2 At sea. 



Having completed our repairs, we left Weymouth on the 

 ist of February, with fine weather and a good breeze, which 

 lasted until the 14th, during which time we made 1350 miles, 

 leaving Madeira far back. During those days we saw many 

 birds, porpoises, fishes, heteropods (Nautilus), and seaweeds, 

 with large quantities of shells attached to them. 



During the 15th, i6th, 17th, and i8th, we had very foul 

 weather, and ran great dangers, all the passengers being 

 sea-sick all these days, but fortunately, on the 19th the wind 

 abated. We were then close to the Canary Islands, which 

 coasts we saw plainly during several hours. Birds and tor- 

 toises were plentiful. Up to the 2nd of March we had 

 beautiful and warm weather. On the 3rd of March we saw, 

 for the first time, the Southern Cross, an indication that we 

 were nearing the Equator. Up to the 9th, the wind left off 

 entirely, and, during that time, we lost many miles, carried 

 away back by adverse currents. Nothing is more tedious at 

 sea than a complete calm ; although I must say that I enjoyed 

 it very much, fishing every day, notwithstanding the heat. 

 We hooked many fishes, among which was one shark, measuring 

 thirteen feet in length. It was rather an exciting scene to 

 hoist the monster on board. When young, the flesh is eat- 

 able but not succulent. The one we caught was cut to pieces, 

 the dorsal fin, skin, and jaw cleaned, and sold to a passenger 

 as curiosities. Sticks are made with the dorsal fin. The 

 vitality of these fishes is wonderful. After being cut into 

 many pieces, the inside emptied of its contents, the head cut 

 off, this last part retained sufficent strength to close its jaws 

 on some objects if put into its mouth. It is also prudent not 

 to approach its tail, with which it can give a blow, strong 

 enough to break arms or legs of the careless looker-on. To 

 avoid these dangers, the tail is securely fastened, and a stick 

 of some sort is introduced between the jaws during the pro- 

 cess of cutting and skinning. The skin is very hard, and can 

 be used for the manufacture of bags and such like. These 

 fishes are usually caught with a large hook baited with salted 

 pork. 



On the evening of the 9th of March we had the mag- 

 nificent spectacle of a tropical sunset, which lasted about 

 half-an-hour. The sky was covered with black clouds, lined 

 with fiery gold and silver, and surrounded with every variety 

 of colour, blue, rose, pink, orange, and red. Every minute or 

 so there was a change of scenery, now representing animals 

 of gigantic sizes, changing as quickly into castles, cathedrals, 



