78 RETURN TO RTO DE JANEIRO. May 



The affectionate kindness of Mr. Bynoe on this, and indeed 

 every occasion where his skill and attention were required, 

 will never be forgotten by any of his shipmates. 



In our passage from Rio de Janeiro to Bahia, we passed be- 

 tween the Abrolhos Islands and the main land, having a fresh 

 southerly wind, and cloudy weather, with frequent rain. Of 

 course there was some anxiety until we saw the islands, and it 

 was necessary to keep the lead constantly going ; but we got 

 into no difficulty, and, assisted by Massey''s log, as well as 

 Massey's lead, we made a short passage, without an hour's delay 

 or scant wind. This was favourable for the chronometer mea- 

 surement, and I was deeply gratified by finding, soon after our 

 arrival, that the measure from Rio to Bahia confirmed that 

 previously made, even to a second of time. 



On the 23d of May, we sailed the second time from 

 Bahia, and steered to pass as near as possible to the eastern 

 side of the Abrolhos ; but, owing to unfavourable winds, 

 could not approacli neax-er to them than in fourteen fathoms 

 water. 



When examining many of the cases of preserved meat* with 

 which the Admiralty had ordered us to be provided, we found 

 that several had burst and caused a most disagreeable smell. 

 This was not the fault of the tin cases, but an unavoidable 

 accident consequent upon their being stowed where salt water 

 had occasional access, and corroded the tin. In so small and 

 so crammed a hold as ours, it was not easy to make stowage 

 for every thing that ought to be kept dry, particularly with 

 a hatch-deck, while rolling about in the Bay of Biscay ; but 

 being warned by this first appearance of decay, our internal 

 arrangement was partly changed, and some of the hatches on 

 the lower deck temporarily caulked down. 



Delayed by southerly winds and a long heavy swell from 

 the southward, we made rather a tedious passage back to Rio, 

 and did not anchor until the night of the 3d of June. 



Next day (4th) the usual sets of equal altitudes were 

 observed ; and after the chronometer rates were ascertained, I 

 * Prepared by Kilner and Moorsom. 



