The Southern Cross we saw no more after the first night; the
Magellan Clouds settled lower and lower in the horizon; and so great
was our change of latitude each succeeding night, that we sank some
constellation in the south, and raised another in the northern
horizon.
Sunday, July 31st. At noon we were in lat. 36 deg. 41' S., long. 38
deg. 08' W., having traversed the distance of two thousand miles,
allowing for changes of course, in nine days. A thousand miles in four
days and a half!- This is equal to steam.
Soon after eight o'clock, the appearance of the ship gave evidence
that this was the first Sunday we had yet had in fine weather. As
the sun came up clear, with the promise of a fair, warm day, and, as
usual on Sunday, there was no work going on, all hands turned-to
upon clearing out the forecastle. The wet and soiled clothes which had
accumulated there during the past month, were brought up on deck;
the chests moved; brooms, buckets of water, swabs,
scrubbing-brushes, and scrapers carried down, and applied, until the
forecastle floor was as white as chalk, and everything neat and in
order.
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