ot climates, and which
most ships bound to the south experience in a greater or less degree.
These were the fevers usually called _calentures_, a disease not only
terrible in its first instance, but of which the remains often proved
fatal to those who considered themselves as recovered; for it always
left them in a very weak and helpless condition, and usually
afflicted with fluxes or tenesmus. By our continuance at sea all these
complaints were every day increasing; so that it was with great joy we
discovered the coast of Brazil on the 18th December, at seven in the
morning.

The coast of Brazil appeared high and mountainous, extending from W.
to W.S.W. and when we first saw it, the distance was about seventeen
leagues. At noon we could perceive a low double land, bearing W.S.W.
about ten leagues distant, which we took to be the island of St
Catharines. That afternoon and the next morning, the wind being N.N.W.
we gained very little to windward, and were apprehensive of being
driven to leeward of the island: But next day, a little before noon,
the wind came about to the southward, and enabled us to steer in
between the N. point of St Catharines and the neighbouring island
of Alvoredo. As we stood in for the land we had regular soundings,
gradually decreasing from thirty-six to twelve fathoms, all muddy
ground. In this last depth of water we let go our anchor at five in
the evening of the 18th,[2] the N.W. part of St Catharines bearing
S.S.W. three miles off; and the island of Alvoredo N.N.E. distant two
leagues. Here we found the tide to set S.S.E. and N.N.W. at the rate
of two knots, the tide of flood coming from the southward.

[Footnote 2: There is an error in date here, as it has been already
said they first got sight of the coast of Brazil on the 18th,
obviously two days before. Hence, if the former date be right, this
ought to be the 20th.--E.]

We could perceive from our ships two fortifications at a considerable
distance from us, which seemed intended to prevent the passage of an
enemy between the island of St Catharines and the main. We could also
soon see that our squadron had alarmed the coast, as the two forts
hoisted their colours and fired several guns, signals, as we supposed,
for assembling the inhabitants. To prevent any confusion, the
commodore immediately sent an officer to compliment the governor, and
to request a pilot to conduct our ships into the road. The governor
returned a very civil answe