xxxiv JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. A sailor from the fore-chains, in a dismal voice aggravated by a speaking-trumpet, hailed Captain Manning as if from the sea, and after a short conversation carried on with becoming gravity, Neptune was supposed to take his leave, and a barrel, with a lighted candle in it, was sent off from the fore-chains to represent his boat dropping astern. I was much struck by the time during which this continued visible at intervals, rising and sinking on the swell, till it was, at least, two miles distant, and grew tired of watching it. Our latitude was this day 2° 10' N. Several large birds were seen, which we were told were "tropic birds." I July 26.-To-day we passed the line, and the greater part of it was spent in the mummeries usual on such occasions, which went off very well and in good-humour. The passengers were not liable to the usual interrogatories and shaving, but the male part of them took their share in the splashing and wetting, which made up the main fun of these naval saturnalia. I was a good deal surprised at the contrivance exhibited by the masqueraders, in dressing out (with help of a little oakum and paint, a few fish-skins and decayed finery) the various characters of Neptune, Amphitrite, Mercury, Triton, &c. with far more attention to classical costume than I expected. With the distance and usual aids of a theatre, the show would not have been contemptible, while there was, as might be supposed, a sufficient mixture of the ludicrous to suit the poses of fun and caricature. pur JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. XXXV July 27.-We had again prayers and a sermon. July 28.-Our progress continued rapid and our course favourable. The latitude to-day was 4° 40′ S. The night was very beautiful; and from our situation on the globe, we had the opportunity of seeing many of the most considerable constellations of both hemispheres. Those of the northern heaven fall far short of the other in number and brilliancy; even the cross, for which I had looked with much earnestness of expectation, and in which I had long taken a sort of romantic interest, is neither extensive nor conspicuous except from the comparative paucity of its neighbours. The Great Bear still (though on the verge, instead of being at the summit of the sky) retains its splendid pre-eminence over the whole host of heaven. The Pole Star has disappeared.. The Magellanic clouds are not yet visible. How We have now been six weeks on board. little did I dream, at this time last year, that I should ever be in my present situation! How strange it now seems to recollect the interest which I used to take in all which related to Southern seas, and distant regions, to India and its oceans, to Australasia and Polynesia. I used to fancy I should like to visit them, but that I ever should be able to do so, never occurred to me. Now that I shall see many of these countries, if life is spared to me, seems not improbable. God grant that my conduct in the scenes to which he has appointed me, may xxxvi JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. be such as to conduce to His glory, and to my own salvation through His Son! July 30.-Our progress again good. The weather continues pleasant and remarkably cool for the latitude. The wind brisk and sea rough. The evenings now shut in very soon; and, even at tea, it is necessary to have the lamps lighted in the cuddy. July 31.-Our latitude this day was 12° 54'. A fine run, and one of the longest which Captain Manning remembers making in this part of the voyage. Yet, which is remarkable, all the vessels, the track of which is pricked on his great chart, appear to have made their longest run nearly in the same latitude. Captain Manning thinks that the strength of the wind in this particular part of the ocean is occasioned by the projection of South America, and the rarified state of the air over so large a tract of land within the tropics. August 1.-The wind became very high towards night, and the main top-gallant sail was split in pieces. Two circumstances struck me as remarkable this evening First, that when the gale grew strong about sun-set, the sky was clear in the wind's eye, while to leeward of us, came a very heavy bank of clouds, which retained its figure and position as steadily as if it were land. The second that, every now and then, there was a total cessation of wind, a lull, as the seamen called it, for two or three minutes, after which the gale revived with more JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. xxxvii vehemence. Both these features were pointed out to me as indications of the gale being likely to continue for some time and to be serious. We have, however, reason to be thankful that except a good deal of tossing, no harm occurred; nor did the gale increase to such a degree as to become alarming to those who were least accustomed to the sea. August 3.-Our day again fine, and the gale at first hardly exceeded a stiff breeze. In the course of the afternoon, however, the wind again rose. The sea was very high, and the motion of the ship great and troublesome, pitching, rolling, and performing all sorts of manoeuvres. We assembled to prayers at half-past ten o'clock with some difficulty; the crew all stood in consequence of the inconvenience of arranging the spars as usual, and I there fore made the service shorter. Instead of a Ser mon, I gave notice of a Communion for the following Sunday; and, in a short address, enforced the propriety and necessity of attendance on that ordinance, and answered difficulties, &c. The nights are now completely dark by six o'clock. August 4-8.-I do not think that any thing very material has occurred during these days. The wind has varied in our favour, and is now N. E. by E. which enables us to make a good deal of easting, and our course is regarded as a very good one. Our progress through the water has been rapid; at an average, during the last three days, of seven and a half knots an hour, and to-day frequently xxxviii JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. ten and eleven. The motion is, of course, considerable, but the weather is very delightful. Yesterday was downright March weather, while to-day has all the freshness, mildness, and beauty of an English May. Great numbers of birds are seen round the ship, and we are told that, as we approach the Cape, their numbers will increase daily. Those called" Cape Pigeons" are very pretty, not unlike the land bird, the name of which they bear, and which they are said to resemble in flavour. For these last three days, the existence or nonexistence of the island of Saxenberg, has been a frequent topic of conversation. Captain Manning and his officers evidently incline to the affirmative, on the ground that it is more probable that a small isle, a little out of the usual track, should have escaped general notice, than that three different captains of vessels should have told a deliberate falsehood without any apparent motive. That a brig sent out to ascertain the fact should have failed in making the discovery, they do not regard as at all extraordinary. They quote repeated instances of vessels from India having failed to find St. Helena ; and I think I can perceive that they do not rate the nautical science of many commanders in the Navy very highly. They admit, however, that if Saxenberg Island exists at all, it must be set down wrong in all the charts, and in the reckonings of its pretended discoverers; and that if ever met with again, it must be by accident. This, they say, will be the less likely, because delusive appearances of land are so common in these latitudes of the At |