86 DOUGLAS' JOURNAL 



Philadelphia, forty-seven days from that port ; bound for Valparaiso, we 

 cherished the hope of keeping company with her, but during the night a 

 violent storm came on and we saw no more of her. 



Thursday, September 2nd. Very light wind and continued heavy rain 

 throughout the day ; from seven o'clock in the evening until ten at night 

 it fell in torrents. Thermometer 82 and 78. 



Friday, September 3rd. Cool and pleasant in the morning. Thermo- 

 meter 84 and 79. Heavy rain afternoon. I Preserved three specimens 

 of a curious zoophyte which surrounded the vessel last night in immense 

 shoals, producing a beautiful illumination. On being put in a bucket of 

 sea- water they retained the same power for a few minutes and then died. / 



Saturday, September 4th. Damp and cool ; sun invisible at noon. 

 Thermometer 81, and 77 in the water. As usual, heavy rain in the 

 evening. 



Sunday, September 5th. '-Light airs of wind from south-west. Visited 

 by great flocks of a small sort of bird, about the size of the European 

 lapwing ; the form of the wings and manner of flying also resembled it. 

 Thermometer at noon in the shade 82, on the surface of the water 79. 

 Exceedingly pleasant in the afternoon and evening. 



Monday, September f>th. Wind from the south. Thermometer 81, 

 and 77 in the water, one degree colder than yesterday, arising from the 

 greater agitation of the water. Great numbers of petrels following the 

 vessel. Lat. 4 north long. 



Tuesday, September 1th. Morning cool and pleasant ; fanning wind 

 from the south. Thermometer 84 and 80. Continued the same 

 throughout the day. 



Wednesday, September 8th. Morning pleasant with light wind from the 

 south. Thermometer 81, and in the water 76 ; the difference to-day 

 between the temperature of the air and water is much greater than a 

 person would suppose. 



Thursday, September th. As is usual, the pleasantest, and consistently 

 the coolest time of the day is from daylight until eight or nine o'clock in the 

 morning. Wind from the south. Thermometer 79, and in the water 76. 

 Very pleasant towards evening ; heavy dews during the night, and particu- 

 larly so as the day has been warm, succeeded by a calm night. Saw no 

 birds for some days past. 



Friday, September 10th. Wind light and cool from the south-west. 

 Warm during the middle of the day. Thermometer 86 in the shade, in 

 the water 79 ; the difference to-day greater than ever before, being 7 at 

 eight o'clock in the evening. 1 The god of the seas paid us a visit and 

 informed us that he would hold a levee the following day. \ 



Saturday, September llth. Heavy rain during the most of last night, 

 with light wind from the south-east. I At ten o'clock this morning Neptune, 

 accompanied with his guard of honour, fulfilled his promise made last 

 night, when all his unqualified sons had an interview with his Majesty. 



The day was passed with much pleasure, j 



Sunday, September I2th. Fine, clear, and dry wind, south-N.W. 

 Thermometer 82 and 80 ; cool and pleasant in the evening. 



