152 



CAPTAIN STOKES VERY ILL. 



July 1828. 



they are skinned and cut up. The first night seven hundred 

 pounds of meat were brought, and two thousand and forty-six 

 pounds were obtained in a few days. 



This ample change of diet inspired me with the hope 

 that our sick, at least those affected by scurvy, would recover, 

 and that after another large supply, which we now knew how 

 to obtain, we might be enabled to prosecute our voyage as 

 was first intended. All hands were therefore allowed fresh 

 meat for a week, and the residue was placed at the disposal 

 of the surgeon, for the use of the sick, but all ineffectually ; 

 the list still increased, and Lieutenant Wickham, with a \io- 

 lent cold, and Mr. Rowlett, with scurvy, were added to it. 

 The assistant-surgeon's became the worst case of scurvy on 

 board ; and our people, finding that the preparations for quit- 

 ting the place were not going on, began to despond again. 

 Captain Stokes was anxious to prepare his vessel for another 

 cruize, being very averse to giving up our plans and returning 

 to Monte Video, since he thought the crews, from utter disgust 

 at the privations and hardships they had endured, would not 

 be persuaded to go on another voyage ; but that if they were 

 to go to Chiloe or Valparaiso, to refresh, they might recover 

 their strength and spirits, and be willing to renew the survey; 

 which, however, he himself seemed to dread, for he never men- 

 tioned the subject without a shudder. He was evidently much 

 excited, and suspicions arose in my mind that all was not quite 

 right with him. I endeavoured to prevail on him to give his 

 people a longer rest, but he was the more anxious to make 

 preparations. On the 31st July he sent an application for pro- 

 visions, and in the evening I received a note from him, which 

 was written in his former usual flow of spirits. The officers, 

 however, knew more of the diseased state of his mind than I 

 did ; and it was owing to a hint given to me, that I desired 

 Mr. Tarn to communicate with Mr. Bynoe, and report to me 

 whether Captain Stokes's health was sufficiently restored to 

 enable him to commence another cruize. This was on the 1st 

 of August. The provisions had been sent, in compliance with 

 his application, and the surgeons were on board the Adventure, 



