COASTS OF AUSTRALIA. 
219 
ai3 yet neither albatrosses nor pintadoes had 1822 . 
made their appearance. During the short cessa- 
tion of the trade the atmosphere was very dry, 
until the south-easterly winds returned, when it 
became more humid ; but as we approached the 
southern limit of this S.E. wind, which may be 
considered to bear more of the character of a 
periodical wind than the trade, the atmosphere 
became altogether drier: it carried us as far as 
32° 40' S. and 96° 42' W., before it veered to 
the northward of east, when, after a calm, we 
had north-easterly winds and fine weather, of 
which we made good use. 
The first albatross was seen in 3l|° South, 
and was flying about the brig at the same time 
with a tropic bird, which is a remarkable occur- 
rence, for I never saw the latter bird before so 
far without the tropic ; but here was one nearly 
five hundred miles to the southward of it, and 
at least three hundred leagues from the nearest 
land ; an albatross {diomedea emlans, Linn.) was 
shot, but did not measure more than, nine feet 
nine inches across the tips of the wings. 
On the 25th of February we examined our 25 . 
water, and found the casks so much damaged by 
rats, that instead of having thirteen tons we had 
only nine on board, but as this was thought to 
be sufficient for our voyage, the daily issue was 
not reduced : on the 28th of March, however, it 
