1852.] 
SHORT OF WATER. 
399 
there being soundings, probably some rock at a moderate 
depth. Many dolphins swam about the boats ; their 
colours when seen in the water are superb, the most 
gorgeous metallic hues of green, blue, and gold : I was 
never tired of admiring them. 
On the 13th the wind was due west, blowing exactly 
from the point we wanted to go to. The day was very 
fine, and there were several stormy petrels, or Mother 
Cary’s chickens, flying about us. We had now been a 
week in the boats, and were only half-way to the Islands, 
so we put all hands on short allowance of water before 
it was too late. The sun was very hot and oppressive, 
and we sufiered much from thirst. 
The 14th was calm, and we could not get on at all. 
The sun was scorching and we had no shelter, and were 
parched with thirst the whole day. Numerous dolphins 
and pilot-flsh were about the boats. At night there was 
a very slight favourable breeze, and as we had by this 
time got our clothes pretty dry we slept well. 
On the 15tli the wind again died away, and we had 
another calm. The sea was full of minute Medusce, 
called “ blubber ” by the sailors : some were mere whit- 
ish oval or spherical lumps, others were brown, and 
beautifully constructed like a little cap, swimming ra- 
pidly along by alternate contractions and expansions, 
and so expelling the water behind them. The day was 
very hot, and we sufiered exceedingly from thirst. We 
were almost in despair about seeing a ship, or getting 
on to the Islands. At about 5 p.m., while taking our 
dinner, we saw the long-boat, which was at some distance 
from us, tack. ‘‘ She must see a sail,” said the Captain, 
