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THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



93 



immense curves, then dashing along the deep trough of 

 the sea, going round our vessel (always out of gun-reach) 

 as if she had been at anchor. Their lower parts are 

 white, the head all white, and the upper part of the body 

 and wings above sooty brown. I would imagine that one 

 of these Petrels flies over as much distance in one hour, as 

 one of the little black Petrels in our wake does in twelve. 

 Since we have left the neighborhood of the Banks, these 

 birds have gradually disappeared, and now in latitude 44°, 

 53' I see none. Our captain and sailors speak of them 

 as companions in storms, as much as their little relations 

 Mother Carey's chickens. 



As suddenly as if we had just turned the summit of a 

 mountain dividing a country south of the equator from 

 Iceland, the weather altered in the present latitude and 

 longitude. My light summer clothing was not sufficient, 

 and the dews that fell at night rendered the deck, where I 

 always slept, too damp to be comfortable. This, however, 

 of two evils I preferred, for I could not endure the more 

 disagreeable odors of the cabin, where now the captain, 

 officers, and Mr. Swift, eat their meals daily. The length 

 of the days has increased astonishingly ; at nine o'clock 



1 can easily read large print. Dawn comes shortly after 



2 A.M., and a long day is before us. 



At Sea — July, 1826. We had several days a stiff 

 breeze that wafted us over the deep fully nine miles an 

 hour. This was congenial to my wishes, but not to my 

 feelings. The motion of the vessel caused violent head- 

 aches, far more distressing than any seasickness I had ever 

 experienced. Now, for the third or fourth time, I read 

 Thomson's " Seasons," and I believe enjoyed them better 

 than ever. 



Among our live stock on board, we had a large hen. 

 This bird was very tame and quite familiar with the ins 

 and outs of the vessel, and was allowed all the privileges 

 of the deck. She had been hatched on board, and our 



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