Round the Horn before the mast

A firsthand account follows a narrator who signs on before the mast and chronicles a long voyage aboard a large sailing vessel, including preparations in port and the run round Cape Horn. The narrative moves from ship selection and provisioning to the daily routine of watchkeeping, sail handling, deck work, and the small entertainments that break monotony. It describes encounters with heavy weather and calms, practical seamanship and ship maintenance, and scenes of bird and marine life. Interwoven are clear-eyed observations of food, accommodation, crew relations, songs, and the hardships and camaraderie of life at sea.