His CAPTORS. 257 



Church Rigged. Option of the Men to Watch or to Pray. 



Sabbath morning, the hands were i turned up' 

 to prepare themselves for the forenoon service ; 

 then, according to the state of the weather, or 

 the accommodations we had in the ship, the 

 church was either ' rigged' upon deck, or ar- 

 rangements made for divine worship below. 

 At eleven the service commenced, and generally 

 concluded a few minutes after twelve. From 

 the calling of all hands until this time, every 

 man was on Sabbath-day duty ; and, although 

 no man was made to join in the prayers against 

 his will, yet he had only this option, either to 

 watch or to pray. 



" Before each of our services, whenever the 

 weather was at all unsettled, the ship was put 

 under a somewhat snug sail, and, the deck be- 

 ing left to the charge of the proper officer of 

 the watch, with the assistance of the helms- 

 man, all the rest of the crew, or nearly all, 

 could generally be spared to join the public 

 prayers. When, indeed, there was any proba- 

 bility of squalls, or of any change being requi- 

 site in the sails, some few of the proper watch 

 were placed within observation of the officer 

 on deck, so as to be easily called up without 

 disturbing their comrades. But, if circum- 

 R 



