S90 JOURNAL OF A 
fore our door cried, Log-time ! The officer of the watch on deck: 
Pleave the log! Hold the reel! Shortly after: Strike the belH 
Tlie Zebra's bell, hovFever, being broken when she went on 
shore in Simon's bay, it sounded like an old tin kettle, till 
the ])roken piece fell out, by which its tone was improved. This 
lasted about a fortnight, when by some means it got another 
crack, and lost its voice entirely. As make-shifts are very com- 
mon among sailors, they found, on trial, that striking with the 
hammer on the flook of the anchor, answered the purpose as well, 
and that was now our hell. It is struck every half hour, but not 
in imitation of a clock. The day is divided into six parts. At 
twelve at noon, it strikes eight times, or eight bells, as the phrase is, 
two and two strokes distinct, „.„.„.,,. at half after twelve, one 
stroke; atone, two strokes; at half-past one, three; and so on till 
four o'clock; when, of course, the eight strokes return. Tlien, be- 
ginning with one at half past eight o'clock, they are again complete 
at twelve. If the officer says to the Captain, it is twelve or six 
o'clock, the answer is, " make it so." When the King was sailing in 
a frigate at Weymouth, hearing the commander use that expres- 
sion, he observed: " You, Sir, have more power than I have; I 
cannot wz/7A:e it what time J please." After the bell has struck, 
the sailors placed as watch on the shrouds, and fore-castle, cry 
out, as loud as they can, lestthey should be suspected of sleeping: 
Larboard quarter; Starboard quarter; Larboard bow. In the 
morning, there is pumping, scrubbing, trampling overhead, 
and the noise increases. 
27th. The wind was variable with short calms, and much 
lightning. 
29th. It may seem impertinent, that I again introduce a memo- 
rial of my late father on this anniversary of his death, having already 
in my account of the same day, spent at sea, on my voyage to 
the Cape, expressed my feelings on that subject; but as I wrote this 
journal for the perusal of my children, I could not help adding a 
few lines in reference to it; and now, on revision, cannot resolve to 
