Around the Horn in '49 [pp. 93-99]

1886.] Around the Horn in'49. 95
distance in goodshape. Company employed the music of fife and drum around the
blacksmithing, sail-making, and repairing, decks; ended with music, vocal and instrushoemaking, carpentering, sailorizing, etc. mental.
All are in good spirits. We have a variety May ioth.- Light, baffling head winds,
of kinds of arms, which are daily cleaned. men irritable, and some want to go into Rio
The abundant leisure we enjoy presents a fine Janeiro to water and send home letters.
opportunity for such as contemplate follow- Made coast of South America at 5 P. M.
ing the sea to improve in navigation, and After supper called a special meeting, to take
several are endeavoring to. Our secretary, a vote upon the question of putting into
C. R. Story, though he has no inclination for Rio. After a considerable discussion, it was
a sea life, has become quite a navigator. decided by a majority of the company not
This evening the musicians are assembled in to go in there, but to make the Falkland Islthe house around the table; Bogardus with ands our place for obtaining supplies. A
his bass viol, and James C. Kemp with his good breeze during the night took us into
fiddle, are playing, and several voices join blue water again, and at daylight land and
in singing "A Sailor's Life," and other songs, vessels had disappeared.
to an appreciative audience. May _rth.-Light breezes, and fine, warm
April 22d.-V-We have introduced a new weather; caught five dolphins; a steamer in
feature in our Sunday employment today, sight. At night the heavens studded with
having held religious services, both A. MI. and stars, the atmosphere very clear; Magellan
P. Mt. Exercises consisting of singing by our clouds to southward, and at nine o'clock
choir, reading Scripture, singing, and ser- the majestic moon, a little past the full, ap
mon. In the morning the sermon selected peared above the horizon.
was one preached to a California-bound com- May I6th.-" There she spouts!" A large
pany at Taunton. school of whales playing around, and fre A.pril 23d.-Our decks present a busy quently breaking close to us, and receiving
scene this morning. Some half dozen car- a bombardment from the fire-arms of our
penters are getting out steamboat stock; men. A sail in sight bourd the same way.
Daking at his forge blacksmithing, Cone Porpoises under the bows; I struck one, but
making buckets, Mr. Howe and his watch,we did not get him.
overhauling blocks, etc.; Captain breaking May i7th.-Two months from Salem. We
out lumber, while scattered about under the are now approaching a winter season. Two
awnings, the watches below are variously oc- days have made a great change in temperacupied, reading, writing, mending, etc.; Cap- ture, and thick clothing is being donned.
tain Osgood, our seventy-fuur-year-old pas- May rS/h.-Northerly wind, thick, squally
senger, making a tent for California service. weather, and rain; shortened sail. The
April 27th.-Crossed the equator, 4I days pretty Cape pigeons are flying around, and