260 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



rocks extending from Hog Island, and over which 

 mad, foaming seas eternally break, admit of no very 

 broad way, which must be followed with circum- 

 spection. Shortly after we came in, a large English 

 provision-ship, the David, had the misfortune to run 

 upon the rocks at the entrance, sinking immediately 

 thereafter in the harbor. 



During this week of our passage hither from Florida 

 there were now and then a few circumstances to break 

 momentarily the killing tedium of a slow and com- 

 fortless voyage. 



Every evening young porpoises (Delphinus Pho- 

 caena L.) swam in tumbling schools about our little 

 vessel. If the sea was still and clear, one could ob- 

 serve them at some depth, and note the rapidity with 

 which they cut the waves. At times there followed 

 us one or more sharks. Grampuses (Delphinus Orca 

 L.) likewise might often be seen, but we got sight of 

 no other variety of whale, although divers of them 

 keep in these waters, where ships come from New 

 England even to take them. Turtles now and then, 

 and often floating sea-grass (Gulf weed, Funis nutans 

 L.), medusae, and holothuriae were observed. Man 

 of War birds (Pelecanus Aquilus L.) Boatswains 

 (Lari Spec. ) Sheerwaters (Rhynchops nigra L.) 

 and many other sea-fowl were noticed, either poised 

 on the waves or in flight. The Tropick Bird 

 (Phaethon aethereus L.) appeared at times, but always 

 high in the air. Boobies (Pelecanus Sula L.) were 

 met with in great numbers as we drew near the is- 

 lands, but no land as yet in sight. 



Another sort of amusement was furnished us by 

 several among the negroes on board, native Africans. 



