16 JOURNEY TO THE SHORES 



(procellaria puffinus), and not unfrequently 

 saw shoals of grampusses sporting about, 

 which the Greenland seamen term finners, 

 from their large dorsal fin. Some por- 

 poises occasionally appeared, and whenever 

 they did, the crew were sanguine in their 

 expectation of having a speedy change in 

 the wind, which had been so vexatiously 

 contrary, but they were disappointed in 

 every instance. 



Thursday, July 1. — The month of July 

 set in more favourably ; and, aided by fresh 

 breezes, we advanced rapidly to the west- 

 ward, attended daily by numerous fulmars 

 and shearwaters. The Missionary brig 

 had parted company on the 22d of June. 

 We passed directly over that part of the 

 ocean where the " Sunken Land of Buss" 

 is laid down in the old, and continued in 

 the Admiralty charts. Mr. Bell, the com- 

 mander of the Eddystone, informed me, 

 that the pilot who brought his ship down 

 the Thames told him, that he had gained 

 soundings in twelve feet somewhere here- 

 about; and I am rather inclined to attri- 



i 



