1 stance, and advised him to administer decoction of sarsaparilla
2 to the patient. There was none on board, however, at that
3 time, but, when we reached the Cape, the surgeon procured
4 a supply, and began to administer it. The impatient colonel,
5 not finding instant relief, again gave vent to his exclamations,
6 telling mo that the beverage was of no service; l persuaded
7 him, however, to persevere; after a fortnight, ho acknowledg'd
8 himself to be considerably hotter; and, in a month, he vas
9 completely restored to health. The second case was that oi a
10 child of twelve months, which, from difficulty in cutting its
11 teeth, was afflicted with convulsions, could net enjoy airy
12 food, became visibly weak, and every one felt certain that
13 the child could not live many days. Leeches, scarification
14 of the gums, warm baths, lenitives, and purgatives, had all
15 been used, to no purpose. On perceiving the desperate state
16 of the child, 1 impiired of the surgeon whether lie had tried
17 blistering, and on finding be lmd not, advised him to dp so;
18 he accordingly applied two (one behind each ear) and from
19 that moment the spasms ceased, the teething began, and the
20 child grew better.
21 Divine service was regularly performed on board the ship,
22 the captain performing it every Sunday, morning and evening
23 There were about two hundred persons on board, but, we
24 nevertheless had plenty of provisions; in fact, wc may be
25 said to have fared luxuriously; for, besides an abundance of
26 necessary food, we had pastry of some kind or other daily,
27 as well as delicious cakes for desert, and many sorts of; wines,
28 malt liquor, and spirits. Twice a-week champagne was served
29 a, our table. One day we met with not fewer than nine ships,
30 with some of which wc entered into communication, inquiring
31 the name of the vessel, whence it came, whither it was bound, what
32 was its cargo, how long it had been on the voyage, and what
33 other vessels it had spoken with on its way. These communi¬
34 cation-., unless tbc ship be within speaking distance, are all
35 made by flag-signals, of which every vessel possesses a book,
36 or index. Previous!) to the day on which we met with the
37 vessels just mentioned, we had not come in sight of any during