420 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1820. pig of ballast; and some chain plates that we 
Sept, had fortunately taken from the Frederick s wreck, 
22 28 and some bar-iron, which was brought out from 
England by the Dromedary, enabled us to place 
our vessel in a state of security, which we were 
by no means in before. 
In order to connect the keel and stern-post, 
both of which were almost separated from the 
frame of the vessel, two bolts, each twenty-four 
inches long, were driven up obliquely through 
the keel, and two of the same size horizontally 
through the stern-post, into the dead wood ; be- 
sides which, they were also united by a stout 
iron brace, which was fitted under the keel, and 
up each side of the stern-post; by which method 
the injury appeared to be so well repaired, that 
we had no fears for our safety if the weather 
should be but moderately fine. 
These repairs were completed by the 28 th, 
28 ’ but, just as we were congratulating ourselves 
upon having performed them, a fresh defect was 
discovered, which threatened more alarming con- 
sequences even than the other : upon stripping off 
some sheets of copper, the spike nails, which fast- 
ened the planks, were found to be decaying ; and 
many were so entirely decomposed by oxidation, 
that a straw was easily thrust through the vacant 
holes. As we had not nails enough to replace 
