Sunday, October 27th

Wind lulled from evening till morning and left a tremendous swell in the night, which caused the most violent motion we have yet experienced. A beautiful day with pleasant wind right aft. Lat. 35.18 S.—201 miles run. Tomorrow morning we are to sight Tristan d'Acunha and to go ashore if possible. Innumerable flocks of birds about the ship today; besides albatross, Cape pigeon and hens and petrels, there was the silver petrel or whalebird in absolutely countless flocks. From the mizzen head I could see sea covered with them afloat and air filled with them on the wing, thickening the atmosphere like gnats on a summer evening. They are like a small parr or tern, somewhat more elegant in flight—long, slender and graceful wings, and a silver-grey colour of a beautiful hue. Whether they are truly called whalebirds, I do not know, but it would seem they have something to do with whales, for one was seen spouting page 57about a quarter of a mile off before the birds appeared in considerable numbers. Great speculations about Commodore Glasse and his colony on Tristan d'Acunha.