Page 24

a good library of 150 volumes we
cannot read -- the chefs boards
all lie idle -- and the cards are
trumped -- walking is tiresome
lying still more so -- and
talking is a thing of nought
-- the only resource is to sleep
it off - as to writing, it is too much
for any body to undertake unless
to avoid the pilory or whipping post
which is about equivilent to being
lashed up to the yard arms.

2nd day 25th

Lat by observ. this day 41° 7'
A dead calm nearly all the
morning -- 2 large whales spouting
(see by the captain) about a mile
from us -- a little breeze about
two o clock - a school of black
fish - somewhat similar to the whale
or grampus - a large fin on the
the back and from 10 to 20ft from snout
to tail -- some of them very near
the ship. For the want
[drawing of fish]
of something better to do ---
as the calm was so complete that
the vessel actually went backwards