TO KAMTSCIIATKA. 179 



meat-biscuit,) and one of dried cabbage. This dis- 

 covery, which had been found useful on shore, was 

 now to be tried at sea, and I was therefore com- 

 missioned to open one of the boxes of meat, at the 

 first crossing of the northern tropic ; a second, as 

 also the box of cabbage, at the second crossing of 

 the same tropic, and to bring the tliird back to 

 St. Petersburg. The boxes, which were made of 

 thin wood, were joined together in such a manner, 

 that the air could conveniently penetrate j a mode 

 of proceeding which does not appear to me, well 

 calculated for the sea. And this may be the reason 

 that both the meat and the cabbage were spoilt. 

 When we crossed the northern tropic the first time, 

 we had a box of meat opened ; but, on account of 

 its disagreeable smell, it was immediately thrown 

 over-board. Crossing the same circle to-day, the 

 second time, I had a second box of meat, as also 

 the one of cabbage opened, and as they smelt 

 musty, a soup was made of both, which a})peared 

 on the officers' table for judgment. We all found 

 it eatable in case of need, but its taste was ex- 

 tremely unpleasant ; and the physician affirmed, 

 that it was unwholesome, on account of the half- 

 spoiled ingredients of which it was composed, 

 particularly the cabbage, which contains a certain 

 oil, that had become rancid, and dangerous to 

 health. The meat, which had the taste of spoiled 

 stock-fish, was entirely without strength, and can 

 therefore never be used as a nourishing food at sea. 



N 2 



