8 
AT SEA. 
islands of a rocky nature, and among others one strongly fortified 
by Tippoo, but for what purpose it would be difficult to conjecture 
as it affords no protection to shipping. Our latitude at this time, 
was 14*^27' 22'' N. Mangalore is 12M5', 
Till the 26th we had the wind inclining to the west, and conse- 
quently made little way. The calms had been frequent, yet the heat 
had never been unpleasant, and the sea had been as smooth as glass. 
We were on that day in long. 68° 40' 15", and had at length got hold 
of the N. E. monsoon. Our latitude was much the same as when we 
sailed, viz. 12° 1' 37". When it is so late in the season, it would be 
better to sail from Bombay, as the monsoon at that time still keeps 
close to the shore. As the vessel was lightened by consumption of 
stock, she sailed better. The delay was the less disagreeable, as it 
gave me time to prepare charts of the Red Sea from the logs we 
had procured. 
The men caught a dolphin,* a most beautiful fish, generally from 
two to three feet long. When in the water it appears of a rich 
dark blue, or green, or golden yellow colour, according to the point 
of view in which it is beheld. On being caught, it changes rapidly. 
The body at first is chiefly orange, spotted with the brightest blue : 
the fins are green, and then blue. The dorsal fin, when the fish is 
dying, is of a dark green throughout. The ventral fins lie close to 
the body, where there is a hollow that partly receives them : these 
are of a bright gold-coloured orange on the outside; on the inside, 
when alive, bright blue ; when nearly dead, a dark green. The 
anal fin, during life, is blue and light gold colour ; at death, lighter, 
and silvery : the caudal the same. The pupil of the eye dark : the 
* Coryphaena equisetalis. 
