VOYAGE. 61 



which I spent with iny excellent friend Ward, in Cobham, 

 Kent, to much gratification. I then took farewell of English 

 botany, and I hope in a week more to say " How d'ye do ?" to 

 the Cape Flora. No news to tell. Roly-poly all day long and 

 all the night. I have just unhinged my sofa, and slung me a 

 cot, and am to-night to swing for the first time. May my dreams 

 be Elysian. Last night they were all about Coleridge, and 

 what could Jbe more dreamy ? 



Septemher 10th. To use the words of an illustrious poet, in 

 one of his divine compositions, " Hope begins to wear a sallow 

 cheek !" Truly our hopes are now cadaverous-looking enough. 

 Slow going onwards. Oh, for " the dull, tame shore !" A poor 

 Cape pigeon was made to taste of death three times, and yet 

 lived. First attempt : Mr. E. tried to choke him by pressing 

 his chest ; he gasped and yielded his limbs to passiveness, so 

 was stowed away in a locker, for dead. Soon after I went to 

 look at him : behold he had revived, so I choked him afresh, and 

 left him as I thought finished off ; but Mr. B. coming by, found 

 him again resuscitated, and he choked him until he was tired, 

 and of course thought the third time would succeed, but the 

 unfortunate animal in a quarter of an hour was charming well 

 again. After this who would touch him ? He got a reprieve, 

 and was sent to an empty hencoop, where he yet lies, and bids 

 fair to see Cape Town. Haply he belongs to the spirit of mist 

 and snow, and might prove an ugly customer to meddle with. 

 It would be no pleasant thing to prove the distich — 



" Oh, wretch ! said they, the bird to slay- 

 That made the breeze to blow 1" 



I don't want to have him hung round my neck, a weight 

 grievous to be borne ; so I shall say, Kequiescat in pace. 



Septemher 11th. The wind blows from the precise point we 

 want to steer for, and as long as it does so, we must be content 

 to rest where we are, dodging about. I skinned a Cape pigeon 

 to-day : was not that well ? The poor wretch recorded yesterday 

 was let loose to-day with a red ribbon tied round his neck. A 

 great many albatrosses. We tried to catch them, but in vain ; 

 they snapped at the bait, but declined the hook. Knowing- 

 fellows ! 



September l?>th. Sunday. This was a lovely, yea, a blessed 



