On the first of October, in latitude 14° 6’N. and longitude 22° 10’ W. we found the variation by a very good azimuth, to be 10° 37’W. and the next morning it appeared to be 10. This day we found the ship five miles a-head of the log, and the next day seven. On the third, hoisted out the boat to discover whether there was a current, and found one to the eastward, at the rate of three quarters of a mile an hour.

During our course from Teneriffe to Bona Vista we saw great numbers of flying fish, which from the cabbin windows appear beautiful beyond imagination, their sides having the colour and brightness of burnished silver; when they are seen from the deck they do not appear to so much advantage, because their backs are of a dark colour. We also took a Shark, which proved to be the Squalus Charearias of Linnæus.

Having lost the trade wind on the third, in latitude 12° 14’ and longitude 22° 10’, the wind became somewhat variable, and we had light airs and calms by turns.

On the seventh, Mr. Banks went out in the boat and took what the seamen call a Portuguese man of war; it is the Holothuria Physalis of Linnæus, and a species of Mollusca. It consisted of a small bladder about seven inches long, very much resembling the air-bladder of fishes, from the bottom of which descended a number of strings, of a bright blue and red, some of them three or four feet in length, which upon being touched sting like a nettle, but with much more force. On the top of the bladder is a membrane which is used as a sail, and turned so as to receive the wind which way soever it blows: this membrane is marked in fine pink coloured veins, and the animal is in every respect an object exquisitely curious and beautiful.

Voyaging Accounts