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September 1861 September 1st Doldrums/Rain Squalls/uncomfortable/Torrid Zone Sunday came in wet and squally. It rained very heavy in the morning watch. The men improved the time by giving themselves a thorough washing, which makes them look two shades whiter. The usual Sunday’s inspection was dispensed with on account of the weather. At 10 a.m. it commenced clearing off. At half past 10 a.m. Divine Service was held on the gun deck. At 11 a.m. the sun came out, and the rest of the day was very pleasant. At noon we were in 6 degrees 21 miles north latitude and 39 degrees 12 miles west longitude. We are now in the latitude of the Doldrums, or variable wind. A squall rises here very suddenly, and hardly are you aware of it, before it bursts upon you, and then, “Hurrah, there, and take in sail!” One of the squalls was brewing on our starboard quarter all the afternoon, and at 6 p.m. it came upon is, but it being almost aft we hardly felt it. It sent us along for two hours, at the rate of twelve knots. At 11 p.m. another squall with very heavy rain came upon our lee bow and caught us aback. Royals, topgallant sails and flying jib were furled; courses and spanker were hauled up. The whole of the midwatch it rained a 2nd deluge. The watch was kept to work at the braces, and at eight bells there was not a man but what was wet through. During the intervals between bracing, the watch would stow themselves on the booms, under the boom cover, and it would make a horse laugh, to hear some poor fellow come in soaking wet, edging in, and swearing, he’d be D_d if he would ever come to sea again, he’d sooner go to the poor house first. And I can safely say it is not very comfortable, the wind whistling through the rigging, and the rain coming down Tremendously. Add to this a night so dark that you can hardly distinguish an object until you are upon it. You may get dozing under the lee of something on deck, when you are called September 1861 363 to lay aft to the braces, you are probably wet through to the skin, and shivering , and then perhaps you have to go aloft to furl some sail, the same as we had. Then you will not wonder, if a person forms a resolution, not to come to sea again. But just as soon as the weather gets pleasant again, it is all forgotten . (The reader must bear in mind that we are now in the warmest part of the world; what it must be in the cold latitudes he can form his own opinion). September 2nd Washing/all hands Reef Topsails Came in wet and squally. At 7 a.m. it cleared off a little, but just as soon as the port watch came on deck, it thickened up, and commenced to rain, and it came down good. All hands are washing themselves, blankets, clothing, and in fact everything that belongs to them. It is a rich treat to a sailor to get a little fresh water once in a while, that is if there is not much wind with it. At 11 a.m. it cleared off again, and the clothes lines, and rigging was covered with washed clothes and pea jackets. At noon, the master could not get an observation on account of the weather, but according to dead reckoning we were in 8.37 North latitude, and 39.29 West Longitude. During the afternoon, it commenced to thicken on our lee bow, and at 5 p.m. we had a passing squall. Royals and flying jib were furled, but were loosed and set again at half past five. It looks very threatening on our lee bow, and promises to be a nasty night. At four bells the boatswain called all hands to reef topsails. One reef was taken, and the topgallant sails and royals were set over them. This was done so as to be prepared, in case it should come on to blow during the night. We expect to get the N.E. trade wind out of all these squalls. We had several very heavy rain squalls during the night. The wind came from all points of the compass. September 3d 6 round of shot and 1 of...

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