CHAPTER llL 
PASSAGE FROM ST. CATHARINES AROUND CAPE HORN ; ARRIVAL 
AT THE ISLAND OF MOCHA. 
The whole of the 26th, we had fresh gales from the south¬ 
ward, which I took advantage of to get a good offing. Saw a 
small Portuguese schooner, bound to the N.E., but did not speak 
her. On the 27th, the wind shifted to the E.; but on account of a 
heavy head sea, we were not able to make much sail; but towards 
the afternoon we had all our light sails out, steering S.S.W., the 
weather remarkably fine, and our rate from 8 to 9 miles per hour. 
An alarming disease now made its appearance among the 
crew; 10 or 15 of them were suddenly attacked by violent pains 
in the stomach and cholera morbus. The surgeons were first of 
opinion, that it proceeded from the bad rum procured at St. Ca¬ 
tharines, Under the impression that it was strongly impregnated 
with lead, the disease having every symptom of that known under 
the name of the painter’s cholic. Their speedy recovery, how¬ 
ever, soon removed this opinion, and caused us to attribute it to 
the proper cause, the too sudden change from salt provisions to 
fresh, and the overloading the stomach with unripe fruit and 
vegetables. 
The weather continued fine, and the wind fair, until the 28th; 
the colour of the water indicated soundings; our course between 
S. by W. and S.S.W.; time was too precious for us to heave to 
to sound. Our lat. on the meridian of this day, 34° 58' 09" S., 
long, by chronometer 51° 11' 37" W.; variation of the compass 
12° 49' E. At 9 P. M. the wind began to haul around to the 
southward, and at midnight, after sharp lightning, fixed itself at 
S. by E., and freshened up so as to compel us to send down our 
royal yards, and double reef our top-sails. The cold began now 
to be sensibly felt, and woollen clothing to be more esteemed than 
it had been for some-time past; the old jackets and trowsers 
I 
VOL. I. 
