Ohfirniations for crowing the Line. 
felves when they were drench’d with the//«.i<? 99 . 
Rains. The Heat of the Weather madet/\'^ 
them carelefs of doing this ; but taking a 
Dram of Brandy, which I gave them when 
wet, with a Charge to fliift themfelves, 
they would however lie down in their 
Hammocks with their Wet Cloaths ; fo 
that when they turn’d out they caus’d an ill 
fmell where-ever they came, and theirHam- 
mocks would ftink fufficiently; that I 
think the Remedying of this is worth the 
Care of Commanders that crofs the Lim ; 
efpecially when they are, it may be, a 
Month or more e’er they get out of the 
Rains, at feme times of the Year, as in 
'^uly^ or JuguH. 
What I have here faid about the Cur- 
rents, Winds, Calms, &c. in this Paffage 
is chiefly for the farther Illuftration of what 
I have heretofore obferv’d in general about 
thefe Matters, and efpecially as to Croffing 
the Line, in my Difeourfe oftheWwds, &c. 
m the Torrid ^ne: [See Vol, IT. Part 
p. 5, 6.] Which Obfervations I have had 
very much confirm’d to me in the Courfe 
of this Voyage ; and I fliall particularize 
in feveral of the chief of them as they come 
in my Way. And indeed 1 think I may 
fay this of the Main of the Obfervations in 
that Treatife, that the clear Satisfaftion I 
had about them, and how much I might 
rely upon them, w’as a great Bale to my 
