KAMTSCHATKA. 



THE wind, which continued favourable to us 

 as far as the Northern Tropic, was succeeded 

 by a calm that lasted twelve days. The ocean, 

 as far as the eye could reach, was as smooth as 

 a mirror, and the heat almost insupportable. 

 Sailors only can fully understand the disagree- 

 ableness of this situation. The activity usual 

 on shipboard gave place to the most wearisome 

 idleness. Every one was impatient; some of the 

 men felt assured that we should never have a 

 wind again, and wished for the most violent 

 storm as a change. 



One morning we had the amusement of 

 watching two great sword-fish sunning them 

 selves on the surface of the water. I sent out a 

 boat, in the hope that the powerful creatures 

 would, in complaisance, allow us the sport of 

 B 2 



