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but by the time we were ready to start it became qnite rough, and we had some 

 trouble in getting out. We returned to the vessel. In the afternoon several officers 

 and midsbiiimeu from the man-of-war came aboard. They had many qnestious 

 to ask. 



J)i'c. lU. — Two officers from the gnnboat came aboard at s a.m., bringing iiuitc 

 a lot of books for ns. Soon after the two shij)s headed out, taking our mail. 



Dec. 11. — Did little else but try and get under way. The wind was light and 

 baffling, and all our labour was to no purpose. 



Dec. 12 (Sunday). — Tried again to get out of the cove, with no success. We 

 poisoned the turtles that were skinned two days since. 



Ih'c. l:H. — Managed to get out of Tagus Cove late in the morning. AVe started 

 fur Tower Island with a fair breeze round the north end of Albemarle. We skinned 

 a few iguanas in the afternoon : one was &J'cmale with eggs. The egg was spherical, 

 about 1 in. in diameter. 



Dec. 14. — Skinned iguanas all day. We sighted a vessel in the afternoon, 

 which appeared to be making for Tagus Cove, but did not get nearer than 8 or 

 10 miles of her. 



Dec. lo. — Skinned iguanas all day. Weather very hot. 



Tower Island. 



Ihc. 10. — Skinned iguanas, finishing them. Weather hot : a little breeze. 



Dec. 17. — Fair breeze. We came in sight of Abingdon towards noon. Calm 

 during the first part of the night. 



Dec. 18. — Calm nearly all day. We had a little rain, the first for a long time. 

 We packed up some stuff in the morning ; noticed three or four of the Culpepper 

 tern around the vessel in the eveniusr. 



]>ec. 19 (Sunday). — A good breeze all day. We sailed up to the north side of 

 Abingdon Island. Bindloe was in sight the last part of the day. 



J>ec. 20. — Good breeze. Out of sight of land all day. At 4 p.m. Tower Island 

 bore S.W.— 68 miles. 



Dec. 21. — Good breeze all day. Tower Island in sight most of the time, but 

 could not get near it. 



Dec. 22. — Condition of affiiirs abont the same. Tower Island in sight. 



Dec. 23. — Good breeze all day. Out of sight of land. A large school of 

 porpoise came around the vessel towards the evening. The mate struck a couple, 

 but the harpoon pulled out both times. 



Jhc. 24. — Some breeze all day. We found that we were quite a way south of 

 Tower. We could see Chatham in the distance. 



J>ec. 25 (Christmas !) — Not much wind in the morning early. We sighted 

 Tower Island soon after breakfast, and sailed up to it, coming to anchor at 2.3U p.m. ; 



