THE " NUMA." 



79 



coolness of an atmosphere^ which^ at this dis- 

 tance from the Andes^ is always overcast, may- 

 be the reason why they are not met with here, 

 as in the other sea. 



March 19. — After the calm had continued 

 as I have stated, we gradually received the 

 breeze in our sails, and have ever since been 

 making the best use of our time with a 

 favourable wind, to near our port, which we 

 expect to reach in three or four days. A New- 

 foundland dog, brought by the captain of the 

 Numa, from the coast of Labrador, has afforded 

 us some amusement. Whenever the ship is 

 going slowly through the water, or has been 

 becalmed, if he happens to be loose, he catches 

 the eye of some sailor, and jumps down from 

 the gangway into the sea; here he swims 

 about, vigorously, for half an hour, without 

 any desire to be taken up ; when he appears 



