THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 



95 



not remember ever to have seen a man more industrious 

 or more apt at doing nearly everything he needs himself. 

 He is a skilful carpenter and turner, cooper, tin and black 

 smith, and an excellent tailor; I saw him making a pair 

 of pantaloons of fine cloth with all the neatness that a city 

 brother of the cross-legged faculty could have used. He 

 made a handsome patent swift for his wife, and a beautiful 

 plane for his own use, manufactured out of a piece of beech- 

 wood that probably grew on the banks of the Ohio, as I 

 perceived it had been part of a flat-boat, and brought on 

 board to be used for fuel. He can plait straw in all 

 sorts of ways, and make excellent bearded fishhooks out of 

 common needles. He is an excellent sailor, and the more 

 stormy it becomes, the gayer he is, even when drenched to 

 the skin. I was desirous of understanding the means of 

 ascertaining the latitude on land, and also to find the 

 true rising of the sun whilst travelling in the uninhabited 

 parts of America ; this he showed me with pleasure, and I 

 calculated our latitude and longitude from this time, 

 though not usually fond of mathematics. To keep busy 

 I go often about the deck pencil in hand, sketching the 

 different attitudes of the sailors, and many a laugh is 

 caused by these rough drawings. Both the mates have 

 shown a kindness towards me that I cannot forget. The 

 first mate is S. L. Bragdon from Wells, the second Wm. 

 Hobart from Kennebunk. 



To-day we came in with a new set and species of Petrels, 

 resembling those in the Gulf of Mexico, but considerably 

 larger; between fifty and sixty were at one time close to 

 the vessel, catching small fish that we guessed to be her- 

 rings; the birds swam swiftly over the water, their wings 

 raised, and now and then diving and dipping after the 

 small fry ; they flew heavily, and with apparent reluctance, 

 and alighted as soon as we passed them. I was satisfied 

 that several in our wake had followed us from the Gulf of 

 Mexico; the sudden change in the weather must have 

 been seriously felt by them. 



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