20 Voyage of the Novara. 



The sailors breakfast at 7> the oiScers at 8, and the 

 Commander at 9. At the latter hour the bugle sounds 

 the order to "clear the ship," when the cleaning of 

 arms, guns, and all other articles of metal connected with 

 the ship's armoury, begins. During this process the band 

 plays cheerful airs, so that the work is done whilst keeping 

 time with the music, which serves to lighten the labour. 

 This duty requires to be completed within forty-five minutes^ 

 and terminates with an inspection of the men and their 

 arms. 



This being over, officers and midshipmen off duty 

 assemble together with the naturalists in the reading- 

 room. Most of the books in the library referred to those 

 countries likely to be visited by the Expedition, so that every 

 one might previously obtain useful information relative to 

 their physical, historical, and social conditions. 



The naturalists employ the greater part of the day in 

 their cabins, noting down their observations, and preparing 

 for those to be made in the course of the voyage. The 

 crew are kept in activity by being drilled and otherwise 

 occupied. 



The men dine at 12 ; the dinner of the officers is 

 served up at 3, and that of the Commodore at half-past 

 3 o'clock P.M. The remainder of the afternoon is spent 

 in prosecuting the labours begun in the morning. Thus 

 steals on the evening, when a general assemblage takes i)lace 

 on deck, for air and exercise. 



