[162] To move her off.—To wind a ship now means to turn her. The term is probably derived from to wend.
[163] Now called bilge—that part of the ship’s bottom that bulges or swells out. When a ship takes the ground and heels over, the bilge bears all the strain, and consequently suffers damage.
[164] To flat in, means so to adjust the sails as to cause them to act with the greatest effect to turn the ship’s head from the wind; this is done when the ship is nearly taken aback, either by a sudden flaw or by carelessness at the helm. As applied here, it means that the vessel came round on her heel. The time vessels take in performing a similar evolution, bears a certain ratio to their length; long ships requiring more time than short ones.
[165] Sir Richard does not exaggerate “the bitternesse of the time.” During the survey of these straits in the Adventure and Beagle, Captain Stokes, an active, intelligent, and energetic officer, destroyed himself, in consequence of his excitable mind becoming worn out by the severe hardships of the cruize, the dreadful weather experienced, and the dangerous situations in which the Beagle was constantly exposed.
[166] Synnet is plait made from rope yarns. Wooling or woolding is performed by passing turns of rope round a spar or rope, either for strength, or, as in this case, to prevent chafe; if spun yarn is used, it is called serving.
[167] The tree called Winter’s bark, Drimys Winteri, was discovered by Captain Winter, one of Drake’s officers. The bark is agreeably aromatic, and was found useful in cases of scurvy.
[168] Used for vats.
[169] The devastation caused by rats is very great. We have, however, never heard of their gnawing through the bottom. Indeed if there be any truth in the old sailor’s superstition that rats always leave a vessel when in a dangerous state, they must be too clever to perform so dangerous an experiment.
[170] Much discussion has arisen as to whether this should be written way, or weigh. We think the correct phraseology is this: when the anchor is weighed, the ship is under way.
[171] Now called Cape Pillar—on the modern charts Cape Deseado lies to the south of it.