channels ; now on a fudden the wave broke under us, and
we plunged into a deep and dreary valley, whilft a frefh
■ mountain rofe to windward with a foaming creft, and
threatned to overwhelm us. The night coming on was not
without new horrors, efpecially for thofe who had not been
bred up to a feafaring life. In the captain’ s cabin the
windows were taken out and replaced by the dead-lights,
to guard againft the intrufion of the waves in wearing the
fhip. This operation difturbed from its retreat a fcorpion,
which had lain concealed in a chink, and was probably
brought on board with fruit from the iflands. Our friend
Mahine allured us that it was harmlefs, but its appearance
alone was horrid enough to fill the mind' with apprehension*.
Tn the other cabins the beds were perfeftly foaked
in water, whilft the tremendous roar of the waves, the
creaking of the timbers, and the rolling motion deprived
us of all hopes of repofe. To complete this catalogue of
horrors, we heard the voices of failors from time to time
lotider than the bluftering winds or the raging ocean
itfelf, uttering horrible vollies of cutfes and oaths.
Without any provocation to ferve as an excufe, they
execrated every limb in varied terms, piercing and complicated
beyond the power of defcription. Inured to danger
from their infancy, they were infenfible to its threats, and
pot a Angle reflection bridled their blafphemous tongues. I
s* See Hawkefworth’s Compilation, vol. II,
know
A V O Y A G E ROUND THE WORLD.
know of nothing comparable to the dreadful energy of
their curfes, than that difgrace to chriftianity the Anathema
of Ernulphus In this comfortlefs fituation we continued
till two o’clock the next morning, when the wind died away
fuddenly, and was fucceeded in an hour’s time by another
from a favourable quarter. In the- calm interval between
thefe two winds, the fhip rolled more violently than ever,,
fo that the main-chains were repeatedly dipped under water,
with part of the quarter-deck.
■ $e failed all this day towards the land, having been
driven off many leagues during the ftorm. Pintadas,
black {hear-waters, and other petrels now furrounded us in'
great flocks, and we paffed an albatrofs fitting fall afleep in
the water, perhaps fatigued by the violence of the preceding
gale.
The nett day we were difappointed once more at the
mouth of the ftrait, and got a contrary wind, which blew
a ftorm before night. The fame weather continued for
two days following, ahrioft without intermiffion. On the
29th, early in the morning, feveral'water-fpouts were feen:
by the officer at watch; and foon after we had a flight
fhower and a favourable change of wind. In the evening
we loft fight of the Adventure our' contort, whom we never
rejoined again during this voyage. The foul wind which-
in the morning on the 30 th certainly contributed to fepa-
489
17-71-
.OCT-OBfSU
Tuefday io,
'Friday ntj.
•Vol. I.
See Triftram Shandy.
E r r rate