Notes on the Physical Geography and Meteorology of the South Atlantic: Together with Sailing Directions for the Principal Ports of Call, and for the Islands

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J. Imray, 1862 - Marine meteorology - 264 pages
 

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Page 227 - The inner parts of the country were not less savage and .horrible. The wild rocks raised their lofty summits till they were lost in the clouds, and the valleys lay covered with everlasting snow. Not a tree was to be seen, nor a shrub even big enough to make a toothpick. The only vegetation we met with was a coarse strong-bladed grass growing in tufts, wild burnet, and a plant like moss, which sprung from the rocks.
Page 120 - Its edges are a little worn and fractured, but both its sides are perpendicular to a great depth. The rock in its external appearance is of a dark brown colour. When broken, it is found to be composed of a very hard species of yellow sandstone, in which numerous bivalves are imbedded in a state of complete preservation. At several points deep winding fissures extend through a portion of the reef, but in general its appearance is regular, much more so than any artificial wall would be after exposure...
Page 35 - The southern wind now ceases, and is followed by variable winds from the northward. Heavy clouds are thus brought over; and lightning, accompanied by thunder, follows in a most terrific manner. The wind veers gradually to the westward in violent gusts, the lightning becomes more vivid, and the thunder more awful; a gale of wind follows from the SW more violent, but of short duration, and fine weather ensues.
Page 227 - Having doubled the point above-mentioned, the land then took a south-easterly direction, varying to the eastward ; weather thick and squally, with snow. I thought proper, having property on board, and perhaps deviating from the assurance, to haul off to the westward on my intended voyage. Strong variable winds. Made another cape, and could perceive some high land to the westward of it, and stretching in a SW direction. The weather becoming thick and squally, we made sail to the westward, having sailed...
Page 106 - When the roll or undulation of the earth-wave, coming from inland, reaches the shores of the sea (unless these be precipitous, with deep water), it may lift the water of the sea up, and carry it along on its back, as it were, as it goes out into deep water ; for the rate of transit of the shock is so immense that the elongated heap of water lifted up has not time to subside laterally.
Page 81 - ... town are shaken by the fury of the waves. But the principal beauty of the scene consists in the continuous ridge of water crested on its summit with foam and spray ; for as the wind blows off the shore the over-arching top of the wave meets resistance and is carried as it were back against the curl of the swell ; and thus it plays elegantly above it, as it rolls furiously onward, graceful as a bending plume ; while to add more to its beauty, the sunbeams are reflected from it in all the varied...
Page 137 - There are no pilots to be met with off the coast or harbour, for, as there is no hidden danger, they are not requisite. Whilst the sea-breeze is strong enough to enable ships to overcome the ebb, they may safely enter by night or by day ; but on entering at night the Fort Santa Cruz makes a signal to the city, which is not to be understood as interfering with the vessels entering.
Page 149 - March, are north-easterly, with tolerably clear weather over-head, but a dense atmosphere near the horizon. These winds haul gradually to the eastward as you advance up the river ; and about the full and change of the moon, strong breezes from the south-eastward are common at this season, accompanied with rain and foul weather. At Buenos Ayres, during the summer months, the SE winds are generally fresh in the daytime, hauling round to the northward in the night.
Page 151 - ... with from 15 to 20 fathoms, sand and clay mixed, you are not far off the land. When you have not seen the land before night, be sure to keep to the northward of the cape by your reckoning, to allow for the current, which sets to the southward. This is the case with the abovementioned North and NE winds ; with South and SW winds the current runs strong the other way.
Page 227 - At four in the morning of the 16th we wore and stood to the east, with the wind at SSE, a moderate breeze, and fair; at eight o'clock saw the land extending from E. by N. to NE by N.; loosed a reef out of each top-sail, got top-gallant yards across, and set the sails. At noon observed in latitude 54° 25' 1/2, longitude 38° 18

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