1843] GREAT ZEAL OF THE CREW. 47 



period equal to twelve feet. Two mechanical powers 

 were now applied in aid ; the first was the direct pur- 

 chase to the gunwale from our sheer heads, which inclined 

 at an angle of fifteen degrees inwards ; the second was 

 the topping lift runner purchases to the heads of these 

 sheers, which afforded its whole power directly in con- 

 nection with the raft at the lever ends. It will be appa- 

 rent, by consulting the diagram, that the tendency of 

 these topping lifts to draw the sheers into a vertical posi- 

 tion, (as the difference between the hypothenuse and per- 

 pendicular) would furnish a very considerable lifting 

 power on the immersed gunwale. The final working, 

 but variable power, was that exerted in the horizontal line, 

 by the purchases from the mast heads to the coasting 

 cable attached to the trees on shore. 



It may be as well to notice, that the strength of our crew 

 was at this time considerably diminished ; the substitution 

 of rice, resulting from the loss of bread and other changes 

 of customary diet, upon men enduring heavy fatigue, had, 

 in addition to fever and diarrhaea, at one period, with- 

 drawn more than half our force, and particularly our 

 leading petty officers. As the time, however, approached 

 for bringing our whole energies to the anxious experi- 

 ment about to be made for raising the ship, it afforded 

 me extreme gratification to notice a marked disposition 

 among the crew to rally, and when the important day 

 arrived, not more than thirty were absent. 



The 17th having been fixed upon for our great effort, the 

 crew were exposed as little as possible, and arrangements 

 were made for their accommodation in the Tope or native 

 vessel alongside. About four, P.M., they were directed to 



