46 DIVISION OP LABOUR. [1843 



space between made water-tight with old hammocks and 

 a bed of pipe clay ; the chain-pumps had been fitted with 

 leading or conducting boards, which obviated the overlap- 

 ping, and we had now only to await the lowest tide. As the 

 tide ebbed, scuttles were cut in the decks to allow the water 

 to flow out, and boards covered with greased felt were 

 kept in readiness to close them at a moment's warning. 

 The crew were previously schooled at the pumps, and an 

 estimate having been made of the least number required to 

 work fifteen-minute spells, they were formed into divi- 

 sions ; and by the appointment of special officers to each 

 division, we secured eight spells, or two hours full power 

 before again calling upon the first division to resume their 

 spell ; I fully calculated, however, that before half this 

 period could elapse, the fate of the ship would be decided. 

 Arrangements had been made that each spell coming off 

 duty should retire into a large Tope, or native vessel, 

 alongside ; there receive a pint of sherbet, and take repose 

 if they desired. 



It now only remains to describe what we anticipated 

 from these operations. Our first purchase was a double 

 runner and luff vertically exerted on the immersed gun- 

 wale ; No. 2, the levers. These were allowed to bear 

 the full weight of their outer ends on the raft, and at the 

 period of low water, lashings were securely passed over 

 them, through strops, already passed through the main- 

 deck ports, and over the skid beams. By this arrange- 

 ment, the buoyancy, or floating power of the raft, was 

 fully communicated, without loss, on the lever ends, and 

 acted, directly, in raising the lee gunwale ; this was lever- 

 age resulting from the rise on the flood tide, at this 



