'Passive of by hand, and applicable to the different parts of the
ship, were placed wherever they could be put in-use.
The men’s hammocks, with their beddingj were brought
upon deck at a fe ed hour every morning, and,'left, in
the open air till the approach of night, except: when
showers o f rain made it necessary to put them under
coverp Columns *W fresh air' were conveyed through
every part of the ship, andeiose even to - th e , keel, by
the means o f windfalls, onqjlfodrk# thhes ciîcanvhs,
o f about two feet diameter, open at both i§n^s-t; .and efc
tending^ through the hatchways, from .aheve- the;>uppe,r
4o below the lowest deck. Near the upper extremity
o f tthis; canvas tube is a slit or opening in it*|side, which
is always turned towards the quarter from whence the
wind, at that time, blaw& Attention was paidv jlike-
wise, to the people’s diet, by mixing with, their animal
food as: great a proportion of vegetable matter as could
be provided. No spirituous liquors Wore dibfehuted or
allowed, without a due admixtuTOioTwm^ with them.
The water itself, which is apt to; acquire-a putrid taste
and smell in the hogsheads that contain it, was prepared
for use>by being put in jars open Jo ther|ir , ami b y h s-
injjg passed repeatedly through a tin cylinder, ipiçrc&d.
with holes; which is found to:freé it, in gfeat measure,
from f e noxious and disagreeafeèejqüâiities.
The. steadiness of the trade wind, not only regular in
its direction, but generally likewise in its strength; left
little to-occupytfoe hamdspor attention, o f the seamen^
as to the manceuvres.rtf navigation. But)they were kept
in * moderate and healthful: exercise h y other means:
some in working the several ventilators, some in clean-
apartment ^amid di\ps®inl ofllhe' ship*;. the
carpenters and armourers,- With seWCml' assistants; wejr©-
employed in makingor repairing whatever wa# defi->
cient in their, departments; some splicing cordage, and
converting whahcould not. any longer be, used»as-rsulehv
into oakum;- many more in sewing new sails, or piecing
those thathappened * to he torn; and some, likewise ,.‘i-lh
mending their own apparel: combining,-thus, the economy
of individuals with .that of the public seryi<p?:i
and, oni th&ist ©ecasiems, the ships’- decks exhibited .th©
appearance, in somd sort, o f a dtekyar^, saal-loffc,? 0^
other busy manufactory.
By such means as these the men gradfellyreeweiredj-
and were prepared to enjoy the festivities usual bn the
passage ofthe-Line. Nra doubt, <h,e entrance intoianothiev
hemisphere,- when it first was made, Must havedaeen an
eveht arrestidg the attention, and- filling the minds of
those, in every station, wh© were wiitne&ses-Qf iti And
the commander who;* for the first time,.-^had the good
fortune to cross, the Lism, pirohably indulged;: his crew
in testifying a joy he nuust have sincerely felt! himself.-
The lower orders of mankind,; who know*:littlt of life
Passage of
fie Line.
except its labonrsï, arè not easily forgetful.- dfbany ©cca