. Isle of May, and on Monday the 30th, we came to an anchor in Port Praya bay. The rainy feafon was already fet in, which renders this place very unfafe; a large fwell that rolls in from the fouthward, makes a frightful furf upon the fhore, and there is reafon every hour to expect a tornado, of |