6 
SPILSBUHY'S VOYAGE TO AFRICA. 
two giiRs broke loose, but very fortunately we got over tfe 
danger without damage. 
September the 30th, the seacontinu.^d high; and in the even- 
ing the Mary came alongside, and carried away the jib booni^ 
but got clear vvithoot ûirther loss. 
» October the 1st, we evidently felt thé increase of heat. Our 
men wereregularly trained, as h customary, to the exercise of great 
guns and small arms. It is perhaps the great attention to this 
most useful regulation on board British ships of war, which 
gives us a decided superiority over our enemies. Go the beat of 
'd drum, the men immediately ûy to their (Quarters ; and their being 
so constant in that point of duty, increases their agility, gives 
them confidence in their own powers, and prevents much of that 
confusion, which with those less disciplined must necessarily 
ensue — even the little powder-boy would be ashamed of being 
reproaclied by his ship mates, for not kiio\vii;g his duty. Chi 
these occasions a general sileiice prevailsyaii attentively îistening 
for the word of C'Vaimand, 
We now again were sent fn chace of a strange ship ; she 
proved to be a Prussian; the master of he; was ill, and wished 
advice, but v^e were ordered to make s.ni immediately. 
Nothing particular occurred luitil October the 3d, wlren, the 
weather being nearly calm, a numbcFof flying fish passed us, some? 
few of them falling on board. The machine for purifying oui? 
water was by some means stopt, ^1 he cooper was therefore 
ordered to open it : the pnncipîe was by conveying the water 
through charcoal, by which method, the most putrid water 
becomes inmicdiately sweet; but it was insufficient to supply ther 
whole sijip's company. We were at this time nearly 210 miles 
from any land ; yet two small birds foilow^ed us, one a red-' 
start- Tlie race of these poor animals was nearly run^ and 
the tirst pufi" of wind deprived them of their last hopes. 
A number of small shells were seen floating by the ship; on 
gathering' of which, they stained the hands, as well as paper or 
wool, with a beautiful and permanent purple. The flsh projected 
from the shells about an inch and half, and when taken out 
of them, there appeared at the end a small blue vein, which, 
when opened, produced the dying liquid ; and this we supposed 
to be the blood of the insect. {See the Fiaie.) The citric acid 
changed th.e fluid into a fine deep blue. They can throw out this 
liquor at pleasure ; and when put into water, it is tinged with 
their colours. To me the insect appeared bloated, whicli ren- 
dered it so extremely buoyant, haviiig perhaps undergone some 
peculiar change : the sea was literally covered with them ; and 
app^ircBtly they had not power to contract themselves into their 
shells. LÀ'^ii airs asid heavy rains* 
