THE 
NATURALIST IN JAMAICA. 
INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE. 
On tlie 20th of October, 1844, I sailed from the 
Thames for Jamaica. The early portion of the 
voyage presented nothing so worthy of notice as the 
rapid change of climate. Three weeks’ run ex- 
changed the chilly fogs and frosts of a London 
autumn for an atmosphere so hot, that even a sheet 
on one’s bed at night was too oppressive to be en- 
dured. The dark grey waves of the north, swelling 
and surging with hoarse roar and crests of driving 
foam, were left behind ; and were replaced by the 
delightful stillness of the tropic sea, where the sun’s 
rays piercing into the depth, imparted a beautiful 
azure tint, approaching to pale Antwerp blue, to 
the transparent water; and the little crests of the 
rippling surface, as they rose and fell, and broke into 
drops beneath the unclouded light, glittered and 
sparkled gloriously. 
The sight of a large Whale, doubtless a Rorqual 
{Bal(Bnoptera)i as I distinctly saw his dorsal, wallowing 
B 
