Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/80

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70
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1791.

CHAP. II.

We depart from Teneriffe, and ſet ſail for the Cape of Good Hope—Obſervations—Splendid Appearance of the Surface of the Sea, produced by phoſphoric Light—The moſt general Cauſe of the Phoſphoreſcence of the Sea-water aſcertained—Four of our Sheep which we had brought from Teneriffe are thrown into the Sea—Moderate Temperature of the Atmoſphere near the Line—The Variation of the Compaſs greater on the South than on the North Side of the Equator—Eaſy Method of rendering ſtagnated Water freſh—Thick Fog, which cauſes the Mercury in the Barometer to riſe—Lunar Rainbow—Arrival at the Cape of Good Hope.

A very high ſwell of the ſea had prevented us almoſt two days from getting our proviſions on board. We were not ready to ſet ſail till the 23d of October.

We endeavoured at the firſt dawn to get under way. All our boats had been taken on board the preceding day as ſoon as we had unmoored; as we wiſhed to take advantage of the land-wind, which blows here almoſt every morning. It was

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