ORIGINAL PAPERS. JUNE, 1838. SUBMARINE VOLCANO NEAR THE EQUATOR.-Atlantic Ocean. THE attention of the Academy of Sciences at Paris has been lately occupied by the subject of submarine volcanos in the Atlantic ocean. We find in the Comptes Rendus for April last, a paper by M. Daussy, read on the 5th March, containing a collection of the statements which have been made from time to time by different vessels, and from which he concludes that the shocks experienced by them about twenty miles south of the equator, on the meridian of 20° or 22° W. longitude, indicate the existence there of a submarine volcano. M. Daussy alludes to the appearance of these phenomena near the Western Islands, and the more recent one of the present Graham shoal in the Mediterranean, in justification of his conclusions; and makes some remarks respecting the difficulty of erasing the numerous vigias from the charts, in which we perfectly coincide. The authority for erasing these bugbears, to seamen, must be founded on strict and frequent search-such as that commenced in our chart of the "Eight Stones," a danger which may be considered as one of that genus. At the same time that we rejoice to see so interesting and important a subject in such able hands as those of M. Daussy, we are relieved from the necessity of translating his paper, by referring our readers to our volume for 1835, (No. 4, first series,) in which they will find enumerated seven of the instances adduced by him, in a communication from our valuable correspondent, Mr. Purdy, whose attention was directed to this subject by the extraordinary instance related (in p. 577, same vol.) by Captain Middleton, which occurred to the barque "Crown," of Liverpool. The effect of a submarine eruption on a ship is described, by those seamen who have experienced it, to be similar to that of dragging the ship bodily along a roughly paved road; or like that violent shaking which the chain cable produces when running through the hawse; and this effect appears to have been felt in a greater or less degree in the various instances now brought forward. The following are two further accounts respecting this submarine volcano, which M. Daussy has added to those in the Nautical Magazine. The first is from the journal of Captain Jager, commanding La Philantrope, of Bordeaux. ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 6.-VOL. FOR 1838. 3 A "On the 25th January, 1836, at nine in the evening, being in about 0° 40' S. latitude, and 20° 10' W. longitude, we felt an earthquake, which made the vessel shake during three minutes, as if she were scraping along a bank, and to such a degree that I was certain she was aground." Further on, he says, "From the 13th to the 16th of March, we were in sight of an American vessel, the St. Paul, of Salem, going to Manilla. This vessel which we had seen on the line, had felt the same earthquake that we had experienced, and at the same hour." The last is from the Journal of the Asiatic Society, for 1836, as follows:: "Mr. T. L. Huntley presents some volcanic ashes, collected at sea by Captain Ferguson, of the ship 'Henry Tanner.' These ashes were black, and had the same consistence as those of coal. The spot where they were picked up was 0° 35′ S. and 15° 50′ W., the sea being in a violent agitation." In a former voyage, made by the same officer, and almost in the same place, lat. 1° 35′ S. and 20° 27′ W., he had been alarmed by hearing a very great noise. The captain and officers thought the ship had struck on a coral rock; but in sounding they could not reach the bottom. The notices of this singular phenomenon having been brought under the attention of the hydrographer to the Admiralty, the Beagle, (Captain Wickham,) on her way to her surveying ground on the north coast of Australia, was directed to try for soundings in that neighbourhood; and we have the track of the Beagle across the position, with no bottom, in two places with 190 fathoms; one in 0° 55' S., 22° 52′ W.; and the other in the same latitude, in 23° 23′ W., the vessel's course being due west between them. We cannot leave this interesting subject, without expressing the hope, if any of our nautical readers can throw additional light on it, by any new facts, that they will communicate them to us; and if they should ever pass the equator, near the above-mentioned longitude, that they will keep a look-out for any of the indications alluded to; and that, if opportunity should offer, they will also obtain a deep cast of the lead. NOVA SCOTIA LIGHTHOUSses. [The following important caution to vessels navigating the coast of Nova Scotia, has been addressed to Captain Beaufort, R.N., hydrographer to the Admiralty, by Lieutenant E. N. Kendall, R. N.] SIR,-I beg to communicate for your information, a circumstance which has often caused serious loss and damage to vessels navigating the coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, in the, spring months, as a caution inserted in the Admiralty charts may apprize navigators of the mistakes they may otherwise, and fatally, commit. The farms fronting the sea coast are separated by worm fences, which in most cases are at right angles to the coast line; and when their direction happens to be such that the prevalent snow storms in winter cause a deposition, often several feet in height, to leeward of them, which continues some weeks after the disappearance of the snow from the fields themselves, they are exactly similar in appearance to the lighthouses on the coast, which latter are mostly built of wood, and painted white; and so perfect is the resemblance, that the masters of coasters, and persons well acquainted with the coast, are themselves often misled. I believe it is in contemplation by the commissioners of lighthouses to paint some distinguishing marks on them, by which these errors may be avoided. I have the honour to be, &c., E. N. KENDALL, Lieut. R. N. NOTES ON CURACAO, By Lieutenant A. W. B. Greevelink, of the Swedish Royal Navy. THIS island is moderately high, and can be seen at a considerable distance from sea. The table mount situated near the S.E. end, Ronde Klije (round rock) towards the N.E., and table mount, St. Hieronymus, with St. Christopher's mountain in the west, are the most elevated parts of it; the latter being about 400 yards in perpendicular height. The soil, formed of a calcareous rocky substance, but thinly covered with strata of fertile earth, is rendered still more barren by long series of dry weather, and a total want of running water, so that at present it only produces maize, some sorts of pot-herbs, earth-roots, and a tolerable quantity of fruits, renowned for their excellence. A few species of wood, like campeche, mahogany, yellow, and mansanille trees, grow here and there, though in small quantities, besides an abundance of cactus, aloe, and other shrubs. The only productions still exported are salt and lime, which with the occupation of breeding large herds of cattle, and raising vegetables, form the pursuits of the country people. The population in 1833, according to a published statement, was 15,027; of whom 2,602 were whites, 6,531 coloured, and 5,894 black people. The climate is healthy, and even favourable for the cure of some diseases. The wind, nearly always from the E.N.E. and E.S.E., blowing The periods with a fresh breeze, very seldom increases to a storm. at which it has its greatest force are when the sun has greatest north and south declination, increasing with the rising, and diminishing with the setting, of the sun. The whole atmosphere is thickened by the mist which it brings from the sea: but during night, when there is only a gentle breeze, the air is pure and fresh, and the sky, with its millions of glittering stars, extremely beautiful. Hurricanes do not reach so far as Curacao in general, although they now and then have crossed this way. Earthquakes are unknown here. Although destitute of rivers there is plenty of good well-water; and rain-water, collected in cisterns, is also to be obtained. The coasts of Curacçao may be considered clean, though you are obliged to keep at least half a mile from shore, along the south side, on account of a bank of sand and coral, extending about a cable's length off. To the north the coast is everywhere bluff and clean, and its rocky shores almost overhang the sea. On the southern side there are several harbours, the principal of which is that called St. Anne, situated 14 miles from the east point, (point Canon,) and indisputably one of the finest in the West Indies. Its entrance, formed by two very low tongues of land, strongly fortified, is narrowed inward, like the neck of a goglet, and between the batteries not more than 110 yards wide. On the eastern side stands fort Amsterdam, and the principal town, named Willemstadt, containing 1,900 inhabitants. On the west side stands Rif fort, and a part of the town formerly occupied only by Spaniards, and distinguished by the name of Otrabande (other side.) Having passed the narrow entrance, you are in that part of the bay called the haven, on the quays of which are warehouses and stores, and excellent shelter, where ships of every size may careen or refit. From the haven extends the inner part of the bay, called Schottegat, where a hundred ships may ride in perfect safety. Ships bound to the harbour of St. Ann, ought to make point Canon, and run down the coast at one or two miles distance, so as to avoid getting to leeward of the entrance of the harbour, as the current sets strongly to the westward. At a mile to windward the pilot or master-attendant, will be found generally in his gig. He directs every necessary precaution, the most common of which is, to have a hawser ready to carry on shore, and an anchor to let go in case the hawser should not reach it in due time, a boat to be lowered, and your sails to be cleared up in a moment, especially when blowing hard from the N.E. With the breeze large, or from the S.E. quarter, entering the harbour is much facilitated; because, by standing off a little you may luff up gradually, but on the other hand, with northerly winds, you are obliged to keep close along the reef, which * The magnetic variation, according to my observations, agreeing with those of other officers mentioned, is 4° E. stretches a cable's length off from the east-point of the harbour. The best mark in coming down, is to keep the westernmost point of the Rif fort, directly under the sharp point of Priest-mount, and the moment you see from the fore-castle, the crane or crab situated on an elevated spot, coming forth from behind Fort Amsterdam, you must luff up boldly, and stand in, keeping a little to the windward-side of the channel. Be careful that your yards are braced up sharp, previous to coming in, and to be ready to clue up your square sails in a moment as soon as they fall aback, otherwise, with strong gusts, you may be driven on the lee shore of the harbour, which is not so clean as the opposite. This island was delivered over to Captain Frederick Watkins, by a treaty the 13th September, 1800, to protect it, (although in open war with the Batavian government,) against a number of French banditti, who, under one Bresseau, were plundering and ravaging the country; and it was restored in 1803. Such events of honourable confidence in the character of an enemy, shown by governor Lauffer, and of unrestrained generosity to protect the feeble, although an enemy against an oppressor on the other hand, are worthy of preservation.* A. W. BISCHOP GREEVELINK. ADDITIONAL LIGHT ON CAPE GRINEZ, on the South Side of the Strait of Dover. [Received from the French Government.] Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, May 2nd, 1838. IN November, 1837, a fixed light was placed on Cape Grinez, at the south-west entrance of Dover Strait, in latitude 50° 52′ 10′′ N., longitude 1°35′ 9′′ E., and some accidents which have since taken place have been attributed to the mistaking of this light for the similar light on Dungeness, which bears from it N. 84° W. (N. 61° W. magnetic,) distant eight leagues. It The French government, being desirous to remove all chance of such a dangerous mistake in future, has ordered that a small additional light shall be shown on Cape Grinez from the 1st of October next. will be placed fifty-five yards W.N.W. from the present light-house, but not so high by twenty-six feet. This additional light will be varied by a flash shown every three minutes, and each flash will be preceded and followed by short eclipses. It will not be visible more than half as far off as the present light, that is to say, in ordinary weather the new light will appear in sight at the distance of three or four leagues. * This I mention because erroneously stated in the Col. Nav., page 82. Yet the island was taken by surprise on new year's morning, 1807, with four or five ships, under the late rear-admiral, Sir Charles Brisbane, and restored in 1835. A. W. B. G. |