Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/98

 50 Should chance lead me in this direction again, I shall certainly cross the meridian of to-day fifteen miles further south. Tropic birds, frigate pelican, gannet, and flying-fish, were noticed, and during the day we had partial showers.

26th. Same observations as to wind varying in puffs about nine and : fewer birds, but no symptoms of land. On the 27th entered the limits assio-ned to Whaler's discoveries. 28th. Crossed Blossom's track. 29th. Passed over many positions assigned. No symptoms of land beyond the smoothness of the water, wind coming in gusts at nine, and , and frequent showers — the last one of the strongest indications within the tropics. The spaces thus examined must, however, relieve the general navigation of this region.

I have been thus minute upon this subject, as I cannot divest myself of the impression that land exists in this neighbourhood. So many assertions can hardly rest on imagination.

By the ordinary system of laying down the track of vessels, no clue is obtained as to the actual limits of examination. The actual limit of vision is entirely lost sight of. To render this more distinct in the Sulphur's track, great attention has been paid to the radius of vision, so that the dotted circles distinctly point out where no land can exist. The space has also been sounded two hourly, with as much line as our velocity would admit.

Sharks troublesome; lost one patent log, and the