In fact, as a general rule, in every ship that I embarked in, I was far from finding seamen so rough and uncivil as travellers often represent them to be.

Their manners are certainly not the most polished in the world, neither are they extraordinarily attentive or delicate, but their hearts and dispositions are mostly good.
After three days' sailing, we saw, on the 21st March, the island of St.Felix, and on the morning following, St.Ambrosio.

They both consist of naked, inhospitable masses of rock, and serve at most as resting places for a few gulls.
We were now within the tropics, but found the heat greatly moderated by the trade wind, and only unbearable in the cabin.
For nearly a month did we now sail on, without the slightest interruption, free from storms, with the same monotonous prospect of sky and water before us, until, on the 19th of April, we reached the Archipelago of the Society Islands.

This Archipelago, stretching from 130 to 140 degrees longitude, is very dangerous, as most of the islands composing it scarcely rise above the surface of the water; in fact, to make out David Clark's Island, which was only twelve miles distant, the captain was obliged to mount to the shrouds.
During the night of the 21st to the 22nd of April we were overtaken by a sudden and violent storm, accompanied by heavy thunder; this storm our captain termed a thunder-gust.

While it lasted flashes of lightning frequently played around the mast-top, occasioned by electricity.