12 
On the 7 th of January, during very stormy weather, I dis- 
embarked. I had all my things brought ashore, including the 
instruments and the apparatus necessary for my future operations. 
I had to leave my cabin, which had so long been my shelter, 
and to which I had become so much attached; and one of my 
colleagues occupied it after me. 
The departure of the Novara for Tahiti was fixed for the 8 lh of 
January. At break of day I was on board. After the several stormy 
days, which had delayed her departure, this was the first calm, 
bright morning. The frigate was ready to set sail, and was only 
waiting for a breeze to spring up, and for a change of the current 
at the time of low-water. About 8 a. m. the command was given 
to weigh anchor, and for me the sad moment of parting had ar- 
rived. To separate myself suddenly and for good from a ship, 
that had been my home for nearlv two years, and the fate of which 
had been so closely linked to mine, cost me many a bitter pang. 
I tried to return thanks to the noble Commodore, and the gallant 
Commandant, but my voice failed me; I pressed the hands of my 
late fellow-travellers, my companions in joy and sorrow, who 1 
saw were as sad at heart as myself. However, the band commenced 
playing; up went the anchor, the sails were unfurled, I hastened 
down the rope-ladder into my boat, — and made for the shore. 
Before I had reached the land, the Novara with studding sails was 
gliding along the placid, watery mirror, buoyed up by a gentle 
breeze. I stood gazing after her for a long long while, wishing her a 
safe voyage and a happy return to my native home. After the 
body of the vessel had disappeared behind the Northshore, I still 
saw her mast-heads; for a moment the whole ship was once more vis- 
ible above the low country; many a last farewell was waved to her 
by her friends on land, unobserved, however, by those on board; the 
breeze grew fresher, and the Novara had vanished from the horizon. 
It was not till then, that 1 awoke to a full sense of the no- 
velty and change of my situation. The Novara was a piece of my 
native home; on her I had felt at home even while abroad in far 
distant countries. In my previous travels I had been among friends 
