I very often had myself bound near the binnacle, and let the tremendous waves break over me, in order to absorb, as it were, as much of the spectacle before me as possible; on no occasion did I ever feel alarmed, but always confident and resigned.
At the expiration of four hours the storm had worn itself out, and was succeeded by a perfect calm.
On the 10th of January we caught sight of several sea-turtles and a whale.

The latter was only a young one, about forty feet long.
11th January.

We were now off the Rio Plata, {59} and found the temperature very perceptibly cooler.
Up to the present time we had seen no signs of sea-tangle or molluscae, but during the night we beheld some molluscae for the first time, shining like stars at a great depth below the surface of the water.
In these latitudes the constellation of the southern cross keeps increasing in brilliancy and beauty, though it is far from being as wonderful as it is said to be.

The stars in it, four in number, and disposed somewhat in the following manner, **** are, it is true, large and splendid; but they did not excite, either in myself or any other person of our company, much more admiration than the other constellations.
As a general rule, many travellers exaggerate a great deal.

On the one hand, they often describe things which they have never seen themselves, and only know from hearsay; and, on the other, they adorn what they really have seen with a little too much imagination.
16th January.