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Thursday 15th

This has been a day of [[strikethrough]] excitement [[/strikethrough]], incidents becalmed here on the line, Making the best of every thing immediately after Breakfast the cry of Porpoises was raised, the Harpoons were got ready but they Kept of too far for the Boys to reach them, the excitement had not subsided when the cry of Shark was given, three or four hooks were baited and the first Mate succeeded in capturing [[Johnsy?]], and brought him on board where his floundering caused a couple of large Dogs to go floundering and fighting each other till one cried enough, after dinner we were entertained with a Lecture on writing by a Mr. Fostor of Salem, who gave a history of the art from its discovery to the present time, after the above a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a debating Society and a court of three appointed to draft a constitution and bye laws Lat 2.23 Lon

Friday 16
We have made eight miles the last twenty four hours, thermometer 87 in the Shade, and too d--d hot to write -

Saturday 17th

Still becalmed and the Weather intensely hot. here we lay and dance away, friend B gave me a Lobelia emetic last evening and I feel some better

Sunday 18th

Although unwell I am compeled to Sleep on top of the Cabin, from the impure State of ^[[the air]] between decks [[strikethrough]] last night [[/strikethrough]] ^[[this morning]] at 2 o clock a violent rain, Such as I had never Seen before drove me down with my Bed &c I then went on Deck and had a most perfect Shower Bath, the darkness was intense, and as the lightnings flash revealed the naked