e thermometer was at 82 degrees in the shade, and 81
1/2 degrees at the surface of the sea, so that the air and the water were
within half a degree of the same temperature. At eight o'clock in the
evening we observed a violent rippling in the sea about half a mile to
the north-west of us which had very much the appearance of breakers. This
I imagine to have been occasioned by a large school (or multitude) of
fish as it was exactly in the track the ship had passed, so that if any
real shoal had been there we must have seen it at the close of the
evening when a careful lookout was always kept. However if it had
appeared ahead of us instead of astern I should certainly have tacked to
avoid it. To such appearances I attribute the accounts of many shoals
within the tropics which cannot be found anywhere but in maps. Our
latitude at this time was 2 degrees 8 minutes north and longitude 19
degrees 43 minutes west. The next day we had more of these appearances
from the number of schools of fish by which the ship was surrounded.

February. Saturday 2.

This morning we saw a sail to the north-north-west but at too great a
distance to distinguish what she was.

Monday 4.

Had very heavy rain during which we nearly filled all our empty water
casks. So much wet weather, with the closeness of the air, covered
everything with mildew. The ship was aired below with fires and
frequently sprinkled with vinegar; and every little interval of dry
weather was taken advantage of to open all the hatchways, and clean the
ship, and to have all the people's wet things washed and dried.

With this weather and light unsteady winds we advanced but 2 1/2 degrees
in twelve days; at the end of which time we were relieved by the
south-east tradewind which we fell in with on the 6th at noon in latitude
1 degree 21 minutes north and longitude 20 degrees 42 minutes west.

Thursday 7.

The next afternoon we crossed the equinoctial line in longitude 21
degrees 50 minutes west. The weather became fine and the south-east
tradewind was fresh and steady, with which we kept a point free from the
wind and got to the southward at a good rate.

The weather continuing dry we put some of our bread in casks, properly
prepared for its reception, to preserve it from vermin: this experiment
we afterwards found answered exceedingly well.

Saturday 16.

On the 16th at daylight we saw a sail to the southward. The next day we
came up with her and found her to be th