Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-11
CITIZENS TICKET.
FOR MA YOR.
ALEXANDER Il. BULLOCK.
4ynFrT arr ~
Foreign correspondence Of the spy.l
INCIDENTS OF A SEA VOYAGE.
BAY OF RIO DE JANEIRo, /
October 20, 1858. {

cast anchor in this beautiful bay this after
noon.
This little ship of five hundred tons is re-
markedly well arranged for limited number
of passengers, though it is optional with the
commanders of these trading vessels whether
they will take them or not. The long voyage
and warm weather prohibited such gustatory
indulgences as are common on Liverpool pack
cts. Hence, those whose gods are lower than
their heads, are sometimes uncomfortable
companions for the captain, and it is a bless
ing that he has the right of choice Any rea-
sonable person, however, with ordinary health,
viii adapt himself cheerfully to the necessities
of the case. Yet, 1 would advise every one
who proposes to make this voyage, to lay in a
private stock of dried fruits, especially figs
and prunes, also preserved and picked fruits,
etc, etc. But last and most important to
those subject to sea sickness, and who do not
relish tea and coffee without milk, is a full
supply of good claret. This wine, being light
and acid, seems especially adapted to the eli
mate.
Let us stop here and say something about
that hateful malady, seasickness. That its
origin is in the brain, no one can doubt who
has felt its symptoms. On such an unstable
foundation as the sea, the head loses its control
of the action of the body, and gets bewildered
in the vain effort to resist its unnatural tenden-
cies. The sympathy between brain and stom-
ach has been experienced by most persons, and
1t is unnecessary for me to describe the results.
Usually, however, after many trials and suff-
Gent experience, the head and body compro-
mise, and both gracefully yield to the motion of
the waves, whereupon, all nausea ceases. In
speaking of the head, l have not taken into
account the voluntary will power. This, in
conquering any sickness, is powerful agent,
and in sea-sickness, a very important one, yet,
even the heroic Dr. Kane could not will the
demon away.
Why some are sick at sea, while others are
not, remains unexplained. Children, whose
bodies are more accustomed, than adults, to
wavy movements, are seldom sea-sick. l can
notlearn that adults are ever nauseated during
balloon ascensions. They inhabit separate
sphere, and their bodies are in harmony with
is notion as ours with that of the earth.
There are great many Certain remedies
for this distressing malady, but in storm they
all fail Muscular, robust persons can ordi-
narily overcome itin a short time, by persistent
exercise on the deck They are usually the
heartless wretches who laugh at the more I'M
fortunate. Those of less strength should avoid
the cabin as they would pestlence, and take
very frequent but short walks on the deck
When unable to sit or stand do not abandon
the deck, but, if the weather viii any way
permit, seek an airy place within view of the
water and sky, and remain quiet till able to
stir aboHt again. For this rough kind of life,
of course one should be provided with the
commonest clothing, but always of wooden
material without regard to climate. There
is so much wind and dampness, that thin cloth
ing is unsafe.
When food is not absolutely loathed, it is
best to take it, and takeit freely, for some por-
ton of it may be dgested, and thus the
strength preserved. But eating too often is
common error The digestion is very slow in
its processes when the stomach is even slightly
disturbed, hence two meals per day are usu-
ally sufficient The craving for vinegar is Of
ten experienced, and should be gratiied, since
it promotes digestion. This is not fireplace to
give special directions for obstinate cases, but
/ will profier the suggestion, that the simplest
treatment is always the safest Common sense
teaches that all the bodily functions should, as
far as possible, be maintained in their natural
condition.
Sunday A. NJ, Aug 22l, the pilot left with
our last letters to friends and l was gazing
with strange emotions on the receding shore
of Cape Henry. Those white sand banks held
for me wealth more valuable than gold, But
the untold wealth Of such moments is that
yielded by the emotions themselves. The
emotions may be transitory--so is the electric
fuid-but its results remain.
We found no regular trade winds till we
reached the equator, in longitude 800 west
but the voyage, as is usual in August and
September, was chiefly remarkable for adverse
winds, strong surface currents, and storms and
cahms-hence longer passage than at any 9TH
er season One homeward bound in these
months, should be deeply imbued with that
pacisNota so much enjoined and practiced by
the Portuguese.
Several whirlwnds or water-spouts were
seen while we were in the Gulf Stream. one
of which l particularly remember, for its
close resemblance to large serpent with its
head high in the clouds and his tail in the sea.
while his body was gracefully curved, in SER
pentine form, by the opposing current of
mind. This spout was but a short distance
under our lee, so that its white centre was per-
cephbe, as was also the dense mist and foam,
rising like the smoke and lava Of volcano,
where il entered the sea, ] was not aware of
the destructive power embodied within this
beautiful phenomenon till heard one Of the
officers expressing his satisfaction THAT il was
not equally near ms on the windward A few
days later, another Of different form came
dancing over the waves, in that weird circle
which at once suggested the witches dance in
Macbeth, and one could realize that
.'rhe weird sisters hand Ia hand
Posters OF tho aud land
Thus do 80 about about