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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 

 2d 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 Bale de Tombeau, 

 where 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 we had 



" * In the mention of this Islet, I cannot help adverting to the ludicrous 

 blundei' of the translator of Bory de St. Vincent's Travels, who has rendered 

 it ' the corner of mine,' instead of ' the Gunner's Quoin.' " 



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