Classic ground--Hispaniola--Romance of the western waters --Extracts from diary--On a wind--Newsboats wanted--The Bermudas--Target practice 222
The Gulf Stream--Darby's theory--Its ingenuity--The coasts of America--John Cabot, the Venetian--"_Terra primum visa_"--Completion of cruise--Conclusion 226
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," gradually gave way to growlings, when old _Neptune_, as if in answer, drove his chariot over its surface, and working its waters into a yeasty foam, disturbed, at the same time, both our equilibrium and equanimity.