Copy 1, Volume 1

Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China; being the journal of a naturalist in those countries during 1832, 1833, and 1834 / By George Bennett, esq.

  • George Bennett
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China; being the journal of a naturalist in those countries during 1832, 1833, and 1834 / By George Bennett, esq. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/478 page 2
    Wales, eleven days having elapsed since leaving Plymouth, from whence we had taken our de- parture. The appearance of the island, when we. had reached to within seven or eight miles of — it, was generally barren, varied by an occasional verdant patch scattered over the rugged rocks, which terminated in steep cliffs to the water's edge. On the following morning at day-light, the dark towering land of Madeira* was visible, rising like a huge black mass from the blue water. By eight a. mM. we were in the passage between the south-east side of Madeira and the group of islands known as the Desertas, sailing, with a light and agreeable breeze, from the east- ward, which enabled us to have an excellent view both of the former islands and Madeira; and as our progress seemed to be quicker than would have been expected from our gentle zephyrs, we were probably also aided by a current. * Madeira signifies, in the Portuguese language, “ woody;” and the island was so named from the very wooded appear- ance it had on its discovery. . + In summer, Horsburgh states that the north-east winds prevail, and a south-west current sets through the channel, between Madeira and the Desertas. The current along the south side of Madeira and the Desertas mostly sets to the lee- ward in strong gales; but at the conclusion of a gale, it some- times changes suddenly, and sets contrary to the wind.
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