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A book in astronomy would have been very acceptable during the voyage It would have whiled away many an hour They are quite jolly on deck. to-night a violin is playing on the forecastle accompanied by singing & cracking jokes an acordian & dancing amid ships & I hear a banjo & clappers playing aft. I notice for the first time the phosporescent lights in the water. It proceeds I am informed from small insects (varying in size from eighth of an inch to half a crown that is the lights
seen on the water) They are indiscernable with the naked eye and can only
be seen by a microscope they shine on the water like bright little stars
We sighted a vessels light ahead about 11"0 p.m & she being a sailing ship our engines ceased to allow her to pass steamers are always supposed to give way to sailing vessels She passed close to us and proved to be a good sized barque