UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 9 



9^/i. We have been looking at a grampus, or 

 a small kind of whale, and at a shoal of porpoises, 

 that passed close alongside of the ship. The 

 grampus was blowing water up in the air, in the 

 most amusing manner, making beautiful jets d'eau 

 that sparkled in the sun. The captain told me 

 that in sucking in their food the whale tribe draw 

 in a great deal of water, which they have the 

 power of spouting out through a hole in the head. 



13th. Yesterday we crossed the tropic of 

 Cancer. There is already a great change in the 

 sea, which was so beautifully smooth while we 

 were in the torrid zone, that we danced almost 

 every evening; but now it is rough and dis- 

 turbed, and at times the waves break so violently 

 that I see nothing but foam. I like very much 

 to look at them in that state. 



. Mrs. P - and I have seen several 

 dolphins ; one of them was struck with the har- 

 poon, and, while hanging upon deck, it was 

 continually changing into an endless variety of 

 colours. The back was blue, then green ; its 

 breast a brilliant orange or yellow, spotted with 

 blue and lilac; and its fins were just like a 

 peacock's neck. Indeed, the captain called it 

 the " peacock of fishes." 



The sea is now quite rough the tranquil water 

 we had while near the line is gone ; and I some- 



