CHAP. IV.] PRECAUTIONS. 195 



orders for the issue of an extra allowance of 

 preserved meat to all hands, together with cran- 

 berries, pickles, mustard, vinegar, spruce-beer, 

 and lime juice, so arranged that some anti- 

 scorbutics might be taken every day. The crew 

 moreover were kept constantly engaged either in 

 work or amusement. The lower deck, which, 

 though not exempt from vapour, was yet as dry 

 as could be reasonably expected, was kept clear 

 almost the whole day, except at meal times, 

 and the hammocks were hung up at 9 h p* m., and 

 taken down at 6 h a. m. Excursions were made 

 to the shore under the direction of proper 

 persons, and on the return of the parties, officers 

 were appointed to see that every man entirely 

 removed the snow from his clothes, and then 

 put on dry ones on going below. I am parti- 

 cular in detailing these precautions, in order to 

 show that this unexpected visitation was prin- 

 cipally to be ascribed to the failure of our 

 unfortunate warming apparatus, which though 

 perhaps suitable enough for a temperate climate, 

 and places where in the event of an accident 

 the means of reparation are at hand, was certainly 

 not adapted for a service such as ours. Our 

 stoves were placed amidship, and near the 

 intense heat thrown out by them the deck and 

 beams were dry ; but not so at the sides, where 

 the tubes diffusing general heat should have 



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