Wednesday, January 17th.—­It was a fine warm morning, and we got the children on deck for the first time for ten days.

Thursday, January 18th.—­Between breakfast and lunch we sailed over the spot where Tarquin Island is marked on the chart, and, between lunch and dinner, over a nameless reef, also marked on the chart.  A good look-out had been kept at the masthead and in the bows, but not a trace could be seen of either of these objects in any direction.  The weather kept clear and bright, and the sea was much calmer.

During the last five days we have covered 1,221 sea miles.

Monday, January 22nd.—­At daylight Asuncion Island was still visible.  It is of volcanic origin, and is in the form of a perfect sugar-loaf, 2,600 feet high, rising out of the sea, exactly as I had expected the Peak of Teneriffe to appear.  I should like to have landed on the islands Agrigan or Tinian, so as to see the interesting remains left by the ancient inhabitants.  Some people say that they resemble Aztec remains; others, that they are like those of the more modern Peruvians.  All authorities, however, seem to agree that they are like those on Easter Island, the south-east extremity of Polynesia, this being the north-west.

[Illustration:  Amateur Navigation]

We were close-hauled all day; the wind was strong, and the sea rough and disagreeable.

Tuesday, January 23rd.—­Still close-hauled, and still a heavy swell.  I felt very ill, and could scarcely move my head for neuralgia.  The galley boiler burst to-day, so we are now dependent on the one in the forecastle.  During the night we passed the Euphrosyne rock.  It looks like a ship in full sail, and abounds with turtle, fish, and sea-elephants.

Wednesday, January 24th.—­Very much colder, though we are only just outside the tropics.  The wind was rather freer, and we had a beautiful moonlight night.

Friday, January 26th.—­During the night the breeze freshened, and in the morning increased to a gale.  Steam was therefore let off.  It has been a miserable day; so cold, wet, and rough, that it was impossible to do anything, or to sit anywhere, except on the floor.

About 9 p.m.  I was sitting in the deck-house, when I heard a tremendous crash, and, looking out, saw that the fore gig davits had been carried away, taking with them a piece of the rail, stanchion, and cavil.  The gig was hanging from the after davits, one might say, by a thread, splashing and dashing in and out of the water, and crashing and splintering against the side of the yacht.  All hands were speedily on deck; and in spite of the risk they ran, and of the remonstrances of their comrades, two of the gig’s crew jumped into her with a rope, which they tried to pass round her.  It was a difficult task in that heavy sea, and many times they failed, and we constantly feared that men, boat, and all were gone.  Half a dozen of the crew caught hold of