HOMEWARD BOUND. 8l 



Jay. We are half-way between New Zealand and 

 Magellan Straits, and until this morning a large number 

 of albatross have followed the ship, but now not one is 

 to be seen. Two other kinds of sea-birds have taken 

 their places : one resembling a large sea-gull, the other 

 a small sea-gull with brown wings. A few petrel con- 

 tinue with us, but the most of them have disappeared. 

 Perhaps their departure is occasioned by a coming 

 storm. We have remaining on board 107 tons of coaL"^ 

 At 6.30 P.M. shortened and furled sail, then sounded in 

 2467 fathoms, lat. 49° 28' S., long. 132° 28' W.; gray 

 sand. At 8.10 p.m. made sail and hauled fires. In the 

 afternoon the wind backed to the westward, and at 10 

 P.M. to N.W. by W., increasing in force to a moderate 

 gale with fresh squalls and rain. Current 0.6 knot per 

 hour, setting S. 63° E. Barometer at midnight 29.62,, 

 temperature 48°. 



November 27. Began with cloudy, unsettled, 

 threatening weather. Stiff breeze to moderate gale, 

 with an occasional heavy squall from W.N. W. to W. by 

 N., accompanied by drizzling rain. Long following 

 and heavy sea. Ship rolling deeply ; greatest roll ob- 

 served, 30° each way. At 5.50 a.m. a heavy sea carried 

 away the port whaleboat. At 8.30 a.m. shortened sail; 

 and lay to under stormsails and double-reefed maim 

 top-sail. At 9.15 a.m. started fires in order to have- 

 steam ready in case of necessity. Barometer 29.50 at 

 10 a.m., remained steady until 4 p.m., then rose quite 

 rapidly. At 3 p.m. the wind veered to the southward 



