reſpect to the quality of our ſea-biſcuit. But we diſcovered, when it was too late, that a part of it had already made a voyage before; for, at the end of five months after our departure from Breſt, it ſwarmed with prodigious numbers of thoſe maggots, that are afterwards changed into the ſpecies of fly known by the name of dermeſtes paniceus. Theſe inſects ſoon became very troubleſome to us: in the night-time they burnt themſelves at our lamps in ſuch numbers, as very frequently to extinguiſh them. From the biſcuits the maggots ſoon ſpread themſelves throughout all the reſt of our proviſions, and it laſted a conſiderable time before we could conquer the diſguſt which it at firſt gave us, when we ſaw them ſwarming in all our food.
2d. The impetuoſity and frequency of the ſqualls obliged us to make a great many tacks. They once forgot to ſhiver the main top-ſail before they brailed it up, and it was inſtantly torn in pieces.
On the 4th of April, being in 41° S. lat. 92° E. lon. we ſaw a great number of birds; amongſt others, gulls and the larus marinus, which ſeldom fly far from the land. Probably we were near to ſome rock or iſland. Though we had made a very good run, we ſtill ſaw the ſame kinds of birds
on
