56 
MAX OVERBOARD. 
sions tliat we are iold five millions may pass through the 
eye of a cambric-needle at the same time without elbow- 
ing each other. So much for the Cape of Good Hope ; 
—with its ugly women, songless birds, and odorless 
flowers. 
I have already remarked that it was November 9, and 
that we were again at sea. The first day out, while we 
wore all three running along before a glorious breeze, the 
Vinceuncs suddenly lost a man overboard, and a most 
lively scene ensued while picking him up. Helms were 
shoved hurriedly down, studding-sails slapped and flapped 
in the most approved style, boats were lowered, ships 
came up into the wind, and, finally, the unfortunate 
clumsy was rescued from “a watery grave.” Night 
closed around us, and we parted company: the Vin- 
cennes and Porpoise to skirt the coral reefs of southern 
latitudes, and we to make the best of our way to Batavia. 
One of those singular accidents which sailors in parti- 
cular are disposed to regard in a miraculous light now 
occurred on board, and gave us something to talk about. 
AVe were eating our first sea-breakfiist : all of the mess, 
save the otfieer of the deck, were at the table, and the ship 
was beating slowly to the eastward against a light breeze. 
Suddenly our assistant hydrographer, Mr. Samuel Potts, 
of AVashington, remarked that he had “ dreamed a dream” 
about his box of clothes, which, having failed to reach 
him before sailing from home, his friends had promised 
to ship to China. “I dreamt,” he said, “that we were 
l\ing becalmed near a merchant-ship, that we lowered a 
boat and boarded her, and that the boat returned with 
my box.” Nothing more was said or thought on the sub- 
