Book contents
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- GENERAL CHART SHOWING THE ‘SUNBEAM'S’ TRACK
- CHAPTER I FAREWELL TO OLD ENGLAND
- CHAPTER II MADEIRA, TENERIFFE, AND CAPE DE VERDE ISLANDS
- CHAPTER III PALMA TO RIO DE JANEIRO
- CHAPTER IV RIO DE JANEIRO
- CHAPTER V THE RIVER PLATE
- CHAPTER VI LIFE ON THE PAMPAS
- CHAPTER VII MORE ABOUT THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
- CHAPTER VIII RIVER PLATE TO SANDY POINT, STRAITS OF MAGELLAN
- CHAPTER IX SANDY POINT TO LOTA BAY
- CHAPTER X CHILI
- CHAPTER XI SANTIAGO AND VALPARAISO
- CHAPTER XII VALPARAISO TO TAHITI
- CHAPTER XIII THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS
- CHAPTER XIV AT TAHITI
- CHAPTER XV TAHITI TO SANDWICH ISLANDS.—KILAUEA BY DAY AND BY NIGHT
- CHAPTER XVI HAWAIIAN SPORTS
- CHAPTER XVII HONOLULU—DEPARTURE FOR JAPAN
- CHAPTER XVIII HONOLULU TO YOKOHAMA
- CHAPTER XIX YOKOHAMA
- CHAPTER XX KIOTO, LATE MIACO
- CHAPTER XXI THE INLAND SEA
- CHAPTER XXII To CANTON UP THE PEARL RIVER
- CHAPTER XXIII FROM MACAO TO SINGAPORE
- CHAPTER XXIV SINGAPORE
- CHAPTER XXV CEYLON
- CHAPTER XXVI To ADEN
- CHAPTER XXVII VIA SUEZ CANAL
- CHAPTER XXVIII ‘HOME’
- APPENDIX
- LIST OF PERSONS ON BOARD THE YACHT
- Notes
- Plate section
CHAPTER XII - VALPARAISO TO TAHITI
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
- Frontmatter
- PREFACE
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- GENERAL CHART SHOWING THE ‘SUNBEAM'S’ TRACK
- CHAPTER I FAREWELL TO OLD ENGLAND
- CHAPTER II MADEIRA, TENERIFFE, AND CAPE DE VERDE ISLANDS
- CHAPTER III PALMA TO RIO DE JANEIRO
- CHAPTER IV RIO DE JANEIRO
- CHAPTER V THE RIVER PLATE
- CHAPTER VI LIFE ON THE PAMPAS
- CHAPTER VII MORE ABOUT THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
- CHAPTER VIII RIVER PLATE TO SANDY POINT, STRAITS OF MAGELLAN
- CHAPTER IX SANDY POINT TO LOTA BAY
- CHAPTER X CHILI
- CHAPTER XI SANTIAGO AND VALPARAISO
- CHAPTER XII VALPARAISO TO TAHITI
- CHAPTER XIII THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS
- CHAPTER XIV AT TAHITI
- CHAPTER XV TAHITI TO SANDWICH ISLANDS.—KILAUEA BY DAY AND BY NIGHT
- CHAPTER XVI HAWAIIAN SPORTS
- CHAPTER XVII HONOLULU—DEPARTURE FOR JAPAN
- CHAPTER XVIII HONOLULU TO YOKOHAMA
- CHAPTER XIX YOKOHAMA
- CHAPTER XX KIOTO, LATE MIACO
- CHAPTER XXI THE INLAND SEA
- CHAPTER XXII To CANTON UP THE PEARL RIVER
- CHAPTER XXIII FROM MACAO TO SINGAPORE
- CHAPTER XXIV SINGAPORE
- CHAPTER XXV CEYLON
- CHAPTER XXVI To ADEN
- CHAPTER XXVII VIA SUEZ CANAL
- CHAPTER XXVIII ‘HOME’
- APPENDIX
- LIST OF PERSONS ON BOARD THE YACHT
- Notes
- Plate section
Summary
The western sea was all aflame,
The day was well nigh done!
Almost upon the western wave
Rested the broad bright sun.
Tuesday, October 31st.—Throughout the night a flat calm prevailed. The morning was wet and foggy, or we might still have seen Valparaiso, and perhaps have had a peep at Aconcagua. There was a light contrary wind from the N.W. throughout the day. In the afternoon we saw two whales blowing in the distance.
Wednesday, November 1st.—An almost calm day, with a few light showers, and fitful but unfavourable breezes. Some thirty or forty little birds, which the sailors called Mother Carey's chickens, but which were smaller and more graceful than any I have seen of that name, followed closely in our wake. I was never tired of watching the dainty way in which they just touched the tips of the waves with their feet, and then started off afresh, like a little maiden skipping and hopping along, from sheer exuberance of spirit.
Thursday, November 2nd.—A bright sunny morning, with a heavy swell and light contrary wind, but the sea became more tranquil towards the evening. The sunset was superb, and the afterglow, as is often the case in these latitudes, lighted up sky and sea with an indescribable beauty, which attained its greatest magnificence about five minutes after the sun had disappeared, reminding one of the glorious sunsets of the African deserts, so often described by travellers.
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- A Voyage in the 'Sunbeam'Our Home on the Ocean for Eleven Months, pp. 194 - 210Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1878