FOKTEK.*S ioURNAL. 



79 



washed from the spar to the gun-deck, and from their ham- 

 mocks, and did not know the extent of the injury, were al- 

 so greatly alarmed ; but the men at the wheel, and some 

 others, who were enabled by a strong grasp to keep their 

 stations, distinguished themselves by their coolness and ac- 

 tivity after the shock. I took this opportunity of advancing 

 them one grade, by filling up the vacancies occasioned by 

 those sent in prizes, and those who were left at St. Catha- 

 rines ; rebuking, at the same time, the others for their ti- 

 midity. 



And now we began to hope for better times, for the sky 

 became serene, and we were enabled to make sail ; the 

 wind shifted to the S. W., and brought with it the only 

 pleasant weather we had experienced since we passed the 

 Falkland Islands. Here again we were deceived, for, be- 

 fore night it began to blow in heavy squalls, with cold rain, 

 and reduced us to close-reefed fore and main topsails, and 

 reefed foresail. But, as the wind was fair, we consoled our- 

 selves with the pleasing reflection that we were every mo- 

 ment receding farther from the influence of the dreary and 

 inhospitable climate of Cape Horn. On the 6th of the 

 month, having passed the parallel of Chili, our sufferings, 

 appeared at an end, for we enjoyed pleasant and temperate 

 weather, with fine breezes from the southward ; and, for 

 the first time during our passage, were enabled to knock 

 out our dead-lights, and open our gun-deck ports. The 

 repairs of our damages went on rapidly, and by night the 

 ship was in every respect, excepting wear and tear, as well 

 prepared for active service as the day we left St. Catha- 

 rines. Our latitude at meridian was 39° 20' south ; and we 

 had a distant view of part of the Andes, which appeared 

 covered with snow. Albatrosses were as usual about the 

 ship ; several fish, by sailors denominated sun-fish, were 

 seen ; and we frequently passed a white and apparently ge- 

 latinous substance, which we had not an opportunity of 

 examining. There was every prospect of a speedy arri- 

 val in some port on the coast of Chili ; and I directed the 

 cables to be bent, using every means in our power to guard 

 them from the effects of rocky bottom. 



The health of the crew was better than when I left the 

 United States, and not the slightest appearance of scurvy 



