2IO 



After reaching the latitude of the trade 

 wind we pafTed very little of our time in the 

 eabin ; nor, throughout the whole paffage, did 

 -we negka to take our exercife upon deck, 

 whenever the weather would permit; occafion- 

 ally alfo in order to divert the fad indolence of 

 our inadive life, we gave affiftance at the cap- 

 ftan, or in working the pump, or pulling the 

 ropes ; but one of thefe moments of induftry 

 had nearly coft Dr. Cleghorn his life. A large 

 block, expofed to excelTive purchafe in getting 

 up one of the mafts, broke from its rope as 

 we were heaving at the capftan bars, and, 

 flying to a great height vAih violent rapidity, 

 flruck the dodor on the head in its fall. 

 Happily he was not within the circle of its full 

 force, or, beyond all doubt, he had been killed 

 on the fpot. Moderate as it was, the blow 

 being received from only the edge of the block, 

 in its fall to the deck, it rendered him infenfible 

 for fome time, and cut an alarming wound 

 through the integuments quite to the bone. 

 On recovering from the comatofe ftate, which 

 had followed the blow, he had no knowledge 

 how the accident had happened; and v/hen the 



