Narrative of Bahama Expf-dition. 143 



robbery, and said that we would mend our broken spar, which 

 although it was somewhat heavier and not nearly so comely, 

 he did, making it fully as useful and even stronger than before, 

 It was during this time that we experienced great discom- 

 fort from heat. For several successive days there would be a 

 little breeze earlv in the morning, which died out when the 

 sun got well above the horizon, after which a dead calm 

 would set in and last for the rest of the da}-. Although the 

 middle of the day was. actuall}^ the hottest, we found the time 

 from seven to eight in the morning as uncomfortable as any, 

 from the fact that the sun would get into our faces under the 

 largest hats or bonnets, and the reflections from the water 

 would add very materially to the glare which hurt the eyes 

 and burned the face. At this time no shade was afforded by 

 the sails, the nearlv horizontal rays passing under the booms 

 and even under the awning, when the latter was up. But 

 when the sun reached the zenith, the tar would actually boil 

 from the deck, and the awnings w^ould only slightly modify 

 the heat, which struck through them so forcibly that little 

 relief could be secured. Below it was simply stifling, and the 

 merciless glare of the deck, unrelieved by a particle of breeze, 

 seemed to sap all ambition and vitality from even the strong- 

 est members of the party. The thermometer registered 135" 

 on the deck, and well into the nineties under the awning. 

 The lot of our cook was. at this time, certainly far from envi- 

 able. He had to spend the greater part of the day in the 

 seven-b3'-seven galley, with a large range and a roaring coal 

 fire, which made the deck seem cool in comparison. Here 

 poor Smith had to cook three meals a day for twenty-eight 

 people, whose appetites were, to sa\' the least, not delicate. 

 One afternoon when the tire was going down after dinner the 

 thermometer registered 143° in the galley. Under these cir- 

 cumstances, there is little wonder that our cook lost flesh with 

 startling rapidity, and that, whereas he came on board a 

 rather sleek and portly darkey, he left us at Baltimore, an 

 emaciated and aged man. His general health seemed little 

 affected, however, and. let it be said to his credit, his patience 



