1 several weeks, when a sail was reported to be visible on the
2 horizon, the passengers immediately went on deck to behold
3 the sight. It was an American whaler, and many of the
4 sailors were sitting on the tops of the masts to get a distant
5 view of the ocean. On the coast of Africa, near the Equator,
6 we encountered a vessel, which, from the account, giver us by
7 the captain, was coming from Jlombay, hound for Calcutta, and
8 had been driven by adverse gales into this part of the Atlantic
9 The crew and passengers were sorely distressed for want of
10 provisions, and, without knowing even the name of the captain,
11 •vc supplied them with rice, potatoes, beer, 8»c. gratis.
12 At various periods of the day, even when the sun was but
13 slightly visible, the captain and officers look observations vdtli
14 their nautical instruments; and, after making their calculations,
15 would point out to us, on the map, the exact, spot on the watery
16 plain which we were then traversing. In the early part of our
17 voyage, as we approached the southern hemisphere, we gradually
18 lost sight of the northern constellations, and when we reached the
19 equator, we could not any longer descry the polar star; hut, we
20 were compensated for this, hv the appearance of other constella¬
21 tions in the south, which were gradually manifested within our
22 horizon, among which that, of the Cross is the most magnificent,
23 the others being considerably inferior to the northern. These
24 incidents may probably appear superfluous to those who have
25 made the voyage; but, to numbers who have not crossed the
26 waste of mighty waters, they may possibly afford some interest.
27 The various events which I have described in this volume,
28 have all been written from memory; as the i nly time which I
29 could spare for committing any observations to paper, was fully
30 engrossed in noting down those which related to medical subjects;
31 therefore, it can easily be imagined, that some of the minor
32 details may he slightly inaccurate, and that many an important
33 fact, which would have been worth recording, may have escaped
34 my remembrance. I can, however, assure my readers, that, as far
35 as my memory serves me, T have presented to them a faithful
36 record, and that I nevoT have, in any instance, wilfully swerved
37 ft >;n truth.