126 WILD OATS. 



the now rising tempest. It was some time ere its 

 approach either attracted the attention or disturbed 

 the boisterous mirth of the boats' crews, who, with 

 the enviable philosophy of their class, were gaily 

 laughing over the incidents of the day. I had just 

 secured a good latitude by Canopus, when the squall 

 burst upon us from E.S.E., it blew very hard indeed 

 for about an hour, veering round to, and terminat- 

 ing at, N.E., and then all was calm again ; partaking 

 of the general characteristics of previous visitations 

 of the same kind, to which we have been subject 

 since our arrival upon this coast, it lasted for a 

 much less time, as hitherto their average duration 

 had been about three hours. It brought the ther- 

 mometer down to 80°. All was quiet by midnight, 

 and undisturbed by the past we finished the night 

 in peace. Daybreak found us at the eastern end 

 of the island, from which point w^e observed a low 

 strip of land bearing east about 16 miles distant; a 

 fact which re-establishes Captain King's authority, 

 against Mr. Earle's contradiction.* This confirma- 

 tion of that distinguished and able navigator, in 

 some degree reconciled me to the unpropitious dis- 

 covery, that the shores of this great sheet of water 

 were visiblv beorinninof to contract. 



During our walk we noticed the wild oat in great 



abundance. This valuable species of corn is then 



indigenous to this part of the world. Ere long, 



perhaps, the time will arrive when upon the coast, 



* Vide Earle's Eastern Seas, page 451. 



