ty of prominent men--Observatory, &c. 208

CHAPTER XXIX.

A death on board--Our freight--Extracts from diary--St.
Helena and Napoleon--The trades--Poetical idea of a
starry telegraph--Good sailing 217

CHAPTER XXX.

Classic ground--Hispaniola--Romance of the western waters
--Extracts from diary--On a wind--Newsboats wanted--The
Bermudas--Target practice 222

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Gulf Stream--Darby's theory--Its ingenuity--The coasts
of America--John Cabot, the Venetian--"_Terra primum
visa_"--Completion of cruise--Conclusion 226

KATHAY.

CHAPTER I.

Set Sail--Sea-sickness--Get a good offing--Sail ho!--Islets
of St. Paul--Shipwreck there--Sufferings--Crossing the
Line--Fernando Noronha--Fire--Remarkable peak--Arrival at
Rio--Disappointment--Beauties of the harbor--Ashore at
last--Village of San Domingo--Flying trip to city--Yellow
fever--All hands up anchor--Sugarloaf Mountain--Off for the
Cape.

Immediately after noon, upon the 29th day of January, 1850, we east off
from the wharf at the Navy Yard in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and with
the pilot on board, proceeded to sea. But little time was allowed to
send our adieus, for he soon left us, bearing with him some hasty
scrawls, to the illegibility of one of which a very good friend of the
writer can testify. Our commander was very anxious to commence his
cruise, and having been delayed nearly one month for officers, put off
upon it as soon as the last gentleman had reported.

That bugbear to all landsmen,--sea-sickness,--gave me but little
annoyance, although some of the crew appeared to suffer greatly from its
effects.

Having a favorable wind we soon made a good offing, a very desirable
thing at that season of the year, and indeed one which no sailor objects
to on any coast, when outward bound; a fresh, favoring breeze and plenty
of sea room being his most fervent prayer.

Our first destination was Rio, and towards it we bent our course. A few
days out, and the novelty of our situation having worn off, pleasing
remembrances of persons, localities, and particular events which had
occurred during our sojourn in Boston, became less frequent, and pretty
allusions to "again standing upon the deck," poetical petitions to the
dark blue Ocean, praying it, in the language of Byron, to "roll on,