but they were ſufficient to quicken my anxiety, to find a place for refreſhment, whenever it might be wanted. For though my crew were at preſent in good health and ſpirits, I had learned by my former expeditions, that there is no circumſtance which operates more favorably on the temper and diſpoſition of ſailors in long voyages, (whenever they are attacked with thoſe diſeaſes to which they are ſo ſubject and of courſe moſt frequently dread) than the certainty of a port or harbor to which they may be taken; experience having alſo taught them, that the ſmell of the ſhore and change of ſea diet, in general, remove the greateſt part of their complaints[1].
We brought plenty of cocoa nuts from Iſles Cocos, and there was never wanting a freſh meal of turtle; for they
- ↑ I do not pretend to any other medical knowledge, but ſuch as I may have acquired, by ſome little reading on medical ſubjects, and the attention I was obligated to pay to the diſeaſes and complaints of ſeamen, in the various voyages I have made, as it frequently became a nice point to judge, whether a man neglected his duty from idleneſs or ſickneſs. I alſo paid particular attention to the practice of the different Indian rations, when an opportunity was afforded me, and from the circumſtance of having no ſurgeon on board, it became a duty in me, to make part of my ſtudy, ſuch an important ſubject, as the health of my crew; and I was ſo fortunate as to ſucceed in the applications I uſed, as to reſtore health through means, which the ſuggeſtions of the moment only dictated to me.
