Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/102

92 aborbent veels of the plant are known to abound more than in any other of its parts.

The water held in a tate of olution by the atmophere, in conequence of the heat which it acquires from the perpendicular rays of the un, is o much greater in quantity than what it can retain in ituations not expoed to an equal degree of heat, that every thing that is not expoed to the direct rays of the un, becomes covered with a great degree of moiture; o that it is very difficult to preerve intruments of iron, or even of the mot highly polihed teel, from the rut.

During the whole period of time that we were ailing round the Tropics, the barometer had not tood higher than 28 inches 4 lines, nor lower than 28 inches 1 1-10th lines.

We knew very well that our proviion of water could not retain its frehnes in the extreme heat of this climate; but one hould hardly have imagined, that whilt we had means on board of retoring its purity, they hould not have been put effectually in practice, before ditributing to the crew their daily allowance.

Water that is kept for a long time on board, undergoes the ame ort of decompoition which takes place in tagnant pools; and this proces is coniderably accelerated by the influence of a hot