1852.] 
LOSS OF COLLECTIONS. 
401 
foot but my own had trodden, would have been recalled 
to my memory by the rare birds and insects they had 
fimiished to my collection ! How many weary days and 
weeks had I passed, upheld only by the fond hope of 
bringing home many new and beautiful forms from those 
wild regions ; every one of which would be endeared to 
me by the recollections they would call up, — which 
should prove that I had not wasted the advantages I had 
enjoyed, and would give me occupation and amusement 
for many years to come ! And now everything was gone, 
and I had not one specimen to illustrate the unknown 
lands I had trod, or to call back the recollection of the 
wild scenes I had beheld ! But such regrets I knew 
were vain, and I tried to think as little as possible about 
what might have been, and to occupy myself wdth the 
state of things which actually existed. 
On the 22nd of August we saw three water-spouts, 
the first time I had beheld that curious phenomenon. I 
had much wished once to witness a storm at sea, and 
I was soon gratified. 
Early in September we had a very heavy gale. The 
barometer had fallen nearly half an inch during the 
night ; and in the morning it was blowing strong, and we 
had a good deal of canvas up, when the Captain began 
to shorten sail ; but before it could be taken in, four 
or five sails were blown to pieces, and it took several 
hours to get the others properly stowed. By the after- 
noon we were driving along under double-reefed top- 
sails. The sea was all in a foam, and dashed continually 
over us. By night a very heavy sea was up, and we 
rolled about fearfully, the water pouring completely over 
D D 
