504 
VOYAGE TO ENGLAND. 
[1814. 
€d with large blue spots, in the middle of which was a 
red spot like a drop of blood — the green as it descend- 
ed gradually became lighter till lost in the colour of the 
finest gold — this yellow became paler till lost in white 
which was the colour of the belly. The fins were 
equally ornamented. The shape, of the finest sym- 
metry. It was about three feet and a half long. When 
cut up, one large and several small flying fishes were 
found in its stomach. When boiled it was nearly as 
white as snow under the skin, and had a delicate taste. 
The heavens are generally cloiided near the line, w'hich 
serves as an umbrella to protect from the burning rays 
of a vertical sun. 
On the 21 St the sun crossed the equator, and I had 
an opportunity to see verified Dr. Franklin's assertion, 
that oil thrown upon agitated water will smooth it. A 
South-Sea whaler near us pumped out her bilge water, 
which was mixed with oil, when the sea, for a quarter 
of a mile behind her, became as smooth as glass. On 
the 31st. we passed, about a thousand miles to westt 
ward of the Cape de Verd Islands. 
On the 4tb of April we crossed the tropic of Cancer, 
^md entered the temperate zone, pleased to leave the 
torrid behind us, when some on board said they began 
to smell European air. On the 7th, though at a great 
distance from land, we observed much sea-weed mov- 
ing past us. A whaler ran foul of us, which for some 
minutes excited considerable alarm ; but providentially 
