strongly built, with lofty
bulwarks, and pierced on the upper deck for eighteen guns, which were
mounted on the quarter-deck and forecastle. Abaft, a poop, higher than
the bulwarks, extended forward, between thirty and forty feet, under
which was the cuddy or dining-room, and state-cabins, appropriated to
passengers. The poop, upon which you ascended by ladders on each side,
was crowded with long ranges of coops, tenanted by every variety of
domestic fowl, awaiting in happy unconsciousness the day when they
should be required to supply the luxurious table provided by the
captain. In some, turkeys stretched forth their long necks, and tapped
the decks as they picked up some ant who crossed it, in his industry.
In others, the crowing of cocks and calling of the hens were incessant:
or the geese, ranged up rank and file, waited but the signal from one of
the party to raise up a simultaneous clamour, which as suddenly was
remitted. Coop answered coop, in variety of discord, while the
poulterer walked round and round to supply the wants of so many hundreds
committed to his charge.

The booms before the main-mast were occupied by the large boats, which
had been hoisted in preparatory to the voyage. They also composed a
portion of the farm yard. The launch contained about fifty sheep,
wedged together so close that it was with difficulty they could find
room to twist their jaws round, as they chewed the cud. The
stern-sheets of the barge and yawl were filled with goats and two
calves, who were the first destined victims to the butcher's knife;
while the remainder of their space was occupied by hay and other
provender, pressed down by powerful machinery into the smallest compass.
The occasional baa-ing and bleating on the booms were answered by the
lowing of three milch-cows between the hatchways of the deck below;
where also were to be descried a few more coops, containing fowls and
rabbits. The manger forward had been dedicated to the pigs; but, as the
cables were not yet unbent or bucklers shipped, they at present were
confined by gratings between the main-deck guns, where they grunted at
each passer-by, as if to ask for food.

The boats hoisted up on the quarters and the guys of the davits, to
which they were suspended, formed the kitchen gardens, from which the
passengers were to be supplied, and were loaded with bags containing
onions, potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, and cabbages, the latter in
their full rou