We passed up to about ten degrees north of the Equator, and then steamed out from the coast.

Here Maury's wind chart showed that the calm-belt had long been passed, but we were in it still; and, instead of a current carrying us north, we had a contrary current which bore us every day four miles to the south.

We steamed as long as we dared, knowing as we did that we must use the engines on the coast of India.
After losing many days tossing on the silent sea, with innumerable dolphins, flying-fish, and sharks around us, we had six days of strong breezes, then calms again tried our patience; and the near approach of that period, "the break of the monsoon," in which it was believed no boat could live, made us sometimes think our epitaph would be "Left Zanzibar on 30th April, 1864, and never more heard of." At last, in the beginning of June, the chronometers showed that we were near the Indian coast.

The black men believed it was true because we told them it was so, but only began to dance with joy when they saw sea-weed and serpents floating past.

These serpents are peculiar to these parts, and are mentioned as poisonous in the sailing directions.