Advantages of using Distilled Sea-water. 5 



prepare her thoroughly for the voyage. The ventilation of 

 the lower deck was improved, and the number of cabins in- 

 creased in proportion to the number of individuals for whom 

 accommodation was to be provided. 



The gun-room was, by command of the Archduke, converted 

 into a reading-room, and provided with a well-selected library 

 as well as with all the charts and maps necessary for the infor- 

 mation of the officers, who here made their calculations and 

 executed their drawings. 



The store-rooms for the sails and tackle were enlarged, so as 

 to hold a double quantity. 



A distilling apparatus, the same as patented by M. Rocher, 

 of Nantes, was fixed on the gun-deck, and being placed in 

 connection with the ship's coppers, it was found that, during 

 the few hours each day that the latter were used for cooking, 

 enough sea-water was distilled to supply the entire ship's 

 company with excellent water to drink. This distilled water, 

 after having been kept in iron tanks for a month, was found 

 pleasant to the taste, and agreed very well with the health. 

 The excellent health enjoyed by all the crew throughout the 

 voyage must, in a great measure, be ascribed to the circum- 

 stance, that scarcely any other but this distilled sea-water was 

 used, so that the men were enabled entirely to forego drinking 

 river or spring-water, which in the tropics are frequently found 

 injurious. 



The use of such an apparatus permits a great diminution in 

 the store of water usually carried by a vessel. The space 



