mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i3-016

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about three o'clock in the afternoon, and the sloop, "Discovery,"
hoisting all possible sail, disappeared from view, setting
its course more toward the NW. At the same time, we took
leave of the inhabitants of the warm regions--the bonito and
the flying fish. We especially regretted the latter. It
often entertained us by its flight and furnished us with ex-
cellent fish chowder. This fish, in size no longer than a
foot, jumping from the water to save itself from persecution
by the bonitos, always follows an air current and cannot give
its flight an independent direction. In general, one must
suppose that they sustain themselves in the air only with
the wind, moving in it at the speed of the wind, and for a
distance of not more than two hundred to three hundred sazhens.
Very often, rising with the wind and flying in its direction,
it struck the rigging and fell on the deck, and only in this
way fell into our hands. Often 30 or more fell on the quarter-
deck.

At latitude 32° the trade winds left us, and the winds
became changeable, blowing mostly from the W and SW with un-
equal strength, and we reached latitude 43° only on the 18th.
At this place we were in a calm and had to remain there until
the 20th. At dawn of that day, a slight SW breeze sprang up,
and for that reason we hoisted all possible sail. At about
eight o'clock, the lieutenant on duty noticed from windward
a small nebulous cloud, which expanded over all the horizon
with incredible speed. This frightening omen was immediately