96 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



often weighs close to five hundred pounds, though only 

 three or four feet in length. 



Another fish, which is not quite as common, however, 

 is the bonito, about one and a half to two feet long and 

 closely resembling our pike. I never remember having 

 seen him deeper than ten to fifteen feet from the surface, 

 where it appeared in beautiful golden and emerald col- 

 ors, but I dare not say that such is in reality its make-up, 

 as one is often deceived by the bluish transparency of 

 the water in tropical climates, which gives a lustre to 

 the color of the fishes which they lose as soon as they 

 are taken out of their element. 



These are the four kinds which one meets most fre- 

 quently, as other species are rarely seen and never in 

 great numbers. For instance, it happened on the 14th of 

 July, toward evening, that we observed two ores (a small 

 sort of whale) which passed close by our ship and we 

 were able to see their protruding backs, which easily 

 measured twelve feet in length and two or three feet vis- 

 ible width. But you will ask in astonishment: "Where 

 is the much dreaded shark?" Strangely enough, I have 

 seen but one during my whole voyage. This said shark 

 was seen by us all on Wednesday, July the 9th, in the 

 afternoon and there is no need of telling you that our 

 whole ship became alarmed, while it did not bother itself 

 at all about us, following its course in crossing our keel. 

 Whales were more numerous, especially in more southern 

 regions, where the jumping fish and other species afore- 

 mentioned came no more in sight. All counted, I may 

 have seen twenty of them, mostly at a distance. 



Thus much about the fishes and now back to my trip. 



For ten successive days we had the North East Mon- 

 soon filling our sails, and experienced but one short inter- 

 ruption on the fourth of July, when a fresh East wind 

 set in; the remaining time till the eleventh of July there 

 was absolutely no change, not even in the wind's force. 

 Our lar sails were up day and night, which increased our 

 rapidity considerably. 



The weather remained cool and agreeable and every- 



