4 



FEELINGS OF THE PASSENGERS. 



to our view the beautiful island of Madeira^ with 

 its lofty summits enveloped in dark grey clouds ; 

 and the next day we passed the Deserters, bear- 

 ing West^ from whence a fresh departure was 

 taken. We soon began to feel a sensible change 

 of temperature^ accompanied by a continuance 

 of fine weather^ the effects of which were very 

 perceptible amongst our sea-sick passengers, 

 whose spirits beginning to revive^ the stiffness 

 natural to a first introduction^ was soon ex- 

 changed for mutual cordiality; and the usual 

 jokes were commenced upon those who had 

 not been at sea before, (of whom there were 

 several^) such as persuading them that por- 

 poises were young whales^ or that every sail 

 we saw was a pirate bearing down to plun- 

 der us, &c. However ridiculous these things 

 may appear to my readers, the degree of cre- 

 dibility with which they were received was highly 

 amusing to us ; and were it not for a few of 

 these practical jokes now and then, the mono- 

 tony of a sea voyage would sometimes be very 



