The fellow got a good shaking for the trouble he
had given. We made a joke of the matter and we could well laugh, for
our minds were not a little relieved by its ridiculous termination.
We were now close upon the southern tropical line, and, with so fine
a breeze, were daily leaving the sun behind us, and drawing nearer
to Cape Horn, for which it behoved us to make every preparation. Our
rigging was all examined and overhauled, and mended, or replaced
with new, where it was necessary: new and strong bobstays fitted in
the place of the chain ones, which were worn out; the spritsail yard
and martingale guys and back-ropes set well taught; bran new fore
and main braces rove; top-gallant sheets, and wheel-ropes, made of
green hide, laid up in the form of rope, were stretched and fitted;
and new top-sail clewlines, etc., rove; new fore-topmast back-stays
fitted; and other preparations made, in good season, that the ropes
might have time to stretch and become limber before we got into cold
weather.
Sunday, June 12th. Lat. 26 deg. 04' S., 116 deg. 31' W. We had now
lost the regular trades, and had the winds variable, principally from
the westward, and kept on, in a southerly course, sailing very nearly
upon a meridian, and at the end of the week,
Sunday, June 19th, were in lat.
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