356 CONVALESCENT PATIENTS. [1820 



and it is called Church Rock. " To the southward of this rock, on 

 the east side of the island, near the shore, there is an inlet within 

 which the landing is safe and easy, it being protected from the swell 

 and northerly winds by the north-east point. Here several Americans 

 formerly resided ; but they had been unsuccessful during a long stay, 

 most of the seal having deserted the island ; but plenty of fish were 

 procured, and birds of good flavour were caught, by lighting a fire upon 

 one of the hills in the night." 



This island used to abound with fur-seal and sea-elephants ; but 

 they were so much annoyed by their relentless persecutors, that they 

 have sought more safe and distant retreats — perhaps some lonely isles 

 in the southern ocean, as yet unknown to the fell destroyer, man ! 

 These places might be easily found, however, if merchants were 

 willing to risk the expense of the attempt. But our capitalists, 

 generally, are timid adventurers, and cautious of venturing out of old- 

 beaten tracks. 



November 18th. — On Wednesday, the 18th, we continued on our 

 course to the south and east, wafted along by fine western breezes. 

 The sick now began to recover, so as to sit up for a few minutes at a 

 time ; but they appeared more like living skeletons than any thing else 

 I can now compare them to. Their countenances were peaked, sunken, 

 hollow, cadaverous, and, in short, horribly frightful — full as much so 

 as those of cholera patients in a state of collapse. But they were 

 evidently improving slowly, as they could take chicken soup quite 

 freely, together with a little custard, made of the milk which I pro- 

 cured at Tristan d'Acunha, and which was boiled and bottled up for 

 the use of the sick. 



My wife now began to gain a little strength, so that she could sit up 

 in her bed fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. But the fever had left 

 her a perfect cripple, being quite drawn out of shape ; as her limbs 

 could not be straightened, and her ankles were drawn nearly up to her 

 body. But still she suffered no pain. The application of various 

 kinds of liniments produced no good effect, and poultices were equally 

 unsuccessful. I next tried a very strong decoction of tobacco/ with 

 which I bathed the affected parts several times a day, concluding the 

 operation by binding on the leaves, and keeping them moist with the 

 liquid in which they had been boiled. A steady perseverance in this 

 course of treatment was crowned with success ; her limbs were re- 

 stored to their natural position, and the symmetry of her person re- 

 mained unimpaired. 



Some of the seamen were now taken down with a violent flux, 

 which I vainly endeavoured to check with all the assistance I could 

 derive from the medicine-chest. They grew worse, and became ex- 

 cessively weak. I then peeled white oak-bark from the firewood 

 which we had on board, and boiled it to a strong tea, which I re- 

 peatedly administered to them, in very small doses, for the space of 

 forty-eight hours. This had the desired effect ; their bowels became 

 regular, their appetites returned, and they recovered strength very 

 rapidly. 



November 2lst. — On Saturday, the 21st, being in lat. 44° 30' S., 



