22 



VOYAGE TO RIO. 



skim over the tops of the wave, to avoid the 

 vessel^ and the large fish in pursuit of them. 

 These last frequently jump high out of the 

 water, in the endeavour to spring upon their 

 flying prey. At first I took these fish for 

 swallows ; as their skimming motion, and long 

 fins, resemble that bird when on the wing. 

 They are often half a minute suspended above 

 the sea. 



Officers harpooning at the end of the stud- 

 ding-sail boom, but without success. Fish 

 called Albicore, not so large as sharks, are 

 swimming all round the ship. One of them, 

 which was struck several days ago, still keeps 

 with us. We can identify him by an injury on 

 his scales, inflicted by the point of the har- 

 poon. 



The glass is at 78° in the shade, and our 

 rate not less than eight miles per hour. I had 



