CHAPTER VIII 
PUNDAY, \6tk— Lat. 16.18 \ long. 26.15. We are 
fairly in the trades, running down the North-Easters. 
We fell in with them on Friday, and fondly hope we may 
keep them on our port beam or quarter till we get down 
to twelve degrees north latitude at least. They ought to 
help us down so far, if they abide by the nautical almanac. 
Ships, barques, brigs, barquantines, schooners all pass 
us. I think our slowness is partly due to our rigging 
being so bound down. The shrouds and stays have been 
taughtened so often that there is about as much play in 
them as there is in a railway line. Ail the vessels that 
can signal, interview us. We must puzzle them ! Our 
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