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the log-book: whether merely from a wish to beguile a 
tedious hour; or from the pleasure in perspective of recount- 
ing the wonders he has seen, or the perils he has passed 
through: whatever may be the cause, no sooner does a 
landsman set his foot on board ship, than he runs mechani- 
cally to his writing-desk. For my own part, I must plead 
as guilty as most people to this charge. The present was to 
be my fourth voyage of some length. On all former 
occasions, I invariably commenced a journal of ‘notable 
. Occurrences, but as invariably gave it up before the voyage 
was half accomplished; having found, that unless I bor- 
rowed largely from my imagination, I was likely to cover 
very little paper. Materials for interesting narrative are but 
sparingly scattered over the face of the deep, 
* Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto." 
Convinced of this truth by so many abortive attempts, I 
gave up all idea of journalizing during the present voyage, 
and reserved my pen for a period when subjects for remark 
might become more abundant. : 
“ After a voyage which our anxiety rendered more than 
usually tedious, we made the object of our destination on the 
?d December, and cast anchor, late in the evening, in the 
channel between the Coin de Mine,* and the main land. 
Here we found the India fleet at anchor, and learned, to our 
extreme mortification, that the army had effected a landing 
two days before, and was by this time advanced within a few 
miles of Port-Louis, Early on the morning of the 3d, the 
fleet weighed, and under the influence of a gentle breeze off 
the land, glided slowly towards the Baie de Tombeau, 
lere we again dropped anchor. In sailing along the coast, 
We were delighted with the scenery which opened succes- 
sively to our view, so very different from what he ue 
etd i t : adverting to the ludicrous 
Wunder of the Grac qd Mar 4C. Vias Tid who has rendered 
^ the corner of mine," instead of * the Gunner's Quoin.” 
U2 
