12 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



5th and 6th, when nearest to the coast of Africa, where the 

 sea was perfectly covered with them. 



The Congo's decks and sides having become extremely 

 leaky, both from the shrinking of the planks with the heat 

 of the weather, and also apparently from imperfect caulking 

 in the severe weather while she was building, I determined 

 to anchor 24 hours in Porto Praya, to caulk her sides, which 

 could not be done at sea; and accordingly steered for Bo- 

 navista, with a fresh trade at N. E., and the atmosphere very 

 hazy during the day, as it usually is near the Cape Verde 

 islands. On the 8th we passed along the east side of Bo- 

 navista, at the distance of four leagues, and at daylight on 

 the 9th were at the same distance from the west side of 

 Mayo, when we steered for Porto Praya, and anchored in 

 the road in the forenoon. 



With exception of the mollusca, &c. taken up by the 

 towing net, our Naturalists had no subjects to employ them- 

 selves on since entering the tropic; a single flying fish. 

 (Exocatus volitans), the first seen, was found dead on the 

 deck the morning of making Bonavista, but neither dolphin, 

 bonito, albicore, shark, or tropic bird was yet seen. 



