Thamanampalli Surekha

Safeness of the voyage-Our log-Hydrophobia-Trade-winds-Passengers' studies-Rebellious appetites- Intermediate passengers-Their discomforts-Ship-accommodation-A break in the voyage-Want of discipline an evil-Rough weather-Nearing our destination-Australian geography-The existence of a desert in the interior- Sturt and Leichhardt's exploration-Variation of time and the seasons-Ships and ship-owners-Cape Otway lighthouse. ANY one who glances occasionally over the casualties recorded in our shipping intelligence, must remark the very small number of vessels last on the outward voyage to the Australian colonies, while scarcely a week elapses that we do not find in the registry at Lloyd's, intelligence of some ship foundering at sea, or being swallowed up in a hurricane, during the much shorter voyages to America and the West Indies. These facts are easily comprehended by experienced mariners and old voyagers, but passengers who for the first time intend hazarding a long voyage at sea imperfectly understand them. Nevertheless such is the case, that the passage out to Australia, occupying three or four months, and sailing over an extent of ocean nothing short of fifteen thousand miles, is safer than an ordinary week's voyage through the German Ocean or any of the British Channels. In fact, the time when most danger is to be apprehended from shipwreck or collision, is while the vessel is threading its way through the intricacies of river and channel navigation that lie between the parts of departure and the open sea. When once the "good ship" is clear of the foggy coasts which encircle the British Isles, and "Biscay's sleepless bay" is among the latitudes behind all is plain sailing and fine weather for the remainder of the voyage. So free from tempest have we experienced it, sailing from London in September, that the ship's longboat could have accomplished it without great risk. As our voyage out was what ship-master consider an average passage, a slight sketch of it will convey to the reader some of the ordinary route pursued by a sailing vessel bound for Australia And as we whiled away a few minutes pleasantly each day after eight bells pricking out latitude and longitude on the map obligingly furnished to us by the mate, we have inserted at the beginning of this chapter an outline chart of the world with our route laid down, to which we refer the reader on perusing the following synopsis of our log. [Map at end of this ebook.] On the fourth night from the Downs, cleared the English Channel. The Lizard Light dipped below the horizon. Strong breezes and squally weather. Every body, i.e. the passengers, sick and uncomfortable. In three days more, crossed the Bay of Biscay. ship under single-reefed topsails. A few male passengers appearing from below in pilot-jackets, but suddenly vanishing at the aspect of the weather. Eleventh day out, passed the island of the Madeira. Fine summer weather. All sail. Every body on deck. In three days more got into the north-east trade-winds. Studding-sails set allow and aloft. Weather warm, clear, and pleasant. Every body dressed in light clothing. N.B. The passengers considered themselves by this time old sailors, and wondered how people could be frightened at a sea voyage. Sixteenth day out, entered the tropic of Cancer. Thermometer at 85° in the shade. Two days attacked with hydrophobia, and both destroyed. There are one or two remarkable circumstances connected with this canine disease, which we observed on the voyage and in Australia, worth recording, particularly as we are not aware of their having been mentioned by previous travellers. Out of eight days taken on board in England, five became rabid and were destroyed before we reached the equator. The other three "crossed the line" without showing any symptoms of the malady; neither did they exhibit the smallest tendency to become rabid in passing through the southern tropical zone. although exposed to greater abstinence from water than those attacked while we were in the northern tropic. The disease has not been known amongst the bands of dogs which infest the towns in Australia, and which are all descended from the hydrophobic curs of Britain. In fact, if we are not in error, scarcely an authenticated case of this unaccountable distemper has been known in the southern hemisphere. How will physicians solve this problem? Is it an atmospheric agent which engenders the virus? and is that agent an impurity in the air of the northern hemispheric which does not exist in the south? A little inquiry into this subject would no doubt elicit some valuable medical statistics for the information of patients, and relating to the well-known salubrity of the Australian climate. To resume our log. We were bowling through the waves of the North Atlantic at the rate of eleven knots an hour. Sailed through the north-east trade-winds in ten days. Got into the doldrums for a couple of. Calms and tropical thunder-storms, Every body listless and lazy. Quantities of ginger-beer and soda-powders effervesced to quench a universal thirst; but of small avail, Fresh water at a premium. Melting moments. Every body bathing. Patent shower-bath-a bucket and a basket. Glorious sunsets. Several ships in company. Signal the longitude. A breeze sprung up; which proved to be the south-east trade-wind. Spoke an Indiaman homeward bound. Sent letters an board. "Grossed the line" on the thirtieth day out, in longitude 20° west, Instead of the ancient