50 
AT SEA. 
latitudes, of between 38° and 40°, in which we now keep : the breeze 
is increasing. A very great quantity of birds accompany us, chiefly 
albatrosses, Cape geese, pintados, and a bird called by the sailors 
the silver bird. Occasionally a few of Mother Carey's chickens have 
appeared. 
December 1. — Cape hens have appeared, and very large flights 
of birds. We are approaching the volcanic isles of Paul and 
Amsterdam ; the breeze continues steady. We have run the last 
three days 12,2 miles, yet could never complain of the motion: for 
two hours we went 12 miles an hour. 
December 3. — At four in the morning Captain Weltden called 
me, when we were abreast of the island of St. Paul, distant about 
five leagues ; it bore W. by N. and by our observations it should 
be in 38*^ 6' south, and 77° 16' east; Amsterdam in 38° 42' south, 
and 7 7° 20' east. We have now left the Cape nearly a month, and 
had not the weather at first been so unfavourable, should have had 
a very fine passage ; as it is, we have made 62° of longitude since 
the 15 th of November; and by our log we have run 3^83 miles, 
which averages about 18^ per day. We were to day in 78° 22' east 
of London, and are beginning to bear up towards the north, from 
necessity, not choice, as the wind is getting to the eastward. 
December 4 — The weather is very fine ; but the wind is too 
much to the east, which has carried us into 35° 41' south. The 
air is sensibly warmer, and the sea perfectly smooth. At twelve 
o'clock the wind obliged us to steer N. by W. 
December 1^.— Latitude ^7° 24\ longitude 93° 82'. For these last 
three days we have had very pleasant, though fresh breezes from 
the west, which have brought us into this latitude and longitude. 
