24 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[August, 
CHAPTER II. 
Sea-sickness — The Gulf-stream — A Storm at Sea— Cape de Verds — St. Antonio 
— A Whale-ship — Trial of Speed — Crossing the Equator — Rio Janeiro — Cour- 
teous Reception of the Frigate. 
On the second day following her departure from Sandy Hook, 
a tumbling sea caused an irregular pitching and rolling motion of 
the vessel, peculiarly unpleasant to those who were unaccustomed 
to the turbulent domains of Neptune. The certainty, however, 
that sea-sickness is not fatal in its effects, and that, sooner or 
later, a restoration to health will ensue, has sometimes encour- 
aged others, whose stomachs are proof against this scourge of the 
" fresh man of the sea," to sport in wanton mood with the de^ 
jected feelings of the sufferer. Yes, we repeat, sujferer, for 
woful experience has taught, that, of all the " evils which flesh 
is heir to," none is so unpleasant, for the time being, as sea-sick- 
ness. The spirits droop, the heart sickens — a total indifference 
to life, death, friends, home, country, succeeds — until every thing 
seems swallowed up in that nauseating stupor which preys upon 
the very spirit itself ! ' 
The autumnal equinox was now fast approaching, a season of 
the year which frequently introduces itself into the North Atlantic 
with storms and tempests, and even violent and destructive hur- 
ricanes. 
As the Potomac approached the gulf-stream, she underwent 
the usual preparation for storms and squalls, so generally met 
with in this portion of the Atlantic ; so usual, indeed, that it 
has become proverbial — 
" That in the stream 
The lightnings gleam, 
And Boreas blows his blast." 
The commodore had hoped to escape every thing like a gale, 
quite content to try the qualities of his ship for sailing with fine 
