THEPACIFIC OCEAN. 32 



with frequent rains, which enabled us to fave as much wa- .1776. 



^ Auguft. 



tcr as filled moft of our empty caflcs. v- - X - -^ 



Thefe rains, and the clofe fultry weather accompanying 

 them, too often bring on ficknefs in this pafTage, Every 

 bad confequence, at leaf!:, is to be apprehended from them j 

 and commanders of fliips cannot be too much upon their 

 guard, by purifying the air between decks with fires and 

 fmoke, and by obliging the people to dry their clothes at 

 every opportunity. Thefe precautions were conflantly ob- 

 ferved on board the Refolution * and Difcovery; and we 

 certainly profited by them, for we had now fewer fick than 

 on either of my former voyages. We had, however, the 

 mortification to find our fhip exceedingly leaky in all her 

 upper works. The hot and fultry weather we had jufl 

 pafTed through, had opened her feams, which had been 

 badly caulked at firfl, fo wide, that they admitted the rain 

 water through as it fell. There was hardly a man that 

 could lie dry in his bed ; and the officers in the gun-room 

 were all driven out of their cabbiiis, by the water that came 

 through the fides. The fails in the fail-room got wet; and 

 before wc had weather to dry them, many of them were 

 much damaged, and a great espence of canvas and of time 

 became neceffary to make them in fome degree ferviceable. 

 Having experienced the fame defedl in our fail-rooms on 

 my late voyage, it had been reprefented to the yard officers, 

 who undertook to remove it. But it did not appear to mc 

 that any thing had been done to remedy the complaint. 



* The particulars are mentioned in his log-book. On the 14th of Auguft, a fire 

 was made in the well, to air the (hip below. On the 15th, the fpare fails were aired 

 upon deck, and a fire made to air the fail-room. On the 17th, cleaned and fmoked 

 betwixt decks, and the bread-room aired with fires. On the 21ft, cleaned and fmoked 

 betwixt decks ; and on the 22d, the. men's bedding was fpread on deck to air. 



Vol. I. F To 



