WHITENS JOURNAL OF A 
a floop bound to the coaft of Africa, belonging to the 
houfe of Mether in London ; had been out four months, and 
was then ftanding to the weftward. 
The wind continuing adverfe, and the fleet making little 
progrefs in their voyage, Captain Phillip put the oflicers, fea- 
men, marines, and convids to an allowance of three pints of 
water per day (not including a quart allowed each man a 
day for boiling peafe and oatmeal) ; a quantity fcarcely 
fufficient to fupply that wafte of animal fpirits the body mud 
neceflarily undergo, in the torrid zone, from a conftant and 
violent perfpiration, and a diet conflfting of fait proviiions, 
NecefHty, however, has no law in this inftance as well as 
in every other ; and I am fully perfuaded the commander 
adled upon this occaflon from the beft of motives, and for 
the good of the whole. Were it by any means poflible, 
people fubjedl to long voyages fhould never be put to a fhort 
allowance of water ; for I am fatisfied that a liberal ufe of it 
(when freed from the foul air, and made fweet by a ma- 
chine now in ufe on board his Majefty's navy) will 
tend to prevent a fcorbutic habit, as much, if not more, 
than any thing we are acquainted with. My own ex- 
perience in the navy has convinced me, that when fcor- 
butic 
