^fortee's journal. ^ O 



had not a sick man on board. We frequently saw tropic 

 birds, sea swallows, gulls, and other birds that indicate an 

 approach to land, but in greater numbers between the 

 longitude of 100° and 105° than in any other part, except 

 in the neighbourhood of the Marquesas, where we ob- 

 served vast numbers the day before making land, at which 

 time also we saw immense shoals of spermaceti whales, of 

 all sizes, slowly directing their course to the northward. 

 In this run we saw vast numbers of flying fish, and many 

 of that kind which have red wings: they are much larger 

 than the others, and are never seen in shoals. From the 

 time of leaving the Gallapagoes we experienced a con- 

 stant westerly set of the current, which gradually decrea- 

 sed in velocity until we made the land, when we found its 

 rate to be only twelve miles in twenty-four hours. At the 

 time of our departure from the Gallapagoes, we found our- 

 selves set to the westward daily twenty-five miles, and this 

 was ascertained by the difference between our dead 

 reckoning and our lunar 'observations, assisted by our 

 chronometer. 



As we had little to employ our people about during our 

 run, and as I believed that at this time, more than any other, 

 I had much to apprehend from the scurvy getting among 

 them, I considered it necessary to rouse them from that 

 listlessness and apathy into which the human mind is apt 

 to fall when destitute of employment. All were ignorant 

 of the place of our destination or my intentions ; I saw 

 no prospect of evil resulting from making them known: 

 and as I have ever considered that cheerfulness is a more 

 powerful antiseptic than any other known, I determined 

 to apply one of the doses which, I believe, had heretofore 

 greatly contributed to preserve the health of my men. 

 The following note was communicated to them ; and those 

 who know the disposition of sailors may readily conceive 

 the effect it produced. For the remainder of our passage 

 they could talk and think of nothing but the amusements 

 and novelties that awaited them in this new world. 



" We are bound to the Western islands, with two ob- 

 jects in view : 



" First, that we may put the ship in a suitable condi- 

 tion to enable us to take advantage of the most favourable 

 season for our return home : . 



