DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0050
24 TRAVELS IN UPPER
had with him an officer of cavalry, and a counsel-
lor of the Chatelet, a whimsical association, and
worthy of its author. Citizen Venture, the learned
interpreter of the oriental languages, and who is
now with the army of Egypt, was likewise embark-
ed on this expedition. It was no easy matter to
find accommodation for so much company ; it was
found necessary to dismount the four sternmost
guns, to make cabins on deck, and the powder-
room was so encumbered with temporary beds,
that it was impossible to turn about in it.
We sailed with a fair wind, but this was of no
long continuance. It presently became contrary,
and blew furiously from the east. The heavens,
covered with thick clouds, poured down an inces-
sant torrent of rain. On the morning of next day,
several kinds of birds were seen flying round the
vessel. I distinguished among them turtle doves,
small ring-collared plovers, and one blongios.
Some of those birds perched on the rigging, and
were so fatigued and stunned with the tempest,
that several plovers * were caught by the hand,
and the species of crab-eater-f- known by the name
of blongios.
* Pluvier a collier, Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & petit pluvier
k collier des plan, enlum. No. 921. Charadrius hiatkula, Lin.
■f Blongios, Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & blongios de Suisse,
pi. entum. No. 328. Ardea mittitta, Lin.
After
had with him an officer of cavalry, and a counsel-
lor of the Chatelet, a whimsical association, and
worthy of its author. Citizen Venture, the learned
interpreter of the oriental languages, and who is
now with the army of Egypt, was likewise embark-
ed on this expedition. It was no easy matter to
find accommodation for so much company ; it was
found necessary to dismount the four sternmost
guns, to make cabins on deck, and the powder-
room was so encumbered with temporary beds,
that it was impossible to turn about in it.
We sailed with a fair wind, but this was of no
long continuance. It presently became contrary,
and blew furiously from the east. The heavens,
covered with thick clouds, poured down an inces-
sant torrent of rain. On the morning of next day,
several kinds of birds were seen flying round the
vessel. I distinguished among them turtle doves,
small ring-collared plovers, and one blongios.
Some of those birds perched on the rigging, and
were so fatigued and stunned with the tempest,
that several plovers * were caught by the hand,
and the species of crab-eater-f- known by the name
of blongios.
* Pluvier a collier, Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & petit pluvier
k collier des plan, enlum. No. 921. Charadrius hiatkula, Lin.
■f Blongios, Buffon, Hist. Nat. des Ois. & blongios de Suisse,
pi. entum. No. 328. Ardea mittitta, Lin.
After