254 PROFESSOR SMITH'S JOURNAL. 



finite variet}^ of colours, presented an interesting appear- 

 ance never witnessed in the northeiTi hemisphere without 

 the tropic. The other parts of the canopy of heaven were 

 mostly bright, except when they were overcast with a 

 squall. The wind that preceded and followed the latter 

 was seldom strong, but the rain fell in such torrents and 

 in such large drops, as to keep the surface of the water 

 smooth. We had not any opportunity of making ob- 

 servations on the depth of the sea. The polar-star was 

 sinking low towards the horizon, and it was with ditRculty 

 w^e could discover it for the fog, in order to bid it iarewell, 

 for God knows how long a time. New constellations 

 were making their appearance towards the south. The 

 brio-ht-olinimerino; stars of the Cross and the beautiful 

 form of tiie Scorpion, were seen in the course of the night. 

 The heat during the day was intense, but I did not feel 

 greater inconvenience from it, than I had experienced 

 upon former occasions. The evenings were cool and 

 agreeable. During the last fourteen days I was oc( upied 

 Avith examining the plants I had collected in St. Jago, 

 and this en)ployment being now finished, I am about to 

 make some sketches of the physical objects of that island. 

 On the evening of the 'SSth, Fitzmaurice and myself set 

 out in a boat to make obsen-alions on the current. The 

 sea was quite smooth, but a gentle swelling from the west, 

 and an uncommonly dark cloud trom that c|uarter, indica- 

 ted an approaching change in ihe state of the weather. In 

 tlie night I was awakened by the motion of the vessel, and 

 £»ii arising, I saw the Congo again taken in tow, and the 



