sable to preserve them.--E.]

SECTION I.

_Narrative of the Voyage from Holland to the Coast of Brazil._[1]

The small squadron of three ships, already enumerated, sailed
from Amsterdam on the 16th July, 1721, and arrived at the Texel in
thirty-six hours, where they were provided with every thing requisite
for so long a voyage. All things being in readiness, they sailed with
a fair wind on the 21st August; but, as the wind changed next day,
they were three days in beating to windward through the British
channel, after which they continued their course to the S.W. for the
coast of Barbary, but were opposed by a heavy storm which did them
considerable damage. To this a dead calm succeeded, during which the
water ran mountains high, owing to agitation they had been thrown into
by the storm. By the rolling of the ships during the calm, several
injuries were sustained, one of the vessels losing its main-top-mast
and mizen-mast; and the main-yard of the Commodore came down with such
force as to wound several of the people on deck. After two days the
wind freshened again, and they continued their course S.W. towards the
Canaries, amusing themselves with observing the manner in which the
flying-fish endeavours to escape from its enemies, the albicores and
bonitoes. The _flying-fish_ are not larger than a herring, and raise
themselves into the air by means of two long fins, one on each side,
not much unlike the wings of a bat in strength and texture. They are
considered as good eating, and the sailors are always well pleased
when they are met with in plenty. The _bonito_ is about two feet long,
of a greyish colour, finely streaked from head to tail; but the flesh
is hard, dry, and disagreeably tasted. The _albicore_ is generally
five or six feet long, and sometimes weighs 150 pounds. They saw
likewise several water-fowls, particularly _teal_, which the seamen
account a sign of land being near.

[Footnote 1: In the various steps of this voyage, the merely
uninteresting journal or log-book incidents have been materially
abbreviated.--E.]

While in lat. 28 deg. N. and soon expecting to see the Canaries, a sail
was descried from the mast-head carrying English colours. On drawing
near she struck her colours and bore away, but re-appeared in about an
hour, having four sail more in her company, sometimes carrying white,
sometimes red, and sometimes black colours, which gave reason to
suspect that they were pirates. The Commod