16 WATRY DRAGONS. [169O. 



When tlie Wind is too strong we lower all our Sails, or 

 carry as little as we can. While this Tempest lasts, the Sea 

 is in an extream agitation, and seems to be all on Fire. 

 These Gusts often happen several times in the same Day, 

 daring which the Ships Crew is ev'ry Man hard put to it ; a 

 Calm commonly succeeds in a very little while after the 

 Storm. We also escap'd several watry Dragons,^ and on the 

 12th the Wind ceas'd in the height of 7 Deg. 15 Miii. 



At Night we caught a Bird something like a Woodcock, 

 which Hew about our Ship all day long ; The Mariners kill'd 

 her not so much for the pleasure of eating her, tho' that was 

 worth their while, as to revenge her driving away four 

 Swallows which had follow'd us some time, and every Morn- 

 ing and Night entertain'd us with Musick the more agree- 

 able, because it puts us in mind of the dear Land, which is 

 so well belov'd by all Men that are sailing in the middle of 

 the vast Ocean. 



The loth an hour after Day-light we met with a furious 

 Gust, which brought our Main-top-mast by the Board, having 

 broke the Iron Hoop that bound it. I observe this only be- 

 cause all otir Crew were very much amaz'd at it. 



The lUh we saw a prodigious number of Gold-fish and 

 Bonitas, of which I have spoken. These Fish being well 

 enough known, I did not describe them ; but since I have 

 occasion to speak of 'em again, I have a great mind to tell 

 wliat sort of Fish those were that I saw. 



The Gold-fislr of America, of which Mr. de Boche- 



1 "C'estun de ces grostourbillonsquelesMariuiersappellentTrompes, 

 Pompes ou Dragons d'eau. Ce font comme de longs Tubes ou Cylindres 

 formez de vapeurs epaisses, lesquelles touchent les nues d'une de leurs 

 extremitez, & de Tautre la Mer, qui paroit boiiillonner tout autour." 

 (^Voyage de Siavi, p. 49.) 



2 " In his observations on the dorade honito^ he (Leguat) quotes" (says 

 Schlegel) "Roohefort and Rondeletius, the last of whom he subsequently 

 takes to task severely (p. 89, English edition), and on this occasion it 

 ajipears that, at the time of his return, he took an interest in natural, 



