My bed was parallel to the keel, and hung so that it could swing when the ship rolled.

Previous to my embarkation the room was the receptacle of a quantity of chronometers, sextants, charts, and other nautical apparatus.

There were seventeen chronometers in one box, and a few others lay around loose.

I never had as much time at my command before or since.

Twice a day an officer came to wind these chronometers and note their variation.