TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER I, 



AT SEA. 



Departure from Havre — Tempest in the Channel — Harbouring in 

 Weymouth — N earing the Tropics — Dead Sea — Wonderful Sun- 

 sets — Baptism of the Line — Crossing the Equator — Flying Fishes 

 — Dolphins — Shark and Pilot Fishes — Sucking Fishes — Fishing 

 Petrels — Giant Albatross — Cape Horn — Whalebone Whales — 

 Cachalot Wales — Tempest — Juan Fernandez Island. 



WE EMBARKED at Havre, on the 19th of January, 185 1, 

 ^§ in the sailing ship, l'Union, commanded by Captain 

 Morley. From the igth to the 26th we had very stormy 

 weather, the rudder was broken, several yards were carried 

 away, and we were compelled to put into the port of 

 Weymouth to repair damages. A sad beginning for a voyage 

 from Havre to San Francisco, round Cape Horn. We stayed 

 at Weymouth five days. This was my first landing in 

 England, the hospitable country, which, afterwards, I selected 

 as a residence for many years. 



In reading my diary, after forty-two years, I am 'very 

 much amused with the juvenile remarks which I made then on 

 Weymouth. The first thing I mention is that Weymouth is 

 a pretty town, with pi6luresque green walks, from which a 

 fine sea view is enjoyed. We went to the market, which was 

 kept then on Wednesdays and Saturdays. On Saturdays, 

 ladies finely dressed, were seen marketing, and I did consider 

 it a very pretty and agreeable sight for visitors. As I have 

 never been again to Weymouth, I don't know if it is still so. 

 In the market we bought some fine and good apples, eight for 

 twopence, which I thought cheap. We had a glass of beer 

 at the Crown Hotel, and I made the remark that the ale was 

 sweet and nice, and the porter very bitter and strong. I also 

 noticed that the saloon was a fine room, and well heated, 

 that there were no balconies to the houses, and lastly, my 

 attention was called to the coaches ; as of very good make 

 and fine appearance, with accommodation for about fifteen 

 people, the outside being reserved for gentlefolks. 



