On the 1st of M ay we had an observation at noon in lat. J°
59' N. long. 21* 4 8 'W, by lunar observation. One of the
men was seized with violent spasms in the bowels, attended with
a considerableMegree of fever y but by the exhibition of an
emetic, fomentations, opening medicines and opiates, I cured
him in four days. To prevent infection I made up a bed#for
him under an awning on d eek: the thermometer was up to 94°.
a t this time. All the bedding, dpfthes, and the cabins •?&©■
men slept in were washed, thoraughly eleansed, and a wind-
sail put down. This, with the attention I paid' to the mea%
messing, kept them in perfect health. As I supposed oatmeal,
which is generally used for breakfast, on board his MajestyV
ships, was of too heating a quality; .(and which joined .to the
salt provisions at dinner-time creates a considerable degree of
thirst,) to obviate this, I recommended to the men ttet-us© of
tea. The good effects of this change were soon visible,, for they
hardly or ever drank any water in the forenoons. In lieu of
spirits I issued wine, reserving the former for a colder climate.1
Having a quantity of essence of spruce on board, I brewed a
good wholesome beer from it, which I also gavedhe.men. - The
generality of the crew were young lads who had never crossed
the tropics before; but by pursuing these.means not one of
them sickened afterwards. The adoption of such a regulation
might, perhaps, prove of infinite service in warm climates;
and in case of a scarcity of water, the saving would be con-»
eiderable.*
We now began to find various currents as we approached the
line, with heavy squalls and rain at times.
On Sunday the 4th the wind shifted to the S. W. and blew
hard till the 6th, when it fell perfectly calm; previous to which
I am happy to fiad this mode is adopted on board of East Indiamen.
it had been for borne time« -N. and N. E. and shifting suddenly
tO;fheK<S. W. and S. S. WJé^useda-very turbulent stói The sue-
Ceeding cMlm made bur little vessel tumble and toss to so un*
commón' & degrêe, that -hardly a n y of us could stand bn the
deck or steep below; and almost every; erne was sea-sick. During
all this shemever shipped any water, nor did she strain or
chafe her rigging. -In th é recollection etf uS all never had SO
disagreeable a sea occurred. Our observation, this day, the
6‘th, was lat. long, 20° Bf' W.
On.the 7th we had hght winds. Numbers of porpoisb® ttere
seèno we caught one which measured seven feet and st> half ;
wfe ^procured above a gall on-and a half öf «bil from^Mar our bin*»
rraclev We found the Current here S.W. 'bjÉiS, Nearly at'-ihflj
rate of* half a knot an hour. I tried it levesal times this d a ^
This accounts fdr our latitude, by observatroii fbr some daysy
exceeding* our distance run. The East Indian Directory informs
us of the currents in or near these latitudes? fitting to the
S-. and W. but no rate is mentioned» | My observation' nïfiy be
qfa$^.pperhaps»to future navigators. The-leather ^ais^h©# :Very
sultry ; the mercury from 94° to 92°.
On the Sth the difference of latitude exceeded thé distance
run twenty miles. -
At-:six A. M. of the 9th we sawaschoomer,. and Soon after a
brig-in the S^W. quarter; the latter standing towards us. A t
seven there eame on a very heavy squall, which I maefethebest
use of to avoid the brig,, not wishing to run the risk of being
detained or'examined,should she be an enemyi The wind was
at E. by.S. attended with heavy rain. Itd e& re d u p at eleven
A. M. the strange- vessels not in sight. We had a good observation
at noon, lat. 0° 53'iM. long, by aecount, 20? 16' W.
thermometer 86°.
On the 10th we liad light windf all At sub-rise the variation