THE 



NATURALIST IN JAMAICA 



INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE. ' 



On the 20th of October, 1844, I sailed from the 

 Thames for Jamaica. The early portion of the 

 voyage presented nothing so worthy of notice as the 

 rapid change of climate. Three weeks' run ex- 

 changed the chilly fogs and frosts of a London 

 autumn for an atmosphere so hot, that even a sheet 

 on one's bed at night was too oppressive to be en- 

 dured. The dark grey waves of the north, swelling 

 and surging with hoarse roar and crests of driving 

 foam, were left behind ; and were replaced by the 

 delightful stillness of the tropic sea, where the sun's 

 rays piercing into the depth, imparted a beautiful 

 azure tint, approaching to pale Antwerp blue, to 

 the transparent water ; and the little crests of the 

 rippling surface, as they rose and fell, and broke into 

 drops beneath the unclouded light, glittered and 

 sparkled gloriously. 



The sight of a large "Whale, doubtless a Rorqual 

 {Balcenoptera), as I distinctly saw his dorsal, wallowing 

 B 



