Upon this, we had made a
considerable inroad. We killed one of the bullocks every four days, so
that they did not last us up to the line. We, or, rather, they, then
began upon the sheep and the poultry, for these never come into Jack's
mess.* The pigs were left for the latter part of the voyage, for
they are sailors, and can stand all weathers. We had an old sow on
board, the mother of a numerous progeny, who had been twice round
the Cape of Good Hope, and once round Cape Horn. The last time going
round, was very nearly her death. We heard her squealing and moaning
one dark night, after it had been snowing and hailing for several
hours, and getting into the sty, we found her nearly frozen to
death. We got some straw, an old sail, and other things, and wrapped
her up in a corner of the sty, where she staid until we got into
fine weather again.
*The customs as to the allowance of "grub" are very nearly the same in
all American merchantmen. Whenever a pig is killed, the sailors have
one mess from it. The rest goes to the cabin. The smaller live
stock, poultry, etc., they never taste. And, indeed, they do not
complain of this, for it would take a great deal to supply them with a
good meal, and without the accompaniments, (which could hardly be
furnished to them,) it would not be much better than salt beef.
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