Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Being the journal of a naturalist in those countries, during 1832, 1833 and 1834Bennett, George
History
Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China, Vol. 2 (of 2) : $b Being the journal of a naturalist in those countries, during 1832, 1833 and 1834
Bennett, George
Asia -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Australia -- New South Wales; New South Wales -- Description and travel
On the 4th of February, in the afternoon, the high land about Cape
Delgado was seen, bearing north-north-east by compass about forty miles
distant. We sounded on the bank in seventy-three fathoms, with a bottom
of sand and broken shells: the latitude, at noon, being 34° 57′ south,
and longitude 22° 42′ east. On the 6th, at six P.M., Cape L’Agulhas was
seen bearing north-north-west by compass, distant about ten miles; and
at noon, of the 7th, the Cape of Good Hope was seen, bearing north-east,
about forty miles distant. We passed the Cape, with a fine south-east
wind, having experienced remarkably fine weather during the whole of this
portion of our homeward voyage.
We had a continuation of fine weather and strong south-east winds, which
led us to hope that it would carry us at once into the trade-wind, and,
by that means, expedite the passage; but in this we were disappointed:
for although it carried us until the 14th, on that day in latitude 24°
56′ south, and longitude 4° 00′ east, we had light and variable winds
and calms; wind varying from south-east to north-west, very light. This
continued until the evening of the 18th, when, in latitude 21° 57′ south,
and longitude 1° 5′ east, we had a fresh trade-breeze.
About nine A.M., when in latitude 23° 45′ south, and longitude 2° 50′
east, on the 16th of February, having fine weather and calms, and light
airs from south-west, a large piece of the _Laminaria buccinalis_, or
trumpet-weed of the Cape, measuring, probably, twelve or fourteen feet
in length, floated by the ship. It is one of that species of the marine
flora, which may justly be considered as giants. This specimen appeared,
covered with various kinds of crustacea, which made me regret I could not
procure it. The long, tuberous stalk was nearly stripped (I suppose by
the action of the waves) of its long, flat, and expansive fronds. This
is in favour of the current, which is stated to set to the north-west,
between the Cape and St. Helena. We, however, have not experienced any
since the first day we left the Cape, when we had on that day sixteen
miles of current during the twenty-four hours.
On the following day, (17th,) another piece of the same kind of weed
was seen at a short distance from the ship; and this was the last we
discerned, having seen two specimens, one in the morning, the other in
the afternoon of the previous day. On the 17th, we were in latitude 22°
58′ south, and longitude 1° 56′ east. We saw no more of the weed after
this day.
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