254 PROFESSOR SMITH’S JOURNAL. 
finite variety of colours, presented an interesting appear- 
ance never witnessed in the northern hemisphere without 
the trepic. The other parts of the canopy of heaven were 
mostly bright, except when they were overcast with a 
squall. The wind that preceded and followed the latter 
was seldom strong, but the rain fell in such torrents and 
in such large drops, as to keep the surface of the water 
smooth. We had not any opportunity of making ob- 
servations on the depth of the sea. The polar-star was 
sinking low towards the horizon, and it was with difficulty 
we could discover it for the fog, in order to bid it farewell, 
for God knows how long a time. New constellations 
were making their appearance towards the south. The 
bright-glimmering stars of the Cross and the beautiful 
form of the Scorpion, were seen in the course of the night. 
The heat during the day was intense, but I did not feel 
greater inconvenience from it, than I had experienced 
upon former occasions. The evenings were cool and 
agreeable. During the last fourteen days I was occupied 
with examining the plants I had collected in St. Jago, 
and this employment being now finished, I am about to 
make some sketches of the physical objects of that island. 
On the evening of the 28th, Fitzmaurice and myself set 
out in a boat to make observations on the current. The 
sea was quite smooth, but a gentle swelling from the west, 
and an uncommonly dark cloud from that quarter, indica- 
ted an approaching change in he state of the weather. In 
ihe night I was awakened by the motion of the vessel, and 
on arising, I saw the Congo again taken in tow, and the 
