LUNAR OBSERVATION. 97 



no little bantering from one or two of 

 them, who were foremost in evincing 

 their jealousy and dislike of his Majes- 

 ty's uniform; and I had to answer to 

 a not very polite soubriquet, derived from 

 the name of the King's ship I had 

 left. 



We sailed, in company with my old 

 ship, through the Straits of Sunda to 

 Bencoolen, where the captain of the 

 " Dedaigneuse " joined us. From thence 

 we took our departure, in company with 

 a large fleet of Indiamen, across the 

 Indian Ocean, without convoy ; and, 

 after a good passage round the Cape, 

 arrived safe at St. Helena. 



We had not been at sea many days 

 before the captain passenger called me 

 on the poop, and requested me to assist 

 him and the captain of the ship in 

 taking a lunar observation. This I did 

 so much to their satisfaction, that I 

 was associated with them, in consequence 



VOL. i. H 



