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diff --git a/17032.txt b/17032.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2cd5a59 --- /dev/null +++ b/17032.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11273 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lieutenant and Commander, by Basil Hall + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lieutenant and Commander + Being Autobigraphical Sketches of His Own Career, from + Fragments of Voyages and Travels + +Author: Basil Hall + +Release Date: November 8, 2005 [EBook #17032] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIEUTENANT AND COMMANDER *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Gibbs and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +THE LIEUTENANT AND COMMANDER; + +BEING AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES +OF HIS OWN CAREER, + +FROM + +FRAGMENTS OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS +BY CAPTAIN BASIL HALL, R.N., F.R.S. + + +LONDON: +BELL AND DALDY, 186, FLEET STREET, +AND SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND CO. +47, LUDGATE HILL. +1862. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The present volume is rather a condensation than an abridgment of the +later volumes of Captain Hall's "Fragments of Voyages and Travels," +inasmuch as it comprises all the chapters of the second and third +series, only slightly abbreviated, in which the author describes the +various duties of the naval lieutenant and commander, the personal +narrative being the framework, and his own experience in both +capacities providing the details. + +The editor has no hesitation in stating, after the careful perusal and +analysis he has necessarily made of this work, and that, with a +tolerably extensive knowledge of books, he knows of none which may, +with more propriety, be placed in the hands of young men, whatever +may be their destination in life; but more especially are they adapted +for the use of young officers and all aspirants to a seaman's life. +The personal narrative, slight though it is, renders it very amusing, +and every point the author makes inculcates a rigorous attention to +"duty" duly tempered with discretion and humanity in commanding +officers. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + + Taking a line in the service--Duty of officers--The dashing + boys--Dashing boys ashore--Philosophers afloat--Naval + statesmen--Scientific officers--Hard-working officers--Poetical + aspirants--Taking a line + + +CHAPTER II. + + A sailor on shore--Irish hospitality--A sailor ashore--Irish + factions--Irish scenery--Land-locked bay--Reflections and + plans--An awkward dilemma--A retreat--A country party--A medical + experiment--My reception + + +CHAPTER III. + + Tricks upon travellers--Irish refinement--A wise resolve--After + dinner--The second bottle--One bottle more--Second thoughts + best--The game of humbug--The climax--You're off, are you?--A + practical bull--Irish hospitality + + +CHAPTER IV. + + The Admiralty List--Chances of promotion--The Admiral's list--My + own disappointment--A good start--Homeward bound--A spell of bad + weather + + +CHAPTER V. + + The tropical regions at sea--Sir Nathaniel Dance--The old Indian + ships--Social life at sea--Details of the voyage--The Canary + Islands--The Trade-winds--Changes of climate--The variable + winds--North-east Trades--Our limited knowledge--The great + monsoons + + +CHAPTER VI. + + The Trade-winds--The monsoons--Theory of the + Trade-winds--Explanations--Tropical winds--Motion of cold + air--Direction of clouds--Equatorial Trades--Calms and + variables--South-east Trades--Application of theories--Atlantic + winds--Monsoons of India--Trade-winds of the pacific--Monsoons + of Indian seas--Velocity of equatorial air--Obstructions of the + land--Horsburg's remarks--Dampier's essay + + +CHAPTER VII. + + Progress of the voyage--Cape of Good Hope--Ships' decks in the + tropics--Sweeping the decks--Marine shower-bath--Flying-fish--A + calm--Ships in a calm--A tropical shower--Washing-day--Comforts + of fresh water + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + Aquatic sports--Weather wisdom--An equatorial + squall--Flying-fish--A chase--The + dolphin--Capture--Porpoises--Harpooning--The bonito--Dolphin + steaks--Porpoise steaks--The albatross--Shark-fishing--A + shark-hook--Habits of sharks--Seizing its prey--Flying at the + bait--The shark captured--Killing the shark--The buffalo skin--A + narrow escape + + +CHAPTER IX. + + A man overboard--Crossing the line--Duty of officers--Rival + Neptunes--A boy overboard--Affecting incident--A true-hearted + sailor--Bathing at sea--A well-timed action--Swimming--A + necessary acquisition--A man overboard--What should be done, and + how to do it--Effects of precipitancy--Life-buoy--Regulations + for emergencies--Managing the ship with a man + overboard--Stationing the crew--Directing the boats + + +CHAPTER X. + + Sunday on board a man-of-war--Mustering by divisions--The fourth + commandment--Short services recommended--Order for + rigging--Scrubbing and sweeping--Sunday muster--Jack's + dandyism--Jack brought up with a round turn--Mustering at + divisions--Inspection--The marines--Round the decks--The + sick-bay--Lower deck--Below--Cockpit--The gun-room--Quarter deck + + +CHAPTER XI. + + The ship church--Rigging the church--Short services + recommended--Short sermons recommended--Religious duties + necessary to discipline--Church service interrupted--The day of + rest + + +CHAPTER XII. + + Naval ratings and sea pay--Mustering clothes--Between decks on + Sunday--Piping to supper--Mustering by lists--A seaman disrated + and rerated--Ratings of seamen--Tendency to do right--Examining + stores--Captain's duties--Clothes' muster--Responsibility--A + sailor's kit--A sailor's habits--Mizen-top + dandies--Hammocks--Piping the bags down--Pressing emigrants--A + Scotchman's kit--Improved clothes' muster + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + Sailors' pets--Purchasing a monkey--Jacko's attractions--Gets + monkey's allowance--Jacko and the marines--Jacko's + revenge--Jacko turns on his friend--Spills the grog--Is + pursued, but is pardoned--Condemned to die--Commuted to + teeth-drawing--Surgeon's assistant appealed to--He can't + bite--The travelled monkey--Trick on the marines--Its + consequences--A potent dose--Its operations--Jack's + superstitions--The grunter pet--Jean's advocate--Her good + qualities--Jean's obesity, and its attractions--Her death and + burial--Well ballasted + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + Doubling the Cape--Southern constellations--Intelligent chief + officer--Sailors and their friends--Parting company--The + cape--Simon's town--A fresh breeze--Rising to a gale--All hands + shorten sail--Value of experience to an officer--Taking in + reefs--Taking in mainsail--Heaving the log--Before the + gale--Effects of a gale--Value of a chronometer proved by the + want of one--Awful catastrophe + + +CHAPTER XV. + + Suggestions towards diminishing the number and severity of Naval + punishments--Corporal punishment--The author's own case--An old + shipmate--Admiralty regulations--Appeal to officers to avoid + precipitation--Dangers of precipitation--Instance of its + dangers--A considerate captain--A case for pardon--An obdurate + officer--Pardon granted--Retrieving of character + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + Bombay--First glimpse of India--Bombay and its scenery + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + Sir Samuel Hood--Naval promotion--Hopes and their + disappointment--An ant-hunt--The Admiral's triumph over the + engineers + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + Excursion to Candelay lake in Ceylon--Starting of the + expedition--Pearl-divers--A strange tunnel--Hindoo bathing--An + amusing exhibition--A tropical forest--A night scene--An + alarm--A supper--A midnight burial--Cingalese game--Lake + Candelay and its embankment + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + Griffins in India--Sinbad's valley of diamonds--A + mosquito-hunt--Deep anchorage--Local names--Valley of + diamonds--Ceylon gems + + +CHAPTER XX. + + Ceylonese canoes--Peruvian balsas--The floating windlass of the + Coromandel fishermen--American pilot-boats--Balsas of + Peru--Man-of-war boats--Ceylonese canoes--Canoe mast and + sails--Local contrivances--Construction of the balsa--Management + of the sail--Indian method of weighing anchor--A floating + windlass--Failure of the attempt--The Admiral's remarks--An + interesting feat of mechanical ingenuity + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + The surf at Madras--Sound of the waves--Masullah + boats--Construction of the boats--Crossing the surf--Steering + the boat--How a capsize in the surf occurs--Catamarans of the + surf--Perseverance of the messenger + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + Visit to the Sultan of Pontiana, in Borneo--Sir Samuel + Hood--Borneo--A floating grove--Pontiana--Chinese in Borneo--The + sultan and his audience room--Interior of the palace--The + autograph--Anecdote of Sir S. Hood--Getting out of the trap--Sir + S. Hood at the Nile--The Zealous and Goliath--Captain Walcott's + disinterestedness--Sir S. Hood's kindness + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + Commissioning a ship--Receiving-hulk--Marines and + gunners--Choice of sailors--The ship's company--Choice of + officers--Stowing the ballast--Importance of + obedience--Complement of men in ships of war--Shipping the + crews--A Christmas feast afloat--A Christmas feast in Canton + River--Self-devotion + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + Fitting out--Progress of rigging--The figure-head--Progressive + rigging--The boats--Fitting out--Stowage of ships' + stores--System requisite--Painting the ship--Policy of a good + chief--Anecdote of Lord Nelson--Scrubbing the hulk--Leaving the + harbour--Sailing + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +TAKING A LINE IN THE SERVICE. + + +That there is a tide in the affairs of men, has very naturally become +a figure of frequent and almost hackneyed use in the cockpits, +gun-rooms, and even the captains' cabins of our ships and vessels of +war. Like its numerous brethren of common-places, it will be found, +perhaps, but of small application to the real business of life; though +it answers capitally to wind up a regular grumble at the unexpected +success of some junior messmate possessed of higher interest or +abilities, and helps to contrast the growler's own hard fate with the +good luck of those about him. Still, the metaphor may have its +grateful use; for certainly in the Navy, and I suppose elsewhere, +there is a period in the early stages of every man's professional life +at which it is necessary that he should, more or less decidedly, "take +his line," in order best to profit by the tide when the flood begins +to make. It is difficult to say exactly at what stage of a young +officer's career the determination to adopt any one of the numerous +lines before him should be taken: but there can be little doubt as to +the utility of that determination being made early in life. In most +cases, it is clearly beyond the reach of artificial systems of +discipline, to place, on a pair of young shoulders, the reflecting +head-piece of age and experience; neither, perhaps, would such an +incongruity be desirable. But it seems quite within the compass of a +conscientious and diligent commanding officer's power by every means +to cultivate the taste, and strengthen the principles and the +understanding of the persons committed to his charge. His endeavour +should be, to train their thoughts in such a manner that, when the +time for independent reflection and action arrives, their judgment and +feelings may be ready to carry them forward in the right path; to +teach them the habit, for instance, of discovering that, in practice, +there is a positive, and generally a speedy pleasure and reward +attendant on almost every exercise of self-denial. When that point is +once firmly established in the minds of young men, it becomes less +difficult to persuade them to relinquish whatever is merely agreeable +at the moment, if it stand in the way of the sterner claims of duty. + +Although the period must vary a good deal, I should be disposed to +say, that, in general, a year or two after an officer is promoted to +the rank of lieutenant, may be about the time when he ought fairly and +finally to brace himself up to follow a particular line, and resolve, +ever afterwards, manfully to persevere in it. His abilities being +concentrated on some definite set of objects; his friends, both on +shore and afloat, will be furnished with some tangible means of +judging of his capacity. Without such knowledge, their patronage is +likely to do themselves no credit, and their _protege_ very little, if +any, real service. + +Some young fellows set out in their professional life by making +themselves thorough-bred sailors; their hands are familiar with the +tar-bucket; their fingers are cut across with the marks of the ropes +they have been pulling and hauling; and their whole soul is wrapped up +in the intricate science of cutting out sails, and of rigging masts +and yards. Their dreams are of cringles and reef-tackles, of knots, +splices, grummets, and dead-eyes. They can tell the length, to a +fathom, of every rope in the boatswain's warrant, from the flying jib +down-haul to the spanker-sheet; and the height of every spar, from the +main-top-gallant truck to the heel of the lower mast. Their delight +is in stowing the hold; dragging about kentlage is their joy; they are +the very souls of the ship's company. In harbour they are eternally +paddling in the boats, rowing, or sculling, or sailing about; they are +always the first in fishing or bathing parties; in short, they are for +ever at some sailor-kind of work. At sea, their darling music is the +loud whistle of the hardest storm-stay-sail breeze, with an occasional +accompaniment of a split main-topsail. "The harder it blows, and the +faster she goes," the merrier are they; "strong gales and squally" is +the item they love best to chalk on the log-board; and even when the +oldest top-men begin to hesitate about lying out on the yard to gather +in the flapping remnants of the torn canvas, these gallant youngsters +glory in the opportunity of setting an example of what a gentleman +sailor can perform. So at it they go, utterly reckless of +consequences; and by sliding down the lift, or scrambling out, monkey +fashion, to the yard-arm, where they sit laughing, though the spar be +more than half sprung through, they accomplish their purpose of +shaming the others into greater exertions. It is well known that one +of the ablest, if not the very ablest, of the distinguished men whom +the penetrating sagacity of Nelson discovered and brought forward, +owed his first introduction to the notice of that wonderful commander +by an exploit of this very description. + +These are the dashing boys who cut out privateers, jump overboard +after men who cannot swim, and who, when the ship is on fire, care not +a farthing for the smoke and heat, but dive below with the engine-pipe +in their hands, and either do good service, or perish in the flames +with a jolly huzza on their lips. Such may fairly be called the +muscular parts of our body nautical, for there is no gummy flesh about +them; and when handled with skill, they form the stout instruments +which help essentially to win such battles as the Nile and Trafalgar. + +The young persons I have just been describing are, however, by no +means servile imitators of the sailors; they possess much useful +technical knowledge, as well as mere energy of character; and often +both think and act with originality; yet they are docile to the last +degree, and delight in nothing more than fulfilling, to the very +letter, the orders of their superiors. They may amuse themselves, as +youngsters, by affecting the gait, the dress, and the lingo of the +man before the mast; and are at times supposed to be a little too +familiar with these models, on whom they pretend to shape their +manners; but still they never carry the joke so far as to become what +is called "Jack and Tom," even with the leading men in the ship. They +can sing, upon occasion, snatches of forecastle ditties, or fling off +a hornpipe worthy of the merriest cracked fiddle that ever sounded +under the bow of a drunken musician amongst a company, half-seas over, +at the back of Point Beach. Not content with + + "Their long-quartered shoes, check shirt, and blue jacket," + +they will even thrust a quid into their cheek, merely to gain the +credit, such as it is, of "chewing backy like a sailor." + +But there must be a limit to the indulgence of these fancies; and if +even an elder midshipman or mate of the decks were permanently to +distinguish himself after this masquerade fashion, he would speedily +lose caste even with the crew. When a mid, for example, is promoted to +lieutenant, he must speedily decide whether he shall follow up in +earnest a course of strictly seaman-like objects, of which the mere +outward show had previously captivated his young fancy; or he must +enter into some compromise with himself, and relinquish a part of his +exclusive regard for these pursuits, in consideration of others less +fascinating, to be sure, but more likely to bear on his advancement; +for, without some knowledge of many other things, his chance must be +very small in the race of professional life. + +In tolerably wide opposition of habits to these tarpaulin men follow +the less dashing and showy race sometimes called "star-gazers," +sometimes "dictionary-men," who are also occasionally taunted or +dignified by their messmates with the title of "philosophers." The +object of most of these young philosophisers is to get at the reason +of all things, and to be able not only to work by the rules laid down +for them in printed books, or in the written orders of their +superiors; but to investigate the foundation of these rules and +regulations so thoroughly, that when new cases occur, they may have it +in their power to meet them by fresh resources of their own: according +in spirit, with those which experience has shown to be conducive to +the happiness of the crew and the efficiency of the service. Out of +the class of officers now alluded to, the growth of which it has been +the wise policy of late years to encourage, there have sprung up the +numberless voyagers, surveyors, and other strictly nautical men, who +are always to be found when the public service requires a practical +question to be settled, or a professional office of responsibility and +trust to be filled up. If the arctic circle is to be investigated by +sea or by land, or the deserts of Africa traversed, or the world +circumnavigated afresh, under the guidance of the modern improvements +in navigation, the government at once calls upon such men as Parry, +Franklin, Clapperton, Beechey,[1] to whom they can safely entrust the +task. + +From the same class, also, a valuable race of naval statesmen have +been drawn. For a considerable number of years, the whole of the +diplomatic duties of South America, as far as concerned the interests +of England, were carried on by the naval commanders-in-chief. Who can +forget how important a share of Lord Nelson's command, or, after him, +of Lord Collingwood's in the Mediterranean, consisted of duties of a +purely civil description? And it may be questioned if diplomatic +history offers a more masterly specimen of address and statesman-like +decision, as well as forethought, than was displayed by Captain +Maitland, in securing the person of Buonaparte, not only without +committing himself or his government, but without wounding the +feelings of the fallen emperor. The case was, and ever must remain, +unique; and yet the most deliberate reflection, even after the event, +has not suggested anything to wish changed. Fortunate, indeed, was it +for the reputation of this country that the delicate task fell to the +lot of an officer possessed of such inherent vigour of character, and +one so familiar with the practical exercise of his own resources, that +difficulties which might have staggered ordinary minds vanished before +his. + +In so extensive a service as the Navy, accident might perhaps +occasionally produce such men as have been named above; but it is very +material to observe, that unless there existed, as a permanent body, a +large class in the Navy, who follow the pursuits alluded to from taste +as well as from motives of public spirit, and from whose ranks +selections can be made with confidence at moments of need, such +opportunities as those above alluded to might often be allowed to pass +unprofitably. It is, moreover, important to recollect, that it is in +these matters as in everything else where there is a great demand, and +consequently a great supply, there will from time to time start up a +master spirit, such as that of my lamented friend, the late Captain +Henry Foster, to claim, even in the very outset of his career, the +cheerful homage of all the rest. So far from the profession envying +his early success, or being disturbed at his pre-eminent renown, they +felt that his well-earned honours only shed lustre on themselves. + +It is also very pleasing to observe the reciprocal feeling which +belongs on such occasions to all rightly constituted minds. When +Captain Foster, in 1828, then only lieutenant, received the Copley +medal, the highest scientific honour in the gift of the Royal Society, +it never occurred to him merely to hang it at his breast in solitary +dignity, or to chuckle presumptuously at his own particular good +fortune. So far from this, he thought only of the service; and +proceeding straight to the Admiralty, he showed the medal, and +declared modestly, but firmly, to their lordships, that he considered +the honour only nominally bestowed upon himself, but essentially +conferred upon the naval profession at large. This generous and manly +appeal could not fail to make its due impression; and within the same +hour, his commission, as commander, was signed, his appointment to a +ship ordered, and a voyage of scientific research carved out for him. +But I need not add how bitter a grief it is to those who were +personally acquainted with this rising young officer, to think that so +much knowledge--such useful talents--such unmatched zeal and +industry--and such true love for science--all so fertile in promises +of future service and renown--should have been lamentably quenched in +a moment. + +Besides the regular-built sailors, and the saltwater statesmen and +philosophers, there is yet another set which greatly outnumbers both, +and which, if comparisons must be made, equals, if it does not far +exceed them in utility. I allude to that large and very important body +of strictly professional persons who are not remarkable for anything +in particular, unless it be for a hearty and uncompromising devotion +to the service. Captains, it is to be feared, are generally too apt to +consider these meritorious persons as less entitled to attention than +their more showy companions; just as schoolmasters are, not +unnaturally, disposed to devote most of their time to the cleverest +boys, to the comparative neglect of those who cluster round the point +of mediocrity. It may, however, be easily conceived that the persons +least attended to, afloat as well as on shore, often stand more in +need of notice and assistance than their gifted brethren, who are +better able to make their own consequence felt and acknowledged; for +it must not be forgotten that these honest, hard-working men actually +perform the greater part of all the routine drudgery of the service, +and perhaps execute it better than men of higher talents could do in +their place. + +The class amongst us who devote themselves to sober literary pursuits +is necessarily very small; but that of the happy youths, who dream the +gods have made them poetical, has many members, who "rave, recite, and +madden round the ship," to their own (exclusive) satisfaction. Others +there are who deal desperately in the fine arts of painting and +music,--that is, who draw out of perspective, and play out of tune: +not that the ability to sketch the scenes and phenomena continually +passing before them is objectionable; I allude here to the pretenders +to art. Their poor messmates can have little respect for these +pretending Rembrandts and Paganinis; and the happiness of the mess +would be considerably improved if authority were given to pitch every +such sketch-book and every flute out at the stern-port. + +Finally come the raking, good-looking, shore-going, company-hunting, +gallivanting, riff-raff set of reckless youths, who, having got rid of +the entanglement of parents and guardians, and having no great +restraint of principle or anything else to check them, seem to hold +that his Majesty's service is merely a convenience for their especial +use, and his Majesty's ships a sort of packet-boats to carry their +elegant persons from port to port, in search of fresh conquests, and, +as they suppose, fresh laurels to their country. + +Few men do anything well which they do not like; for the same reason, +if an officer be capable of performing services really valuable, his +success must arise from turning his chief attention to those branches +of the profession which he feels are the most congenial to his +peculiar tastes, and which experience has shown lie within the range +of his capacity. Some officers deliberately act upon this, while the +greater number, as may be supposed, adopt their line unconsciously. +Still, it is the bounden duty of every well-wisher to the service to +use the influence he possesses to lead the young persons about him to +follow the true bent of their genius, and to select as a principal +object of study the particular branch of the profession in which they +are most likely to benefit themselves permanently. + +I well remember, in my own case, the day, and almost the very hour, +when these convictions flashed upon my mind. I then saw, for the first +time, that unless I speedily roused myself, and "took my line" +vigorously, the proper occasion might swiftly pass away. I was quite +astonished how, up to that moment, I had seen so little of what now +appeared so very palpable; every other consideration was instantly +dismissed, and all minor vanities being shaken off like dew-drops to +the air, I set resolutely about the attainment of my promotion, the +grand object of every officer's ambition. But before describing how +this important affair was put in train, I shall attempt a sketch of +the kind of life I was leading about this period. In looking back to +those days, and glancing the mind's eye along the intermediate years, +I sometimes ask myself whether or not I should act very differently if +permitted to make the voyage over again, under the guidance of +experience bought by the practice of life. The retrospect, of course, +offers some unavailing regrets; but still I can hardly believe that +the result would, on the whole, have proved materially happier for +myself. + +Such being the case, I trust there is no unpardonable egotism in +mentioning, in a work intended for young people, that one of my chief +motives for bringing these Fragments of my life and adventures before +them, is the hope of imparting to others, similarly circumstanced, a +portion of that spirit of cheerfulness, and that resolute +determination to make the most of things, which, after thirty years of +activity and enjoyment in foreign climes, have landed me in perfect +contentment at home. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] All gone since our author wrote. Now it looks for Osbornes, +Maclures, and other names as trustworthy. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A SAILOR ON SHORE. + + +It is a far easier thing to get into a house in Ireland than to get +out of it again; for there is an attractive and retentive witchery +about the hospitality of the natives of that country, which has no +match, as far as I have seen, in the wide world. In other places the +people are hospitable or kind to a stranger; but in Ireland the affair +is reduced to a sort of science, and a web of attentions is flung +round the visitor before he well knows where he is: so that if he be +not a very cold-blooded or a very temperate man, it will cost him +sundry headaches--and mayhap some touches of the heartache--before he +wins his way back again to his wonted tranquillity. + +I had not a single acquaintance in Ireland when first I visited that +most interesting of countries: before leaving it, however, after about +a year and a-half's cruising off and on their coasts, I was on pretty +intimate terms with one family at least for every dozen miles, from +Downpatrick on the east, to the Bloody Foreland on the west, a range +of more than a hundred and twenty miles. + +The way in which this was brought about is sufficiently +characteristic of the country. I had inherited a taste for geology; +and as the north of Ireland affords a fine field for the exercise of +the hammer, I soon made myself acquainted with the Giant's Causeway, +and the other wonders of that singular district. While engaged in +these pursuits, I fell in with an eminent medical practitioner +resident in that part of the country, a gentleman well known to the +scientific world: he was still better known on the spot as the most +benevolent and kindest of men. In no part of the globe have I made a +more agreeable or useful acquaintance. During a residence of a week +under the roof of this delightful person, he frequently urged me to +make acquaintance with some friends of his, living also in the north +of Ireland, but at the opposite angle. He was, in particular, desirous +that I should see a family with whom he described himself as being +very intimate, and who were then on a visit far in the west. + +Influenced by the extreme earnestness of my worthy friend, who, +indeed, would hardly let me stir from his house until I had promised +to deliver, with my own hands, a letter of introduction to a lady +alluded to, who, he assured me, would introduce me to the family with +whom she was then living as a guest. I thought it rather an odd +arrangement that a mere guest should introduce a stranger to another +person's house: but I had already seen enough of the hearty +hospitality of Ireland not to wonder at anything having a kind purpose +in view. I therefore promised that, if at any time I could obtain +leave of absence for a few days, the introductory letter should be +delivered. + +I did not discover, until long afterwards, the secret motive of my +friend's anxiety that I should pay the visit in question, though, at +the time alluded to, I was quite coxcomb enough to suppose that it all +arose from personal consideration. It mattered little to me, however, +to what the kindness was due; and, my leave having expired, I set off +to the Endymion, of which I was then second lieutenant, with a firm +resolution to avail myself of the first opportunity of visiting the +persons to whom my excellent friend the doctor had given me an +introduction. I had been so frequently absent before, that I expected +to be fixed on board for a long time to come, and was therefore +agreeably disappointed to discover that my brother-officers had formed +so many pleasant acquaintances at Burncrana, a town on the banks of +the magnificent Lough Swilly, that they were quite willing to remain +on the spot, and to take upon their shoulders the extra duty which my +renewed absence imposed upon them. I had only, therefore, to obtain +the captain's permission for a fresh run. This was easily gained, for +he was the most indulgent of mortals; and his only caution was, "Now, +mind, don't you be falling in love with any of these Irish girls. It +will be quite time enough for that when you are a post captain." + +I promised to attend to his advice, and set out in the highest glee, +wishing for no better sport than to try the firmness of my resolutions +on this head, though, it must be confessed, I was fully more inclined +to follow the precept enjoined upon me by another friend, who, by way +of improving the captain's instruction, said,-- + +"Do take care what you are about when you mix with those fair and +fascinating witches, and never hold yourself as heart-safe, unless you +are in love with at least two of them at once!" + +Off I went; but it matters not whether the course steered was to the +east or to the west after leaving Londonderry: a letter of +introduction in my pocket naturally determined my route; and, having +hired a good stout horse, I strapped my valise behind, and set out on +a fine summer's evening in quest of adventures. Yet I was in no +respect prepared to find myself so soon in what appeared very like a +field of battle. I had not proceeded twenty miles before I came to a +village surrounded by troops, and guarded at the ends of its few +streets by loaded cannon, with lighted matches smoking by their sides. +A considerable encampment was formed on a slightly rising eminence +near the village; and on the neighbouring ground, still farther off, +might be seen large irregular groups of people, who, I learned, upon +inquiry, were chiefly Orangemen, preparing for a grand ceremonial +procession on this the 12th of July, the well-known anniversary of the +battle of the Boyne. In order to resist this proceeding on the part of +the Protestants, an immense multitude on the Roman Catholic side of +the question were likewise assembled, and all the roads converging +towards that quarter were lined with parties of men carrying sticks in +their hands, flocking to the expected scene of action. The military +had been called in to keep the peace, but the angry passions of the +respective factions were so much roused, that even the precautions +above described seemed hardly sufficient to prevent the threatened +conflict. + +As a matter of curiosity, I could have no great objection to seeing +another such battle as the one I had witnessed near Corunna between +those long-established fighting-cocks, the French and English; but to +look on while honest Pat and Tim were breaking one another's heads +upon abstract political grounds, and English soldiery interposing with +grapeshot and fixed bayonets to make them friends again, was what I +had no mind for. I tried, therefore, to extricate myself forthwith +from this unhappy struggle; but my horse being tired, I was forced to +sleep in a village which, for aught I knew, might be sacked and burned +before morning; nothing occurred, however: nevertheless, I felt far +from easy till out of reach of the furious factions; the strangest +thing of all being that some quiet folks, a few miles distant, with +whom I took breakfast, seemed scarcely to mind it, although the +country round them was all on fire. From thence the course lay across +a wild range of mountains, one of them having on its top a sheet of +fresh water called Loch Salt. Nothing can be conceived more desolate +or dreary than this part of the country; and as there were few +inhabitants upon it at any time, and none at all at this moment, I had +no small difficulty in making good my way. On coming nearer to the +noble bay or lough, on the banks of which the country-seat of my +unknown friends was to be found, the aspect of things changed as if by +magic. A slight inequality in the ground concealed this "jewel in the +desert," as it was often called, till the whole of its rare beauties +could be seen to the greatest advantage. Even without the contrast of +wild moors, the singular beauties of the spot claimed the highest +admiration; but after such a preparative they appeared doubly grateful +to the senses, and I put spurs to my horse, anxious to come nearer to +such a delicious scene. + +The mansion of my future friend, of which only partial glimpses could +be caught now and then, was well guarded on every side by fine old +trees, rising from the surface of carefully-dressed grounds, richly +stocked flower-gardens, long and wide avenues, and graceful terraces, +some of which reached to the very water's edge, along a delicate beach +on which the ripple scarcely broke. This charming domain occupied a +narrow spit of land, or promontory, jutting forwards into a landlocked +bay, or arm of the sea, in which the water appeared to lie always +asleep, and as smooth as if, instead of being a mere branch uniting +with the stormy Atlantic, it had been some artificial lake. Nothing, +indeed, which the most fertile imagination could suggest seemed to be +wanting. + +There was one extremely well-conceived device at this delightful spot, +which I never remember to have seen anywhere else, though, there must +often occur in other places similar situations in which it might be +imitated. Not far from the house, but quite hid under a thickly-wooded +cliff, overhanging a quiet bight or cove, about ten or fifteen yards +across, lay a perfectly secluded pool, with a bottom of snow-white +sand. It was deep in the middle, but shelved gradually to its margin, +which rested on a narrow strip, or beach, of small round polished +pebbles. This fringe, encircling the cove, was surmounted by a dry +grassy bank, or natural terrace, reaching to the foot of the rock, the +face of which was not merely perpendicular, but projecting so much +that the top more than plumbed the edge of the basin. Along the +sky-line there was drawn a fence or veil of briars, honeysuckles, and +other impervious bushes, interspersed with myrtles, wild roses, and +foxgloves, so thickly woven together, that all external view of this +_beau ideal_ of a bath was rendered impossible. The only access was by +a narrow, steep, and winding path; and at the upper end was placed a +high, locked gate, the key of which was in the exclusive charge of the +ladies. + +As I rode on, ignorant as yet of these and many other rich and rare +beauties of this singular spot, and only admiring the general aspect +of things, I began, for the first time, to reflect on the extreme +awkwardness of my situation. + +Here was I merely the bearer of an introductory letter to a lady, +herself a guest in the house; and although it might have been +allowable enough to have called to deliver such an introduction, had +business or accident brought me to the neighbourhood, now it seemed +rather a strong measure to travel fifty or sixty miles across a wild +and disturbed country merely to pay a morning call. The inference that +my intention was to make a visit of some duration, became inevitable; +and I pictured to myself the string of explanations I had to give, +which might, after all, not be followed by any invitation to remain. +After long cogitations, I resolved to steal up to the house, if +possible, unperceived; have my horse turned over to the groom, and my +portmanteau stowed out of sight, and then to walk boldly up to the +door, with a visiting-card in one hand, and my credentials in the +other, to be delivered to the servant for the lady to whom the letter +was addressed. I next proposed to stroll about the woods, to give +time for any good things said of the bearer to work their way, +hoping, by this rather clumsy manoeuvre, that by the time I returned +to the house its inmates might be prepared to receive the stranger; +and then, if their invitation to remain should happen not to be very +pressing, I might pretend to be collecting specimens for my geological +friends, and so make my escape; though, to own the truth, nothing was +farther from my thoughts than geology. + +In spite of these ingenious plans, I felt myself rather absurdly +situated, and half wished I had not engaged at all in such an +unpromising adventure. It seemed, however, too late to retreat, and +therefore I jogged on, as earnestly hoping not to be detected as ever +did any troops in advancing to the attack of a besieged fort. + +What, then, was my speechless horror, on riding up the approach, to +discover a cavalcade of not fewer than a dozen ladies and gentlemen +bearing right down upon me from the house. Had it been a troop of +French cuirassiers charging across the ground, and threatening +annihilation to the unfortunate hack and his rider, I could not have +been much more astounded. The master of the house was probably of the +number; he would stop to inquire the business of the +suspicious-looking stranger invading his territories. The person for +whom I brought a letter, being an elderly lady, was not likely to be +on horseback amidst a party of young folks. There would be a general +halt ordered; while the poor new-comer, with his draggled horse and +swollen valise indicative of anything but a hasty departure, would +become the subject of a pleasant criticism to the quizzical dandies +and young ladies of the party. Even when this scrutiny was over, what +were they to do with their unexpected, self-elected companion? His +horse was now too tired, and much too ugly at any time to accompany +such gay palfreys as were prancing over the lawn; yet they could not, +in common civility, leave a stranger adrift; nor could they accompany +him back to the house, without breaking up their expedition for the +day. + +All this flashed through my mind in a moment, and left me in a dire +dilemma. I pulled up my jaded nag, however, with such a jerk, that I +well-nigh threw him on his haunches. Fortunately, a little unevenness +in the ground hid me from the view of the advancing cavalry; and at +the same critical instant I discovered an opening in the fence on one +side. Without considering or caring whither it might lead, I turned my +charger round, urged him forwards with whip and spur, and dashed into +the gap as if I had been flying from the arm of justice, instead of +making my escape from as companionable a set of people as ever +breathed. Had any of the party detected the bashful fugitive, and +given chase, he must have been caught; for the path into which I had +fled terminated in a road leading to some farm offices, but with no +opening beyond. + +The awkwardness of my situation, which was already considerable, +became greatly augmented by this ridiculous proceeding; and I heard +the riders pass within twenty yards of my hiding-place, with the most +unspeakable alarm lest any one of them should catch a glimpse of me +nestling behind a cart of hay. I breathed freer when the last +servant's horse crossed the ridge; and then, creeping from my hole, +soon gained the stables adjoining the house, gave up my horse, +secured the well-stuffed valise out of sight, and repaired, according +to the original precious scheme, to the front door with my letter. I +stood for five minutes with the knob of the bell in my hand, +irresolute whether to go on with the adventure, or fairly to cut and +run from it. At length, when the fatal pull was given, I listened to +the sound, and felt myself what statesmen call "fully committed." +There was now nothing left but to screw up my courage, as I best +might, to meet the dangers and difficulties of the crisis. + +There happened to be no one at home except the old lady, to whom my +introduction was addressed, so that the plan succeeded very well; I +forget now the details of the introduction, but I can never cease to +remember the unbounded cordiality of the reception, not only from this +excellent person, but from the master and mistress of the house, and +all their assembled friends, showing how totally I had miscalculated +the nature and extent of Irish hospitality. There were several elderly +persons, then in the autumn of life, and several were very young +folks, scarcely able to walk, who now count many "daughters and sons +of beauty." There was a pretty equal admixture of Irish and English, +amongst them several persons of rank; also one or two foreigners; +besides much native wit, worth, and beauty, of the highest order, and +all most delightfully set off by the graces and nameless enchantments +of refined manners, and tasteful as well as useful accomplishments. I +have rarely, if ever, seen in any part of the world so fascinating an +assemblage of all that would render a country party agreeable as was +here collected in one of the most out-of-the-way corners of Ireland. +My worthy captain's advice was now thrown to the winds; and indeed any +heart, aged twenty-two, must have been made of cast-iron to have +resisted the rides and walks, the picnic dinners, the dances, and the +music parties, and suppers, besides the infinitely varied round of +other amusements, grave and gay, which contributed to render, and will +for ever preserve, this nook of Ireland the true terrestrial paradise +of my early days. + +How the deuce I ever contrived to get out of the magic circle, I +hardly know; but if I could only feel myself at liberty, without a +breach of confidence, to give a few details of those hours, I would +stake great odds on the side of the effect which the description of +such a reality might produce, against the interest of the imaginary +scenes in almost any romance. + +I have already mentioned that the gentleman whose introduction I +carried was most urgent for me to deliver the letter in person; but he +gave no reasons for this anxiety; nor indeed was I then aware, that, +besides his being an intimate friend, he was their family physician. +While acting in this capacity, he had seen with regret how ineffectual +his art had proved to alleviate the mother's sorrow caused by the +recent loss of her favourite son. The young man had been in the Navy, +and would have been about my own age and standing in the service. +These accidental coincidences suggested to her judicious and +kind-hearted friend, that as I, in some degree, resembled him in +appearance and in manners, the poor mother's thoughts and feelings +might possibly be diverted into a new channel, by the society of a +person in so many respects similarly circumstanced to the child she +had lost. + +It so happened, fortunately for me, that the experiment completely +succeeded--I hope and believe, to the mother's consolation. To me, of +course, the reception I met with was matter of delight and +astonishment; so much so, indeed, that I occasionally felt somewhat +startled, and almost oppressed, with the sense of obligation imposed +by such unusual and unmerited attentions. + +The first explanation of the mystery is really so touching in itself, +that I give it without reserve as I received it in a letter from this +most excellent old lady, about six months after my first acquaintance +with her, and just before I quitted England for the East Indies:-- + +"Once more adieu!" She concludes, "I must hope you will write to me +often; let me constantly know how you proceed, and how I can address +you; and recollect, you have received the freedom of this house. I +believe I told you I had lost a son, a lieutenant in the Navy, and of +superior talents. I therefore consider that Heaven has given you to my +care in his place--and may the Almighty protect you!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TRICKS UPON TRAVELLERS. + + +A curious and vastly pleasing fashion prevails in that part of Ireland +where I was so nearly bewitched as almost to forget my ship, my +duties, and everything else, but beauty! When a party, such as I have +been describing, had passed a certain time together, they seldom broke +up entirely, but generally shifted, or emigrated in a body (flitted, I +think they used to call it) to the house of some one of their number. +Now and then various members of the group dropped off by the way, but +their places were presently filled up by others, who soon found their +way to the new hive when the well-known sounds of festivity were heard +in the neighbourhood. + +In this manner the party, into which I had been so kindly admitted, +made several moves, with sundry losses and accessions to its numbers; +and as every day rendered this life more and more grateful, I could +scarcely bear to think of returning to the tame occupations and rugged +society of the frigate, the duties of which had so recently been my +greatest and most sincere delight. Meanwhile, since my good-natured +captain, and still better-natured messmates, made no difficulties +about this protracted absenteeism, I continued to involve myself +deeper and deeper at every step. I failed not to perceive at times +that I was getting into rather a dangerous scrape for a younger son +and a young officer, who had yet to work his own way in the world. But +as these reflections interfered rather impertinently with the +enjoyments of the hour, they were crushed down, and kept out of sight +as much as possible at that gay period. + +What surprised me most, all this time, was the air of refinement and +high polish in the Irish society amongst which I was thus casually +thrown. I had previously entertained an idea that their hospitality, +proverbial in all parts of the world, was of a rude and rather +troublesome description. I found it, on the contrary, marked not only +by the strongest lines of sincerity and kindness, but by many of those +delicate touches of consideration for the feelings of others which +form the most indubitable symptoms of genuine good-breeding. + +Instead of discovering that the stories were true about the sort of +compulsion used in matters of drinking, I can safely say that, during +the course of experience in joviality I went through in the north of +Ireland, I seldom met with anything at a gentleman's table approaching +even to exigence on this score. I do not deny that our friends the +Irish have a wonderfully winning way of insinuating their good cheer +upon us, and sometimes of inducing us to swallow more claret than is +perhaps good for us. + +I landed once at Burncrana, a pretty quiet little village, with a +watering-place look, on the eastern banks of that great and beautiful +bay Lough Swilly. One side of this fine harbour is formed by the bold +promontory of Inishowen, celebrated in every land for its noble +whiskey, second only (which, as a Scotchman, I am bound to assert) to +Ferntosh or Glenlivet. I was accompanied by an English gentleman, on +the first day of his landing in Ireland. As he then seriously imagined +the inhabitants to belong to a sort of wild and uncouth race, I could +see he was rather surprised at the gentleman-like deportment of an +acquaintance of mine resident on the spot, for whom he had brought a +letter. We had walked together to his house, or rather cottage, for he +was not a fixed resident, but came there for summer quarters. The +neatness, and even elegance, of the domestic arrangements of his +temporary establishment, both without and within the dwelling, gave +token of a taste many degrees removed from the state of people far +back in civilization. Presently the ladies came; and their national +frankness, modified by the most entire and unaffected simplicity, +puzzled my friend completely. In due season the dressing-bell sent us +off to prepare for dinner; and while we were getting ready, my +companion said, "I see what this fellow is at: he means to sew you and +me up. You may do as you please; but I'll be shot if he plays off his +Irish pranks on me. I will eat his dinner, take a couple of glasses of +his wine, make my bow to the ladies, go on board by eight or nine +o'clock, and, having given them a dinner in return, shall have done my +duty in the way of attention; after which I shall totally cut the +connection. I have no idea of their abominable fashion of forcing +strangers to drink." + +"We shall see," said I; and having knocked the dust off our shoes, +down we went to dinner. + +Everything was plain, and suitable to the pretensions of a cottage. +There was no pressing to eat or drink during dinner; and in process of +time the cloth was removed, the Ladies sipped a little sweet wine, and +disappeared. + +"Now for it," whispered my friend; "he has sent the women out of the +way, that he may ply us the better." + +And I must own things looked rather suspicious; for our host, instead +of sitting down again at the dinner-table, walked to a bow-window +overlooking the anchorage, and exactly facing the setting sun, at that +hour illuminating the whole landscape in the gorgeous style peculiar +to combined mountain and lake scenery. "Why should we not enjoy this +pleasant prospect while we are discussing our wine?" said the master +of the house. At that instant the door opened, and in walked the +servant, as if he knew by intuition what was passing in his master's +head. + +"Tim," said our host, "put the card-table here in the bow-window, and +give us some other glasses; also, if you have such a thing, bring up a +bottle of claret." + +Tim nodded, smiled, and made the fitting adjustments. The table was +barely large enough to hold a noble long-corked bottle, for the +fashion of claret decanters had not as yet reached that remote +district of the empire. Round the margin was placed the necessary +accompaniment of capacious glasses--famous tall fellows, with such +slender stalks that they seemed scarcely equal to the weight of their +generous load. + +My friend and I exchanged glances, and I could see his shoulders +slightly raised, as if he was saying internally, "Now we are in for +it! but I will not drink a drop more than I choose." The claret, which +in itself was most delicious, was cooled in perfect style. The party +consisted, I think, of four or five persons, and this one bottle, I +remember, just passed round the group twice. As the flavour of the +beverage appeared to have become more exquisite at the second turn +than at the first, though but a short interval had been allowed to +elapse, it seemed odd that another bottle was not instantly called +for. Instead of this our landlord went on expatiating on the beauties +of the Lough, and the fineness of the season in general, and the +sunset in particular, for full five minutes after the wine had +disappeared; when he suddenly said, with a half-hesitating tone, +towards my English friend, who sat at his elbow---- + +"I beg your pardon! perhaps you would take some more wine?" + +As no one made any objection, the bell was rung, and Tim re-appeared, +bearing with him another bottle. This likewise vanished in a trice, +and Tim was again summoned. "Bring some more claret," said the master +to the man, or rather boy, as he was called, though twice as old as +any of the party. + +At this instant I caught my companion's eye; and I could see he was +becoming alive to the plot against him, so much so, indeed, that he +seemed to be preparing to rise. The following conversation, however, +attracted his attention, and fixed him to his seat. "Well, Tim, what +are you gaping at? Why don't you run for the clar't?" + +"I didn't know," replied the other, "whether you'd like to use the +whole of it." + +"Use the whole of it!" exclaimed his master--"what does the boy mean? +Why, Tim, what are you at?" + +"Oh, sir," quoth the well-instructed rogue, "as the wine you brought +was but little, I thought you might not wish to use it all entirely +to-day." And then he whispered something in his master's ear, the words +of which we could not distinguish. The reply, however, showed, or +seemed to show, what had been said. "Nonsense, Tim, nonsense! you're +an ass, man; bring it up." + +Tim accordingly disappeared, but soon returned with a basket +apparently full of straw; at the bottom of which, however, after some +considerable show of hunting, a couple of bottles were said to be +found. "Confound you, Tim, is this all?" said the host. + +"It is, sir," lied Tim; "and in faith, sir," added he, still lying, +"it's one more bottle than I thought; for there was but a dozen when +we started from Derry a week ago; and you know, sir, you and the +collector on last Tuesday" + +But the catalogue of circumstances which were intended to act as +buttresses to Master Tim's inventions was cut short by a peremptory +order to leave the room. This he did so soon as he had made a +circumbendibus to escape notice, and deposited the basket behind his +master's chair, muttering, as he put it down with a thump, "There's a +couple of bottles of as good wine as ever was uncorked." + +The fresh broach was indeed so delicious that we could hardly believe +it was of the same vintage as that of the previous bin, though our +host assured us it was "the identical." Tim's basket well merited a +higher eulogium than he had given it; but while his reputation as a +judge of wine rose, his character for veracity fell in about the same +proportion, since we beheld, in due season, not merely two, but three, +and at last a fourth long-necked gentleman from Bordeaux emerge from +under the straw! + +The trick played upon us by these confederates was now apparent +enough; but the wine, fortunately, was of that light and pure kind +which does not produce much effect on strong heads, and that of my +companion was proof against far greater trials than this. He was +indeed perfectly aware of what was passing; and though dearly loving +the wine, which was superior to any he had ever before tasted, yet he +had no notion of being made tipsy by means of a common-place concert +between host and butler. He therefore rose to leave the room, +expecting, of course, to be forcibly detained, or, at all events, +being begged and entreated to sit down again. Not a whit! The wily +native merely observed to him that "if he had a mind to admire the +prospect, there was still daylight enough to command a view down the +bay from the little knoll on the right." The Englishman was sorely +puzzled by all this. There was none of the detention he expected would +be practised upon him, and yet he had a strong consciousness that he +was undergoing the operation well known afloat and ashore by the title +of "the game of humbug." At the same time, he felt the most eager +desire to take another good pull at the claret. + +There was no wine before us at this critical juncture of the evening, +and our landlord, who, most unaccountably, seemed indifferent to this +material circumstance, went on prosing for a quarter-of-an-hour about +Protestant ascendancy, the eternal siege of Derry, the battle of the +Boyne, and such like stale topics. At length one of the company became +somewhat impatient, and, watching for a pause, asked his host if it +were the custom in Ireland to discuss Orange politics with empty +glasses? + +"God bless me," cried the other, with well-feigned surprise, "is there +no wine on the table?" and ringing the bell furiously, scolded poor +Tim so naturally that the confederate was almost thrown out. "Well! +you numskull, why don't you make off with you, and bring something for +the gentlemen to drink?" Tim stood fast till interrogated a second +time, and then replied with perfect gravity that "there wasn't another +drop of wine in the house." Upon this the master got up in a rage, and +brushing past the servant, declared his intention of searching the +cellar himself. He was absent some time, and we had just prevailed on +our hesitating companion to sit down again, when, as if there had been +some electrical communication between his chair and the handle of the +door, it opened, and in walked our generous entertainer, exulting in +his success, crowing like chanticleer, and bearing in each hand a +couple of bottles, clicking against each other; while Tim, with a +degree of impudence equalled only by that of his master, substituted +clean glasses, of a still more capacious swallow than the first. To +these were added two pair of candles which towered high above the +jolly crew, and promised to last till another dawn should look in upon +our revels. By this time the twilight had almost entirely ebbed away, +and was succeeded by that cheerful, aurora-kind of brilliancy in the +sky, which points out the place of the sun during the whole of his +summer night's journey in those high latitudes. Politics dropped, for +the joyous juice of the grape soon melted us all into one mind; and a +hundred topics of more pleasing interest were started, in which the +strangers could join without fear of any angry discussion. The mirth +and animation of the company rose very pleasantly as each fresh bottle +found its way by some magical process to the table. But it became +rather difficult to tell who were the listeners amongst us, or to say +who was guest and who landlord, for the party seemed like a circle of +brothers, all equally at home. + +This went on for an indefinite length of time, but I should be the +veriest conjuror on earth to say how long. Through the hazy atmosphere +of my recollection of that jolly evening, I remember that about eleven +o'clock, more or less, our host was enchanted almost beyond the power +of words by seeing his wine so much relished, and tickled also with +the success of his joke, in making his suspicious guest drink just as +much wine as he thought fit to impose. On this occasion, however, he +inverted the proverb, and reckoned without his guest; for, by one +imprudent remark, he had well-nigh torn the laurels from his brow. + +"Well, sir!" he exclaimed, "although this is the first day you ever +set foot on the island, you have seen enough, I hope, to satisfy you +that we are not quite such savages as you supposed; liberty hall, you +see, is the true title of every Irish gentleman's dining-room: there's +no compulsion here, you must see very clearly." It was little that my +English friend could now see very clearly of anything; but the above +premature announcement of victory brought back all the stranger's +suspicions. Fired with this idea, he started on his feet, and eyeing +the door for a long time before he ventured on the voyage, with a bold +determination, and taking a good departure from his chair, he gained +his port. He had undoubtedly expected to be lugged back again; for he +whisked the tails of his coat out of reach, while, with his other hand +on the lock of the door, and swaying himself about from side to side, +like a ship in a calm, he stood the very image of tottering +equilibrium, as the mathematicians call it. Our adroit landlord, who +was not a man to shrink from difficulties, mustered to his aid all the +resources of a long well-practised hospitality, and gallantly met this +great occasion. His devices were, probably, exhausted; so he took +another line, and called out, "Oh, you're off, are you? Very +well--you'll find the ladies in the drawing-room. I think I hear the +tinkle of the piano: I prefer the tinkle of the glass. Pray tell the +damsels we are coming by-and-bye: mind you say 'by-and-bye.' I don't +like to be too particular, for fear of seeming rude: don't you see?" + +This speech was wound up by a telegraphic flourish of the hand towards +Tim, who stood near, with a bottle between his feet, the screw buried +in the cork, and his body bent to the effort, which he only delayed to +exercise till ordered by his master to pull. "Out with him, man! out +with the cork!" cried the host. The loud report which succeeded rang +over the apartment like the sweetest music to the souls of the ever +thirsty company. Tim's thunder was echoed back by a truly +bacchanalian shout, such as nothing on earth can give proper emphasis +to, except a double allowance of claret. The Englishman, fairly +subdued by the sound, glided again to the table; then seizing his +brimming glass in one hand, and grasping the fist of his merry host in +the other, he roared out,-- + +"You really are an uncommon good fellow; and hang me if ever I +distrust an Irishman again as long as I live!" + +But within three minutes afterwards this promise was broken; for as +soon as we had discussed the bottle which the incomparable Tim had so +opportunely introduced, the master of the house, seeing us at length +quite at his mercy, and eager to go on, rose, and said, to our great +amaze,-- + +"Come! we've had wine enough; let's join the ladies in the next room." + +The disappointed company stared at one another, and loudly proclaimed +that it was not fair to limit them in this way. The Englishman, in +particular, wished to remain; but our host was inexorable. Meanwhile, +Timothy grinned from ear to ear; familiar with his master's tricks +upon travellers; and the landlord deliberately opening the door, +marched off the field of battle with flying colours. + +As we moved along to the drawing-room, my companion whispered to me,-- + +"I must own I have been rightly served for my suspicions. I made quite +certain of being bullied into drinking more than was agreeable to me; +but it turns out," added he, laughing, "quite the reverse; for I +cannot get a drop of wine, now that I want it." + +"Well! well!" cried our hospitable friend, who overheard the +conclusion of this remark, "you shall do as you please ever after this +evening." + +He then showed us to a couple of snug rooms, which he said were ours, +as long as we chose to occupy them. + +For myself, I went off to the Giant's Causeway in the course of next +day; and on returning, at the end of a week, found that my friend, +instead of cutting the connection, according to promise, had not been +once out of sight of the house, and had never been asked to drink a +bottle, or even a glass, more than he liked. He declared, indeed, that +he had rarely met, in any country, with persons so truly hospitable, +or more gentleman-like, in the truest sense of these words. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE ADMIRALTY LIST. + + +In the midst of these gay doings, which were all very well for a time, +but rather profitless on the whole, an extremely favourable opening +for promotion suddenly occurred. The late Sir Samuel Hood, on being +appointed commander-in-chief of the East India station, was applied to +by my friends, and agreed to take me with him as one of his +lieutenants. His list of _proteges_, he said, was a long one, and I +must come in last; after his old followers were provided for, but +there could not be a moment's doubt on the occasion. In his letters, +the Admiral dwelt very strongly on the importance of having the name +of his young friend, as he was good enough to call me, placed likewise +on the Admiralty List. + +The purpose of this advice is easily explained. The Admiral on a +foreign station is allowed actually to appoint, or promote, to certain +vacancies only, any officer whom he pleases, while on the occurrence +of all other vacancies, except those which are thus specifically +placed at his disposal, he is furnished with what is called an +Admiralty List. In former times, whatever it be now, the Admirals +abroad were allowed to appoint officers of their own selection to +vacancies occasioned by death, or by the sentence of a court-martial; +while they were instructed to nominate those persons only who stood on +the Admiralty List to such vacancies as arose from officers falling +sick and invaliding; from the accession of ships captured and +purchased into the service; from officers deserting (which strange +event has sometimes happened); or from the squadron being increased by +ships built and launched on the station. But as these last enumerated +are, generally speaking, of much more frequent occurrence than those +which fall to the Admiral's peculiar share, an officer on the +Admiralty List has a proportionately better chance of promotion than +one who stands merely on that of the commander-in-chief. + +These two lists differ essentially in one material feature. As a +matter of course, the Admiral's List possesses some degree of +stability; since a place upon it is generally won by long service +under his flag, and retained there by personal esteem or family +connection. An Admiral's follower, indeed, far from being a term of +reproach, is always one of honour, as it implies the confidence and +regard of the flag-officer. To get placed therefore, however near the +end, on the good books of a rising Admiral is almost a certain road to +promotion. + +On the other hand, the Admiralty List is kept a profound secret, or, +what comes nearly to the same thing, is kept strictly out of sight of +those it most concerns. It is well known to be formidably intricate in +its arrangements, and very slippery in its promises; indeed, from the +circumstance of its depending on the fluctuating interests of party +politics, it must be essentially pie-crusty in its texture. For it is +sometimes thought in the political world that as much may be done by +propitiating antagonists as by rewarding friends. How all this may be +in sound principle I cannot tell; but nothing in practice can be more +unsteady, or less to be relied upon, as I too well know, than this +said Admiralty List. Still, the advantages of getting his name on this +precious little slip of paper are very great, though it be a most +unofficial-looking note sheet, as I can testify, from having once +incidentally been afforded a glimpse of one, on which, to my horror, +my own name was not! If the admiral of the station be also a personal +friend, that source of favour, of course, always adds another string +to the young man's bow. Circumstances likewise occasionally arise +which enable an admiral, who has an officer's interest really at +heart, to give him an extra lift at the right moment, and in the right +direction, provided his name actually stands on the Admiralty List, +even though it be ever so low down. + +Before sailing for India, accordingly, I took a world of pains to make +out this grand point, tormented my friends and relations most wofully, +and, as I conceived, with eventual success. A distinct assurance was +given to a near connection of my own, and a member of parliament, that +my name would certainly stand on the First Lord's list, to be sent out +to India in his Majesty's ship Volage, of which I had the farther good +fortune to be appointed junior lieutenant. A change at the Admiralty +was then confidently expected; and I took every care, as I thought, to +have it arranged that my name should not be omitted when the new +First Lord came into power. Little dreamed I that, in the _melee_ of +official patronage and personal favour which shortly afterwards took +place at headquarters, my poor name would be dropped out altogether. +The provoking consequence was, however, that I had the mortification +of seeing sundry capital vacancies in India pass by, one after +another, which, had I occupied even the very low place on the fresh +list which I had filled on the old one, might have secured my +promotion several years sooner than it came. + +The old Volage, in which we sailed for India, I am forced to confess, +was one of the least good-looking of all his Majesty's ships and +vessels then afloat. But by this time I cared not one fig for the +looks of my ship, though, a month or two before, I should have +considered it a point of honour to maintain its beauty. I was +delighted beyond measure to think that, at length, I was on the right +road to promotion; and this satisfaction was more than doubled by +finding the East was the region in which that great prize was to be +sought for. + +Although the men-of-war and their convoy sailed from Spithead on the +25th of March, they did not reach Madeira till the 19th of April. It +is always more teasing to be delayed at the outset of a voyage than at +any other stage of its course, just as it is mortifying and hurtful to +be checked in the commencement of a profession. Upon this occasion we +had a fine rattling easterly breeze for eight-and-forty hours after +starting, which swept us all, dull sailers and good ones, merrily out +of the British Channel. This fair start is always a grand affair, +whatever succeeds; for if the prevalent westerly wind catches a ship +before the channel is left well behind, she may be driven back to +Plymouth or Falmouth, and all the agony of bills, news, leave-taking, +and letters, has to be endured over again. Whereas, if she once gets +the Lizard Light some fifty leagues astern of her, all these worrying +distractions may be considered at an end. A totally new world--the +"world of waters"--is now entered upon, far beyond the reach even of +those long-armed persons, the "gentlemen of the press," or the +startling sound of the postman's knock; that call which so often sets +off the steadiest-going pulse at a gallop! + +Oh, the joy! the relief unspeakable! of feeling oneself fairly under +weigh, and of seeing the white cliffs of Old England sinking in the +north-eastern horizon right to windward! Let the concocters of +romances and other imaginary tales say what they please of the joys of +returning home; give me the happiness of a good departure, and a +boundless world of untried enjoyments ahead. If a man be out of debt +and out of love, or only moderately involved in either of these +delicate predicaments; if he have youth and health and tolerable +prospects, a good ship under his foot, good officers over him, and +good messmates to serve with, why need he wear and tear his feelings +about those he leaves behind? Or rather, why need he grieve to part +from those who are better pleased to see him vigorously doing his duty +rather than idling in other people's way at home? Or wherefore should +he sigh to quit those enjoyments in which he cannot honourably +participate till he has earned his title to them by hardy service? + +On the other hand, who is there so insensible as not to feel the +deepest apprehension, on returning from a long and distant voyage? +Busy fancy will conjure up images of death and sickness, of losses and +sorrows. And when the accumulated pile of letters is first placed in +our hands after a long voyage, with what sickening eagerness do we not +turn from the superscription to discover the colour of the seal? + +It happened once to me to be nearly fifteen months without receiving a +single line from home, or seeing an English newspaper. On reaching the +port of rendezvous, I found that as the ship I commanded was the only +man-of-war in the harbour, there devolved upon me an immense load of +official business requiring immediate and careful attention. All this +I learned on my way to the consul's office, where a huge budget of +letters was delivered to me. My first impulse, naturally, was to tear +away the envelopes, and dive into the secrets of these domestic +dispatches; but I paused on detecting several ominous-looking patches +of black wax, and, thrusting them all into a drawer, did not open one +till next day. Officially considered, it was well I imposed this +restraint upon my curiosity; for the fatal news these letters +contained must have seriously interfered with the exclusive +professional attention which the nature of the service required me to +bestow upon various public matters admitting of no delay; whereas, in +regard to the private intelligence, a single day, added to so many +months, signified nothing. + +After leaving Spithead, our two days of fair wind were enough to take +us clear of the channel, and well off the bank of soundings, far +beyond the danger of return. A tolerable spell of bad weather then +came on, which in one sense was of essential service, by contributing +greatly to assist the first lieutenant's arrangements, though it +discomfited most grievously the apple-pie order of those disturbers of +his peace, the shore-going, long-coated gentry, our passengers, whom +the sailors, in their coarse but graphic vocabulary, call "dog +robbers," from their intercepting the broken meat on its way to the +kennel from their master's table. Our gale of wind, indeed, was no +gale to speak of; but as the sea rose, and a heavy press of canvas +laid the creaking old barky well over on her broadside, many of the +beautifully piled boxes, the well-packed portmanteaus, the polished +dressing cases and writing-desks, the frail glass, crockery, and other +finery, fetched way, and went rattling, smash! dash! right into the +lee scuppers. In the next instant, the great bulk of these materials +were jerked back again to their original situation, by that peculiar +movement, so trying to unpractised nerves, called a lurch to windward. +To unaccustomed ears, the sounds on this occasion lead one to suppose +the ship is going to pieces; while the cries for help from the +broken-shinned, sea-sick landsmen, the bawling for cleats and lashings +from the mate of the decks, the thumping of hammers, and the loud +laugh of the light-hearted middies, enchanted with the uproar, make a +fine concert. The sedative effect of two or three hours of this work +exceeds fresh-water belief; so that in a day or two, Messrs. Neptune, +Boreas, First Lieutenant, and Co., have re-established their +legitimate authority so completely, that neither servants, nor any +other passengers, ever afterwards venture to indulge in those +liberties which, at first coming on board, they fancied might be taken +with impunity. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE TROPICAL REGIONS AT SEA. + + +There sailed along with us in the Volage, from Spithead, the Princess +Caroline, 74, and the Theban frigate, to aid in protecting a fleet of +East India Company's ships, all for China direct.[2] As these ships +were of the largest class, well manned, well commanded, and were +likewise pretty well armed, and got up to look like men-of war, our +force had not only an imposing appearance, but was capable of baffling +an enemy, even in considerable strength. There is, indeed, one signal +instance on record in which a fleet of East India Company's ships +actually beat off, unassisted, a French squadron of very powerful +vessels. These striking incidents, peeping out from time to time, show +what is called the true blood, and are extremely valuable, proving how +essential it is that an officer in command should "Never say die while +there is a shot in the locker!" a pithy old phrase, which will apply +to many situations in life, civil as well as military. Had the gallant +commander alluded to, Sir Nathaniel Dance, yielded when the French +Admiral Linois, and his squadron, consisting of the Marengo, a +line-of-battle ship of 84 guns, and the Belle Poule and Semillante +frigates, each of 44, bore down on the China fleet, not less than six +millions of English property, and some of the noblest trading ships +that float on the ocean, must have been carried into the Isle of +France. + +This memorable affair took place near Pulo Aor, in the China seas, and +by a very interesting, and no doubt useful coincidence, on the 14th of +February, 1804, the seventh anniversary of the glorious action off +Cape St. Vincent. Had the enemy only known the real force of his +opponents, which he most certainly ought to have found out before he +quitted them, the bold front these ships put forward might indeed have +served them nothing. A less resolute man than Captain Dance might have +said this good fortune was hardly to be calculated upon; but it is the +duty of a commander, at all times and under all circumstances, to +afford himself every possible chance, and never to give up while there +is one of these chances left. + +A useful chapter in naval history and tactics could be written on the +defence of convoys, by which it might perhaps be made manifest that a +determined bearing, accompanied by a certain degree of force, and a +vigorous resolution to exert that force to the utmost, would, in most +cases, save the greater part of the convoy, even against powerful +odds. In the well-known instance, in which Captain Richard Budd +Vincent sacrificed his ship, in a contest where he was from the first +sure to be overpowered, he gained sufficient time for most of his +flock of merchant-ships to escape. + +In February, 1805, this gallant officer, in the Arrow, of 18 +twenty-four pounders, ably supported by Captain Arthur Farquhar, in +the Acheron bomb, carrying not half that number, actually engaged two +large French frigates, mounting in all 90 guns and 1300 men, while the +English force was only 26 guns and 90 men. The damage and delay caused +to the enemy by this spirited resistance enabled the convoy to +disperse, and all get off but three, out of thirty-two. The English +ships did not strike till they were so much cut up that one sunk +immediately afterwards, and the other was burned by the captors as +useless. + +On the occasion of our voyage in 1812, however, the fortitude and +skill of our East India ships were put to no such proof, as our most +interesting evolutions were confined to the interchange of good +dinners; for your Indiamen know as well how to eat, drink, and be +merry, as to fight, if need be. Their chief business is to trade; but +their trading is a widely different thing from that of the ordinary +merchant service. The East India Company's officers are bred in many +respects like naval men, and they feel in the same manner. Being +sprung from as good a stock as the officers of the Navy, they possess +a kindred gentleman-like spirit, and are in every respect suitable +allies in battle. + +In fine weather, during our whole voyage, there scarcely occurred a +day on which, in the course of the morning, if the sea were tolerably +smooth, and the wind not too strong, the dinner invitation signal was +not displayed from the commodore, or from some of his flock. When +there was a breeze, and the ships were making way through the water, +some technical address was necessary to avoid delay. This will easily +be understood, without going into minute details, when it is +remembered, that there must always in a convoy be found certain ships +which sail worse than others, and that, although these tubs, as they +are most deservedly called, crowd all their canvas, the rest are +obliged to shorten sail in order to keep them company; as Lightfoot, +in the fairy tale, was obliged to tie his feet in the race. If it be +the commodore who gives the dinner, he either heaves to, while the +boats of the several captains come on board, or he edges down to the +different ships in succession, passes them at the distance of a +quarter of a cable's length, picks up his guests, and resumes his +station ahead, or to windward, or wherever it may suit him to place +himself so as best to guard his charge. If any of the fast sailers +have occasion to heave to, either before or after dinner, to lower +down or to hoist up the boat which carries the captain backwards and +forwards to the ship in which the entertainment is given, and in +consequence of this detention any way has been lost, that ship has +only to set a little more sail that she may shoot ahead, and regain +her position in the line. + +The bad sailers of all fleets or convoys are daily and hourly +execrated in every note of the gamut; and it must be owned that the +detention they cause, when a fine fresh breeze is blowing, is +excessively provoking to all the rest, and mortifying to themselves. +Sometimes the progress of one haystack of a vessel is so slow that a +fast-sailing ship is directed to take her in tow, and fairly lug her +along. As this troublesome operation requires for its proper execution +no small degree of nautical knowledge, as well as dexterity, and must +be performed in the face of the whole squadron, it is always exposed +to much sharp criticism. The celerity with which sail is set, or taken +in, by the respective ships, or the skill with which broken spars are +shifted, likewise furnish such abundant scope for technical +table-talk, that there is seldom any want of topic in the convoy. +Sailors, indeed, are about as restless as the element on which they +float; and their hands are generally kept pretty full by the necessity +of studying the fluctuating circumstances of wind and weather, +together with due attention to the navigation. + +These occupations served to give a high degree of interest to this +Indian voyage, which, to most of us, was the first; the mere +circumstance of having to pass successively and quickly through a +number of different climates, first in the order of increasing warmth, +and then in the reverse order of increasing cold, was of itself most +striking. The change of latitude being the chief cause of these +phenomena, a succession of astronomical variations were necessarily +attendant upon the progress of the voyage; easily explained by +reasonings, and the actual, practical exhibition, as it may be termed, +of the truths of astronomical science failed not to strike the +unfamiliarised imagination as both wonderful and beautiful. + +When we sailed from England the weather was very cold, raw, and +uncomfortable; and although we had a couple of days' fair wind at +starting, we were met in the very chops of the channel by hard-hearted +southerly and south-westerly winds, which tried our patience sorely. +On the evening of the tenth day we caught a glimpse of the north coast +of Spain; and the rugged shore of Galicia was the last which most of +us saw of Europe for many years. It was not till after a fortnight's +hard struggling against these tiresome south-westers that we anchored +in Funchal Roads, having by the way dropped several of our convoy. +These stray sheep came in during the few days we remained to refresh +ourselves at this most charming of resting-places. After nearly a +week's enjoyment, we proceeded on our course to the southward; within +three days we came in sight of Palma, the most northern of the Canary +Island group. It was thirty miles distant in the south-east quarter; +and Teneriffe, the sea "monarch of mountains," lay too far off for us +to perceive even his "diadem of snow," which at that season (April), I +presume, he always wears. Some years after the period in question, +when I paid him a visit, in the month of August, the very tip-top was +bare, and the thermometer at 70 deg.. + +Under more favourable circumstances, we might possibly have seen +Teneriffe from the Volage, for our distance was not above a hundred +miles. This, however, it must be owned, is a long way to see the land, +unless it form a continuous ridge of great elevation, like the Andes; +and even then, to be distinguished well, it requires to be interposed +between a bright sky and the ship. At day-break, and for about half an +hour before sunrise, if the weather be clear, even sharp peaks, like +the cone of Teneriffe, may be seen with a degree of distinctness which +is very remarkable, when viewed from the distance of a hundred miles +and upwards, as I have several times experienced when navigating in +the Pacific. But when the full splendour of the sun's light begins to +fill the air, these gigantic forms gradually fade away amongst the +clouds, or melt into the sky, even when no clouds are visible. I have +likewise been told, that, in sailing directly away from Teneriffe (or +other high insulated peaks), and keeping the eye pretty constantly +fixed in the proper direction, it may be retained in sight at much +greater distance than it can be discovered on approaching. I am +disposed to consider this very probable, but have never had a good +opportunity of trying the experiment. + +It was late in April, as we were stealing slowly past these distant +Canary Islands, when the first real puff of the Trade-wind caught our +sleeping sails, and made the braces, haulyards, and all the other +ropes connected with the yards, crack again. This breeze served more +effectually to detach our thoughts from European interests than +anything which had occurred since our leaving England. At the very +moment, however, when we were chuckling at this disentanglement of our +feelings from domestic anxieties, and all the varied agitation of home +concerns, we observed a ship crossing our path at some distance. +Signal being made to chase, we instantly darted off from the convoy to +examine the stranger, which proved to be an English ship from Lisbon. +We hailed, and asked, "What news?" + +"Badajoz has fallen," replied the other, "after a terrible siege." + +This was received with a general buzz of joyous congratulation along +the decks. In answer to further questions, we were told of some three +or four thousand men killed and wounded in the trenches and breach. +Then, indeed, the glorious intelligence was greeted by three jolly +huzzas from every ship in the convoy! + +Nothing so startling as this occurred to us again; but the serenity of +our thoughts was in some degree interrupted, a few days afterwards, by +the north-easterly Trade-wind dying away, and a gentle south-wester +springing up in its place. This occurred in latitude 25-1/2 deg. N., +where, according to our inexperienced conception of these singular +winds, we ought to have found a regular breeze from the very opposite +quarter! Nor was it till long afterwards that I learned how much the +force and direction of the Trade-winds are liable to modification by +the particular position which the sun occupies in the heavens; or how +far the rotatory motion of the earth, combined with the power which +the sun possesses of heating certain portions of the circumambient +air, are the regulating causes of the Trades, Monsoons, and, indeed, +of all the other winds by which we are driven about. It is by no means +an easy problem in meteorology to show how these causes act in every +case; and perhaps it is one which will never be so fully solved as to +admit of very popular enunciation applicable to all climates. In the +most important and useful class of these aerial currents, called, _par +excellence_, and with so much picturesque truth, "the Trade-winds," +the explanation is not difficult. But before entering on this curious +and copious theme, I feel anxious to carry our convoy fairly across +the tropical regions; after which an account of the Trades will be +better understood. + +I have just mentioned that the changes of temperature, on a voyage to +India, are most remarkable. We set sail, for instance, in the month +of March, when it was bitterly cold in England; then we came off the +coast of Spain, where it was a little more moderate; next to Madeira, +which is always agreeable. Then we passed the Canaries; after which we +sailed over the tropic of Cancer, and got well toasted in the torrid +zone; steered down upon the equinoctial line, passed the tropic of +Capricorn, and again became conscious of the weakened influence of the +sun; till, at length, off the Cape of Good Hope, we were once more +nipped with the cold. Anon, having rounded the south point of Africa, +we put our heads towards the line, and a second time, within a few +weeks, emerged from the depth of winter into the height of summer. + +The proximate cause of all these vicissitudes was, of course, our +approach towards and removal from the direct influence of the great +source of light and heat. At one time, the sun, even at noon, was seen +creeping stealthily along, low down in the horizon, at another his +jolly countenance was blazing away right overhead. On the 5th of May, +when our latitude was 17-1/2 deg. N., the sun's declination was 16-1/4 deg. +N., his centre being only one degree from our zenith: shadows we had +none. On that day we saw St. Antonio, the north-westernmost of the +Cape de Verde Islands, the summit of which is about seven thousand +feet above the sea. + +On the next day I well remember going on deck with a certain flutter +of spirits, to see, for the first time in my life, the sun to the +northward, and moving through the heavens from right to left, instead +of from left to right. No one doubts that the earth is round; yet +these conspicuous and actual proofs of its rotundity always amuse the +fancy, and frequently interest the judgment, almost as much as if they +were unexpected. The gradual rise, night after night, of new stars and +new constellations, belongs to a still higher order of curiosity; for +it not merely places well-known objects in strange positions, but +brings totally new subjects of contemplation before our eyes, and +leads us to feel, perhaps more strongly than upon any other occasion, +the full gratification which novelty on the grandest scale is capable +of producing. I shall never forget the impatience with which I have +often watched the approach of darkness after a long day's run to the +south, knowing that, in a few moments, I was to discover celestial +phenomena heretofore concealed from my view. + +After slanting through the north-east Trade-wind, we reached that +well-known but troublesome stage in the voyage, so difficult to get +over, called the Variables. This region has acquired its title from +the regular Trades not being found there, but in their place unsteady +breezes, long calms, heavy squalls, and sometimes smart winds from the +south and south-westward. These Variables, which sorely perplex all +mariners, even those of most experience, while they drive young ones +almost out of their senses, are not less under the dominion of the +causes which regulate those great perennial breezes the Trades, +blowing to the northward and southward of them. Their laws, however, +are not quite so readily understood, and consequently are not so +easily allowed for in the practice of navigation. + +When we actually encounter, on the spot, and for the first time, a +crowd of new circumstances, of which, previously, we have only known +the names, or have merely heard them described by others, we feel so +much confused and bewildered, that we fly eagerly to the nearest +authority to help us out of the scrape. It generally happens, in these +cases, that the reference does not prove very satisfactory, because +the actual circumstances with which we are engaged are rarely similar +in all their bearings to those with which we compare them; and when +this is not the case, the blindfold method of proceeding in the beaten +path is very apt to mislead. + +As an illustration of this kind of deception, it may be stated that +navigators, whose actual experience has not extended to the tropical +regions, are very apt, in poring over the voyages of others, to +acquire, insensibly, a very confident notion that each of the great +Trade-winds blowing on different sides of the Line (the North-east and +the South-east by name), are quite steady in their direction; and +that, in the equatorial interval which lies between them, only calms +and light winds are to be found. Moreover, inexperienced persons +generally believe this interval to be equally divided by the equator, +and that both the breadth and the position of this calm region +continue unchanged throughout the whole year. Now, here are four +important mistakes,--important both in a scientific and in a practical +point of view. For, 1st, Not calms and squalls alone, but occasionally +fresh and steady winds, are found between the Trades; 2ndly, The belt +called the Variables is by no means equally divided by the equator; +neither, 3rdly, is that belt stationary in its position; nor, 4thly, +is it uniform in its breadth. It will thence be easily understood, +even by a person who has never quitted one of the midland counties in +England, and to whom the ocean is an unseen wonder, that a new-comer +to the tropical regions, his head loaded with these false views, will +be very apt to mistake his own ignorance for the caprice of Nature, +and perhaps call out, as I once heard a man do, in all the agony of +impatience caused by a protracted head-wind,--"Now, this is really +scandalous usage of the clerk of the weather-office!" The scandal, +however, lay not so much with the clerk's usage as with his own +limited knowledge; for if, at the very time of his imprecation, +instead of abusing the foul wind, and keeping his yards braced sharp +up, and making his sails stand like a board, the grumbler had known +how to take advantage of it, and had kept away two or three points, +set his fore-topmast studding-sail, and flanked across or through the +breeze which he had in vain tried to beat against, he might not only +have saved his temper, but have made his passage in half the time. + +I am not sure that, in the whole range of this extensive subject, +there could be picked out an instance more in point to what has just +been said, than these interesting phenomena of the Trade-winds. To +sailors of every age and rank, and especially to naval officers, an +acquaintance with the laws which regulate these extraordinary aerial +currents must be of great importance. For a commander may be ordered, +at a moment's warning, either to carry his own ship, or to lead a +squadron, or to guard a convoy, from the northern to the southern +hemisphere, or perhaps from the West to the East Indies. If, however, +he have not previously made a tropical voyage or two, or have not +studied the subject in its genuine theoretical spirit, as well as in +the log-books of his predecessors, he may expect to find himself most +wofully embarrassed, both on entering and on leaving the Trades. + +Independently of all such public objects concerned in these inquiries, +there appears to exist a very general interest in the Trade-winds, +sufficiently strong to engage the attention even of unprofessional +persons. These vast currents of air, which sweep round and round the +globe, in huge strips of more than twelve hundred miles in width, are +in a manner forced on every one's notice, from contributing to that +boundless interchange of the productions of distant regions by which +modern times are so agreeably distinguished from the old. + +The great Monsoons, again, of the Indian and China oceans play almost +as important a part in this grand nautical drama along the coasts of +those remote countries. These great phenomena will be found to obey +precisely the same laws as their less fluctuating brethren the mighty +Trades; and hence springs one of the chief delights of science when +its study is conducted in a proper spirit. If the pursuit of truth be +engaged in with sincerity, phenomena apparently the most opposite in +character, for example, winds in different parts of the earth, but in +the same latitude, blowing in totally different directions at the same +season of the year, will always prove in the end illustrative of one +another, and of their common theory. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[2] On the renewal of their Charter, in 1833, the East India Company +ceased to be traders, and these noble ships no longer sail under the +Company's flag. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE TRADE WINDS. + + +There are few things more curious in the history of human knowledge +than the establishment of extensive errors as to matters of fact, and +the perverse tenacity with which they retain their hold on the public +mind. In some cases it would almost seem that the pleasure which +springs from genuine philosophical inquiry is subordinate to that +which arises from the indolent process of taking things for granted. +This applies peculiarly to the phenomena of the Trade-winds, +respecting which many erroneous ideas are generally entertained. To +professional men these fallacies are calculated to prove extremely +mischievous; while even to persons not directly connected with the +sea, the existence of error may often be injurious: and, although it +is not very easy to explain these things in a popular way, I shall +attempt to give a description of the facts as they really exist. + +The main characteristics may easily be described. + +The great belt of the earth's surface, nearly three thousand miles in +width, lying between the tropics (from 23-1/2 deg. north to 23-1/2 deg. south +latitude), is the chief region of the Trade-winds; though in some +parts of the world they extend to the latitude of 28 deg. both north and +south of the equator; while at other places well within the tropics, +and even close to the line, totally different winds prevail. It is +only in the open parts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that the +true Trade-winds blow. In the Indian and China seas, and in many other +portions of the great tropical belt, periodical winds, called +Monsoons, are found. These shifting Trades exact the closest study +from the practical navigator, in consequence of their extensive +variety and seeming complication. But they are not less deserving the +attention of merely curious inquirers, from the beautiful manner in +which these modifications of the regular breezes obey the same general +laws which direct the grand phenomena of the Trades. Indeed, the most +extensive observation serves only to link the whole into one +harmonious chain or series of explanations, exhibiting the uniformity +as well as the exquisite adaptability of Nature, even in those +departments called "inconstant," where she is supposed to be most +capricious. + +The only general assertion that can safely be made with respect to the +Trade-winds is, that they blow more or less from the eastern half of +the compass towards the western. On the north side of the equator, the +north-east Trade-winds blow; and on the south side, the south-east +Trade-winds. These two names have undoubtedly contributed to mystify +the subject by naturally suggesting to the imagination currents of air +blowing respectively from the north-east and the south-east, or at an +angle of 45 deg. with the meridian. And I have even seen sailors (old +sailors too) quite surprised, and rather provoked, when they have +encountered very different winds in those parts of their voyage, +where, being misled by the force of names alone, they had taught +themselves to expect a regular breeze from a particular quarter. But, +in point of fact, the Trade-winds do very seldom blow directly from +north-east and south-east; neither are they uniform in their direction +on the same spot at different seasons of the year, nor is their +strength uniform from month to month. I may add, that the equatorial +limits, or bounding lines, of the trades, are not steadily confined to +the same latitude. In short, so far from these winds being perfectly +fixed in direction, force, and position, they are subject to very +considerable mutations, dependent on the position of the sun. Their +vast nautical value, in fact, as well as philosophical curiosity, +turns mainly on their uniformity, which, in spite of all the +fluctuations alluded to, gives them a very distinctive character. + +Dr. Young and Hadley, the great authorities on the subject, are both +wrong in their conclusions.[3] Where Hadley obtains his "experience" +he does not tell; but certain it is, that no sailor who ever crossed +the equinoctial line could possibly have furnished him with two of his +principal statements. The Trades are not strongest near the equator, +as he states, nor when they reach that district do they blow along it, +or in a parallel direction, but almost always at right angles to it. + +If the earth had no motion on its axis, but were surrounded as at +present with an atmosphere, and if the sun moved round and round it +exactly above the equator, without varying his declination, the +following effects would ensue: That portion of the earth lying, say +thirty degrees, on each side of the equator, being more exposed to the +action of the sun than those further from it, would become much +warmer; while the superincumbent air, being greatly heated by the +contact, would expand, or become specifically lighter, and would +consequently rise. The adjacent air, both on the north and south, +being cooler, and, of course, heavier, would rush in to supply the +place of the heated air. This air coming from the regions beyond the +tropics would, in its turn, be heated, and rise on reaching the warmer +equatorial regions, giving place to a fresh supply, which, it is easy +to see, must be furnished by the descent of that portion of air +formerly heated at the equator, raised into the cold regions of the +sky, and forced into a regular circuit by fresh elevations of heated +air. All these and many other interesting results are clearly +developed in Daniell's Meteorological Essays, a book which every one +at all interested in such inquiries will find it advantageous to +study. The first edition of this work was published in 1823, some +years after these speculations had been forced upon my notice by a +long course of service between the tropics. + +It will be understood, that, as long as we imagine the globe at rest +while this circulation is going on, the course of the lower air along +the surface would be directly towards the equator, from due north in +one hemisphere, and from due south in the other; while in the upper +regions the currents would follow the opposite directions, and stream +towards the poles. But the instant we conceive the earth put into +rotatory motion from west to east, a change would take place in the +course of these aerial currents, both above and below. It must be +recollected that a volume of air, when once put in motion, will move +on, like any other body, by the mere force of its own momentum, till +that motion is destroyed by its friction against the substances along +or through which it is impelled. Any one who has observed the ring of +smoke sometimes projected from the mouth of a cannon will be sensible +that this is true. + +It may likewise be of use, before going further, to consider, that, if +the globe, instead of being unequally heated; were equally heated at +all parts, from pole to pole, and being surrounded by an atmosphere, +were then made to revolve on its axis, it would carry the atmosphere +round with it exactly at the rate at which it was itself going. That +portion of the air in contact with the equator would move about 1000 +miles in one hour, while that in latitude 90 deg. would be as motionless +as the poles themselves. + +From this it will be seen, that, while the equator moves at the rate +of 1000 miles an hour, the district about the latitude 30 deg. moves only +860, or 140 miles slower. The average whirling velocity of the earth's +easterly motion, in the space between the equator and latitude 30 deg., +may be stated at 950 miles an hour; and that of the belt lying between +30 deg. and 40 deg., at about 800 miles. + +In the hypothetical case, above suggested, of the whole surface being +equally heated, and consequently the whole atmosphere at the same +temperature, there would be a universal calm, whatever might be the +rotatory motion impressed upon the earth. If, however, we next +suppose, what really is the case, that the air over the tropical +region is more heated than that which is farther from the equator, +this rarefied air will instantly ascend, and occupy a place above the +colder and denser air, which will flow in from the belts lying beyond +the tropics. + +When the comparatively slow-moving air of the temperate zone, lying +beyond the tropics, first comes in contact with those quicker-moving +parts of the earth forming the tropical edges of the torrid zone, the +apparent motion of the air from the east, caused by the relative +difference of the rotatory velocity between the air and earth, is +great, compared to the other motion of the air, caused by its being +drawn directly towards the equator, to supply the place of the heated +portions raised into the sky. Consequently, at the tropical borders of +both Trades the wind is found to blow very nearly from the east point. + +Since the cool air of the temperate and comparatively slow-moving +zones beyond the tropics is thus drawn towards the equator, and comes +successively in contact with parallels of latitude moving faster and +faster towards the east, there must be gradually imparted to it, by +the increased friction, a considerable degree of the increased +rotatory velocity belonging to the low latitudes it has now reached; +that is to say, there will be less and less difference of velocity +between the easterly motion of this temperate air and the easterly +motion of the earth; and, consequently, the wind, as it approaches the +equator, will appear to blow less and less directly from the +eastward. But, while the earth's rotation within the tropics is thus +acting on the slower-moving air which has travelled to it from beyond +the tropics, with increased friction at every successive moment, there +has been no such powerful counteracting influence in operation to +diminish the meridional motion impressed on the air in question; for, +although in proceeding from the tropics towards the equator, the wind +might, at first sight, be supposed to have its speed somewhat lessened +by friction along the earth's surface, the retardation due to this +cause, if there be any at all, must be inconsiderable, compared to +that which affects the motion caused by the difference in the rotatory +velocity of the earth at the different parallels. It must be +recollected, also, that there is a constant demand for fresh air from +the north and south, to occupy the place of the heated and rarefied +air which is raised up in the torrid zone; and this demand being +pretty equal, the motion it produces on the air in the direction of +the meridian must likewise be uniform. + +If it be admitted that all the easterly character of the Trade-winds +is due to the difference of velocity between the rotation of the +torrid zone of the earth from west to east, and that of the air +impressed only with the slower rotatory motion to the east of the +temperate zone, it will follow, that, if this difference of velocities +between the earth and the air in contact with it be diminished or +annihilated, the easterly character of these winds will be diminished +or annihilated likewise. At the same time, there is no cause in +operation, that I can discover, to alter the direction of the +meridional motion, as it may be called, of the Trade-winds, or that +by which they are impelled directly towards the equator. + +At first starting from the temperate zone, on its voyage to the +equator, the cold air of that slow-moving region is impressed with a +rotatory velocity of only 800 miles per hour to the eastward, but it +soon comes over parts of the earth moving more than 100 miles per hour +faster to the eastward than itself. The difference of velocity in the +earth's rotation between latitudes 30 deg. and 20 deg. is 74 miles an hour, +while between 20 deg. and 10 deg. it is only 45 miles, and in the next ten +degrees the difference in rate per hour is reduced to 15 miles. + +The velocity with which the air drawn from beyond the tropics travels +along the sea towards the equator is probably not above twenty miles +an hour, a rate slow enough to allow time for the +constantly-increasing friction of the earth's rotation to act upon it, +and draw it more and more entirely to the east. By the time it has +reached the equatorial regions, the friction of the earth's surface +has operated long enough to carry the air completely along with it; +and, of course, all relative motion being done away with, everything +easterly in the character of the Trade-winds will be at an end. + +But, although this constantly-increasing friction of the earth's +rotation has thus annihilated all relative easterly motion between the +air and earth, that air still retains its motion towards the equator; +and accordingly we do find the Trade-winds, at their equatorial +limits, blowing, not from the east, as Hadley, Dr. Young, and others, +conceived, but directly from the north and from the south +respectively. The strength and velocity of the Trades at these places +is, in general, considerably diminished, chiefly, perhaps, by the air +becoming heated, and rising up rather than flowing along; and also, no +doubt, by the meeting of the two opposite currents of air--one from +the north, the other from the south--which produces the intermediate +space called the Calms, or the Variables. + +In strict conformity with these theoretical views, the clouds above +the Trades are almost invariably observed to proceed in the contrary +direction to the winds below. On the top of the Peak of Teneriffe I +found a gentle breeze blowing from the south-westward, directly +opposite to the course of the Trade-wind. + +The more detailed circumstances usually met with in that part of a +voyage to India which lies between 30 deg. north and 30 deg. south, and which +I am about to describe, will now, I imagine, be readily understood. +Before setting out, however, I must strongly recommend any one wishing +to see these matters clearly, to have them fixed in his mind to useful +purpose, to follow both the theoretical and the practical parts of +this explanation with the assistance of a terrestrial globe. + +Most ships touch at Madeira, either to take in a stock of wine, to get +fruit and vegetables, or to form a pleasant break in the early and +most disagreeable part of the voyage. Some ships pass barely in sight +of the high mountain which rises above the town of Funchal, and +satisfy themselves with taking sights for verifying the rates of their +chronometers when on the meridian of the island; while others +tantalise their passengers still more by sweeping through the roads, +without anchoring, or communicating with the shore. The captains by +such ships are pretty deeply, if not very loudly, abused by all hands, +passengers especially, who are perhaps the most dissatisfied, because +the most idle, of mortals. Shortly after leaving Madeira, which is in +32-1/2 deg. north latitude, a ship may expect to meet the Trades; but she +cannot calculate with any certainty upon catching them till she +arrives at the parallel of 28 deg.. On first reaching the Trade-wind it +will be found to blow very nearly from due east, and with this a +course is easily steered past or amongst the Canaries, and thence for +the Cape de Verdes. Some navigators pass within this group, others +keep so far out as barely to make San Antonio; and this, I think, is +considered the best route. As the ship proceeds to the southward, the +wind draws gradually round from the east to north-east, and eventually +to north-north-east, and even to north, at the southern margin of the +north-east Trade-wind. + +The position of this margin or southern edge, which in technical +language is called the equatorial limit of the Trade, varies +considerably with the season of the year. From December to May +inclusive it frequently reaches as far as the 3rd degree of north +latitude, though it ranges about 5 deg. and 6 deg. north. From June to +November it is shifted back as far, sometimes, as 13 deg. north, but it +seldom extends as far south as 8 deg. north. Subjects which are treated of +in a series of tables showing the equatorial limits of both +Trade-winds, deduced by the late Captain James Horsburgh, hydrographer +of the East India Company, from the observations of 238 ships. These +tables show very clearly the effect of the absence or presence of the +sun in shifting the limits of the Trades, drawing them after him, as +it were. The presence of the sun in either hemisphere obstructs +considerably the regularity and strength of the Trade-winds in that +hemisphere, and _vice versa_. + +The great difficulty experienced in making the outward-bound voyage +commences after the ship has been deserted by the north-east Trade, +for she has then to fight her way to the southward across the region +of Calms and Variables. But as these Variables blow generally from the +southward and westward, from a cause afterwards to be explained, it is +obvious enough why this part of the homeward voyage is always more +easily made than the outward passage. These southerly breezes, which +are met with in the Variables, blow at times with considerable force, +and greatly perplex the young navigator, who, trusting perhaps to some +of the erroneous published accounts, not unnaturally reckons upon +meeting the regular Trade-wind, blowing, as he supposes, from the east +near the equator, not from the south; still less is he prepared or +pleased to find it blowing from the south-westward. + +This troublesome range, intervening between the two Trades, varies in +width from 150 to more than 500 miles. It is widest in September, and +narrowest in December or January. I now speak more particularly of +what happens in the Atlantic. In the wide Pacific, far from land, +fewer modifying circumstances interfere with the regular course of the +phenomena, than in the comparatively narrow sea formed by the opposite +shoulders of Africa and South America. + +Calms, also, are met with in this intermediate region, or purgatory of +the outward-bound voyage, and occasionally violent tornados or +squalls, which in a moment tear away every rag of canvas from a ship's +yards. For several hours at a time, also, rain falls down in absolute +torrents. Even when the weather clears up, and a fresh breeze comes, +it is generally from the southward, directly in the outward-bound +navigator's teeth. He must have patience, however, and strive to make +the most of it by keeping on that tack by which most southing is to be +gained. It is now, I believe, generally held to be the best practice +to place the ship between 18 deg. and 23 deg. of west longitude on losing the +north-east Trade; and likewise to endeavour, if possible, to cross the +equator somewhere between these two longitudes. Before reaching the +line, however, the navigator will almost always be met by the +south-east Trade-wind. From January to May he may expect to meet it in +1 deg. or 2 deg. north latitude; but in summer and autumn he will find the +northern or equatorial limit of the south-east Trade a degree or two +still further to the northwards of the lines. + +On first encountering the south-east Trade an outward-bound ship is +obliged to steer much more to the westward than she wishes to do, in +consequence of the wind blowing so directly towards the equator, and +not along it, as some of the books will insist on, in spite of Nature. +So that if she be a dull sailer she may have some difficulty in +weathering the coast of Brazil about Cape St. Roque. As she proceeds +onwards, however, and makes a little more southing, the wind will haul +more and more round from the south to the south-east, then +east-south-east, and eventually to east at the southern limit of the +Trade-wind. An inexperienced sailor, on first entering the south-east +Trade, is very apt to be too solicitous about making southing, and +hugs the wind much too close; whereas he ought rather to keep his ship +off a little, give her a fathom or two of the fore and main sheets, +and take a small pull of the weather topsail and top-gallant braces, +to ensure making good way through the water. Indeed, many officers go +so far as to recommend flanking across the south-east Trade with a +fore-topmast studding-sail set. Although, I think, there can be no +doubt of the soundness of this advice, I confess that it does require +no inconsiderable degree of faith to adopt a course, which, +apparently, takes the ship not directly away from her object, but very +much out of the straight road. In this respect, it may be remarked +that the scale of navigation on every Indian voyage is so great, and +the importance of getting into those parallels where favourable +breezes are certain to be met with, of so much more consequence than +the gain of mere distance, that two or three hundred miles to the +right or left, or even twice that space, is often not to be regarded. +Accordingly, in cutting or flanking across the south-east Trade-wind, +the object, it should be remembered, is not to shorten the distance, +but to reach those latitudes where strong westerly gales are to be met +with, by help of which five hundred or a thousand miles of lost +distance are speedily made up, and the rest of the passage secured. + +In those regions lying beyond the southern tropic westerly winds +prevail during the greater part of the year, exactly as we find on +this side of the northern tropic. In the southern hemisphere, and far +from the land, the wind may be said to blow from the westward almost +as steadily as the Trades do from the eastward. The great object, +therefore, for an outward-bound ship is to get far enough south to +ensure this fair wind. Beyond the latitude of 30 deg., and as far as 40 deg., +this purpose will generally be answered. + +We are sufficiently familiar in England with the fact of westerly +winds prevailing in the Atlantic. From a list of the passages made by +the New York sailing packets across the Atlantic, during a period of +six years, it is shown that the average length of the voyage from +Liverpool to America, that is, towards the west, was forty days; while +the average length of the homeward passage, or that from west to east, +was only twenty-three days. And it may fix these facts more strongly +in the recollection, to mention that the passage-money from England to +America (in the days of sailing packets) was five guineas more than +that paid on the return voyage. + +This prevalence of westerly winds beyond the tropics is readily +explained by the same reasoning which has been applied to the Trades +blowing within them. The swift moving air of the torrid zone, on being +rarefied and raised up, flows along towards the poles, and in a +direction from the equator, above the cooler and slower-moving air, +which, as I have already described, is drawn along the surface of the +earth from the temperate regions beyond the tropics. When the rarefied +equatorial air has travelled some thirty or forty degrees of latitude +along the upper regions of the atmosphere towards the poles it becomes +cooled, and is ready to descend again, between the latitudes of 30 deg. +and 60 deg., to supply the place of the lower air, drawn off towards the +equator by the Trade-winds. But this partially-cooled air falls on a +part of the earth's surface which is moving much more slowly towards +the east, in its diurnal rotation, than the air which has descended +upon it, and which is still impressed with a great proportion of its +eastern velocity due to the equatorial parallels of latitude, where it +was heated and raised up. The necessary consequence of this is, to +produce a rapid motion in the air from the west over the earth's +surface; and this, combined with the other motion of the same portion +of air, or that which has driven it from the equatorial regions, +produces this remarkable prevalence of south-westerly winds in the +northern hemisphere, and north-westerly winds in the southern +hemisphere, in those districts lying between the latitudes of 30 deg. and +60 deg.. + +In all that has been said above it has been assumed that the +quickest-moving or equatorial belt of the earth is also the hottest, +and consequently that over which the air has the greatest tendency to +rise. But, although this is generally true, it is not, by any means, +universally so. The variations, however, which are observed to occur +in those places where the circumstances form an exception to the +general rule, tend strongly to confirm the theory of Hadley. The +monsoons of India, as I shall presently show, are examples of this; +but the most striking instance with which I am personally acquainted +occurs in the Pacific Ocean, between the Bay of Panama and the +Peninsula of California, from latitude 8 deg. to 22 deg. north. If the huge +continent of Mexico were taken away, and only sea left in its place, +there can be no doubt but the ordinary phenomena of the Trade-winds +would be observable in that part of the Pacific above mentioned. Cool +air would then be drawn from the slow moving parallels lying to the +northward, towards the swift moving latitudes, near the equator, in +order to supply the place of the rarefied air removed to the higher +regions of the atmosphere, and, of course, north-easterly breezes +would be produced. But when the sun comes over Mexico, that vast +district of country is made to act the part of an enormous heater, and +becomes a far more powerful cause of rarefaction to the superincumbent +air than the ocean which lies between it and the equator. Accordingly, +the air over Mexico, between the latitudes of 10 deg. and 30 deg., is more +heated than that which lies over the sea between the line and latitude +20 deg.; and as the coolest, or least heated, that is, the most dense +fluid, always rushes towards the place lately occupied by the hottest +and most buoyant, the air from the equator will be drawn towards the +coast of Mexico, the great local source of heat and rarefaction. + +But as this equatorial air is of course impressed with a more rapid +eastern velocity than those parts of the earth which form the southern +shores of Mexico, a westerly wind must be produced by the relative +difference in these two motions. At that particular season of the year +when the sun is in high southern declination, Mexico is not exposed to +his perpendicular rays. The equatorial regions are then more heated +than Mexico, and accordingly we actually find north-easterly breezes +nearly as they would be if Mexico were out of the way, and quite in +accordance with our theory. + +In like manner, in the Atlantic, when the sun is far to the north, +the great deserts of the western angle, or shoulder of Africa, become +as vehemently heated, or more so, perhaps, than Mexico, and this draws +the air from the equator, so as to produce the south-westerly winds I +have already spoken of in the troublesome range called the Variables. + +Finally, the great monsoons of the Indian ocean and China sea +contribute to establish this theory of Hadley, though I am not aware +that he ever brought it to bear on these very interesting phenomena. +They are eminently deserving of such notice, however, from being +periodical Trade-winds of the highest order of utility in one of the +busiest commercial regions of the world. Their periodical or shifting +character is the circumstance upon which their extensive utility in a +great measure depends, amongst nations where the complicated science +of navigation is but in a rude state. Myriads of vessels sail from +their homes during one monsoon before the wind, or so nearly before +it, that there is no great skill required in reaching all the ports at +which they wish to touch; and when the wind shifts to the opposite +quarter, they steer back again, in like manner, with a flowing sheet. +Thus, with an exceedingly small portion of nautical skill, they +contrive to make their passages by means of what we blue-jackets call +"a soldier's wind, there and back again." It will sometimes happen +that these rude navigators miscalculate their time, or meet with +accidents to retard them till the period of change has gone past, and +then they have no resource but to wait for half-a-year till the +monsoon shifts. + +Experienced sailors, in like circumstances, acquainted with the +varieties of winds prevailing in those seas, would speedily get their +vessels out of this scrape, into which the lubberly Chinese junks +sometimes fall. They might, and certainly would, lose time in making a +roundabout of some two or three hundred miles in searching for a wind; +but, if they really knew what they were about, they would be sure to +catch it at last, and to turn it to their purpose. + +From April to October, when the sun's rays fall with greatest effect +on Arabia, India, and China, and the several interjacent seas to which +these immense countries give their name, the air in contact with them, +becoming heated, rises, and gives place to fresh supplies drawn from +the equator. But this equatorial mass of air has had imparted to it by +the earth's rotation a greater degree of velocity in the direction +from west to east than belongs to the countries and seas just +mentioned; and this additional velocity, combined with its motion from +the equator, in rushing to fill up the vacuum caused by the +rarefaction of the air over those regions intersected by the tropic, +causes the south-west monsoon. "This wind," says Horsburgh, "prevails +from April to October, between the equator and the tropic of Cancer, +and it reaches from the east coast of Africa to the coasts of India, +China, and the Philippine Islands; its influence extends sometimes +into the Pacific Ocean as far as the Marian Islands, on to longitude +about 145 deg. east, and it reaches as far north as the Japan Islands." + +The late Captain Horsburgh thus describes what takes place in the +winter months:--"The north-east monsoon," he says, "prevails from +October to May, throughout nearly the same space that the south-west +monsoon prevails in the opposite season mentioned above. But the +monsoons are subject to great obstructions by land; and in contracted +places, such as Malacca Strait, they are changed into variable winds. +Their limits are not everywhere the same, nor do they always shift +exactly at the same period." + +During this last named period, when the north-east monsoon is blowing, +viz. from October to May, the sun is acting with its greatest energy +on the regions about the equator, and the seas lying between it and +the southern tropic, while the countries formerly mentioned (Arabia, +India, and China), lying under the northern tropic, become +comparatively cool. The air over these regions becomes relatively more +dense than the rarefied air near the line; consequently the cool air +rushes to the southward to interchange places with that which has been +heated; and as the cool air comes from slower-moving to quicker-moving +parallels of latitude, that is, from the tropical to the equatorial +regions, the north-easterly monsoon is produced, very much resembling +in its effect, as it strictly does in its cause, the ordinary +trade-wind of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. + +This is a very general view of what may be called the great monsoons +of India; but there are many variations in different places, all of +which are so readily explained by the foregoing theory, that they form +by no means the least interesting branch of the subject, or the least +satisfactory of its illustrations. + +One of the most extensive of these varieties, though of a less general +and sweeping character than those which blow in the Arabian sea and +bay of Bengal, is found in a very remote part of the world. "From +October to April this north-west monsoon prevails between the +north-east part of Madagascar and the west coast of New Holland; and +it is generally confined between the equator and 10 deg. or 11 deg. south +latitude, but subject to irregularities." This westerly wind is +evidently produced by the air drawn actually from the equator towards +the slower moving latitudes of the earth, by the rarefaction of the +air to the southward when the sun is near the tropic of Capricorn. +"The south-east monsoon predominates from April to October in the +space last mentioned, and in some places reaches to the equator." In +this case, the slow moving air near the southern tropic is brought, as +in the ordinary case of the south-east Trade wind, to the quick-moving +parts of the earth's surface. + +The following remark of Horsburgh's, in describing the monsoons, is +extremely valuable, and assists to explain Hadley's theory of these +matters:--"The parts where the north-west and the south-east monsoons +prevail with greatest strength and regularity are in the Java sea, and +from thence eastward to Timor, amongst the Molucca and Banda islands, +and onward to New Guinea;" for it will be obvious to any one who +inspects the globe, on reading this passage, that there occurs in the +neighbourhood of the spots alluded to a powerful cause for the +strength and regularity of the monsoons. The enormous island, or +continent, as it might almost be called, of Australia, may well be +supposed to act the part of a heater from October to April, when the +sun is so nearly over it. During that period the equatorial air is +drawn to the south, along the intermediate seas, amongst the Moluccas +and other Spice islands, so as to produce a strong and steady +north-westerly monsoon. Of course, the opposite effect will be +produced when the sun retreats to the north, and leaves Australia to +cool. + +These instances are quite enough, I should imagine, to satisfy +ordinary curiosity on this point; but professional men ought not to be +contented till they have investigated all branches of this important +topic; including that elegant and very useful episode, the land and +sea breezes of all hot climates, and Horsburgh's East India Directory, +which I have quoted above so frequently, is by far the best authority +with which I am acquainted on these subjects. At the same time, I must +not omit to do justice to a beautifully-written and accurate Essay on +Winds and Currents, by that Prince of all Voyagers, Old Dampier; who, +with means far more circumscribed than most of his successors, has +contrived to arrange and condense his information in such a way as not +only to render it available to practical men, but to make it +intelligible and interesting to every class of readers.[4] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] It is necessary to note here that these questions have been +examined since Captain Hall wrote, by Commander Maury, late secretary +to the American navy, in the true analytical spirit, and immense +progress made in our knowledge of these winds by the mass of practical +observations on the subject made by practical navigators, and +published under his directions.--ED. + +[4] The principle of "Great Circle Sailing," which now guides the +navigator to the Indian Ocean, must be studied in connection with this +chapter. "For every degree the ship changes her longitude south of the +Line she sails a shorter distance along the great circle than on any +other curve; for on the parallel of 60 deg. thirty miles corresponds to a +distance of sixty at the equator."--ROBERTSON'S _Theory of Great +Circle Sailing_: Bell and Daldy. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +PROGRESS OF THE VOYAGE. + + +Let people say what they please of the fine bracing weather of a cold +climate, I have never seen any truth-speaking persons who, on coming +fairly to the trial, did not complain of a cold frosty morning as a +very great nuisance, or who did not cling eagerly to the fire to +unbrace themselves again. For my own part, I have always delighted in +the relaxation caused by hot weather; and, accordingly, I have very +seldom, if ever, felt the weather disagreeably warm, even in India, +especially when sailing on the open sea, or enjoying the free range of +a wide country, under awnings and bungaloes, or stretched in a +palanquin, or shaded by an umbrella on the back of an elephant. +Soldiers and sailors, whose duty exposes them at all hours, either on +a march or in boats, are often struck down by the heat, and sigh with +all their hearts for the bracing frosts of higher latitudes. But those +who have the means of bringing to bear on their comforts the +innumerable contrivances which the ingenuity of wealth has devised in +the East, indeed, make its climate not only bearable, but one of the +most enjoyable in the world. + +As we sailed along on our voyage to India, gradually slipping down +from the high to the low latitudes, the sun crept up higher and higher +every day towards the zenith, while the thermometer, of course, rose +likewise. What was most agreeable in this change from cold to warmth +was the little difference between the temperature of the day and that +of the night. As we approached the equator, the thermometer fell only +from 82 deg. in the day-time to 79 deg. or 80 deg. at night, which, on deck, was +delightful. We did not, of course, come to this high temperature all +at once; for on the 6th of May, the day after we passed directly under +the sun, the average of the twenty-four hours was 73 deg., and at night +69 deg. and 70 deg.. + +It is not to be imagined that everyone was pleased with these changes; +for on board ship, as on shore, there exist discontented spirits, +whose acquired habit it is to find fault with the existing state of +things, be these what they may. To such cantankerous folks a growl of +misery would really seem to be the great paradoxical happiness of +their lives, and, in the absence of real hardship, it is part of your +thorough-bred growler to prophesy. I have seen a middy of this stamp +glad to find, on coming below, that some insignificant portion of his +dinner really had been devoured by his hungry messmates, while he +himself was keeping his watch on deck. + +"I am used worse than a dog!" he would cry, secretly delighted to have +gained the luxury of a grievance, "I can't even get a basin of +pease-soup put by for me; it's an infernal shame, I'll cut the +service!" + +The diversity of climate on an Indian voyage furnishes capital nuts +for these perturbed spirits. It is first too cold, then too hot; then +there is not wind enough; then it blows too fresh in the squalls: +by-and-bye the nights are discovered to be abominably close and +sultry, and in the day the fierce flaming downright heat of the sun is +still worse; then the calms are never to be over; or the lying trades, +as they call them, have got capsized, and blow from the west instead +of the east! After the line has been crossed, and the south-east wind +is met with, the weather soon becomes what these ingenious fellows +call too temperate, then it grows too cold again; and next off the +Cape the latitude is too stormy. In this alone they have some reason; +and I have often regretted that, by a royal ordinance of the King of +Portugal, the name of this mighty promontory was changed from Cabo de +Tormentos, the headland of storms, to its present spoony title. In +short, this grand voyage is merely a peristrephic panorama of +miseries, which if they survive, say they, it will be happy for +them.--Happy! Not a whit. It is out of their nature to be happy. To +find fault, to fling away the good the gods provide them, and to +aggravate the pain of every real wound by the impatience of idle +complaints, is their diseased joy. "Evil, be thou my good!" they might +well exclaim; for, instead of heightening the pleasures of life by +full participation, or subduing its inevitable evils, or, at all +events, softening their asperity by enduring with fortitude and +cheerfulness what cannot be helped, these self-tormentors reject what +is substantially pleasing, and cling with habitual but morbid relish +to whatever is disagreeable. + +As we glided along, through the Trade-winds, towards the neck of sea +which divides Africa from South America, the symptoms of a change in +climate became daily more manifest. Every skylight and stern window +was thrown wide open, and every cabin scuttle driven out, that a free +draught of air might sweep through the ship all night long. In the +day-time, the pitch in the seams of the upper-deck began to melt, and, +by sticking to the soles of our shoes, plastered the planks, to the +great discomfiture of the captain of the after-guard. The tar, oozing +from the cordage aloft, dropped on our heads, speckled the snow white +boat covers, and obliged us to spread the hammock-cloths, to prevent +the bedding being ruined by the spots. On the larboard or eastern side +of the ship, which, of course, is always presented to the sun when +crossing the Trades on the outward-bound voyage, the pitch and rosin +with which the seams had been payed ran down in little streams across +the lines of paint. To prevent, as far as we could, some of these +annoyances, we spread the awnings over the decks, and triced up the +curtains, fore and aft, while every art was used to introduce air to +all parts of the ship. The half-ports were removed from the main-deck +guns, the gratings put on one side, and as many windsails sent down +the hatchways as could be made to catch a puff of air. Blue trousers +and beaver scrapers soon gave way before the elements, and were +succeeded by nankeens, straw hats, and canvas caps. In the captain's +cabin, where the presence of the governor, our passenger, still kept +up the strait-laced etiquette of the service, coats and epaulettes +appeared at dinner; but in the gun-room, the officers, the instant +they came below, slipped on their light white jackets, and, disdaining +waistcoat, seized their flutes and books, and drew their chairs as +near as possible to the mouth of the windsail. In the midshipmen's +berth, outside in the steerage, the shirt without neckcloth or stock, +and sometimes with its sleeves rolled up to the elbows, was the most +fashionable rig. The seamen and marines, of course, dined on the +main-deck, not only that they might enjoy the fresh air breathing +gently in upon them through the ports on the weather side, and +sweeping out again by those to leeward, but that the lower deck might +be kept as cool and airy as possible against the sultry feverish night +season. + +On such occasions the men leave their tables and stools below, and +either seat themselves tailor-fashion, or recline Roman-fashion. Nor +is this in the least degree unpleasant; for the deck of a man-of-war +is made as clean every morning as any table, and is kept so during the +day by being swept at least once an hour. Of all the tunes played by +the boatswain's pipe, that which calls the sweepers is the most +frequently heard. When the order is given for dining on deck, the +different messes into which the crew are divided occupy the spots +immediately above their usual mess-places below, as far as the guns +allow of their doing so. It has always struck me as very pleasing, to +see the main-deck covered, from the after hatchway to the cook's +coppers, with the people's messes, enjoying their noon-day repast; +while the celestial grog, with which their hard, dry, salt junk is +washed down, out-matches twenty-fold in Jack's estimation all the thin +potations of those who, in no very courteous language, are called +their betters. + +Until we had crossed the North-east Trade, and reached the Calms, the +ship's way through the water was too great to allow of bathing +alongside; but we easily contrived a shower-bath, which answered very +well. This consisted of a packing-box, the bottom of which was +perforated with holes, triced up between two of the skids, near the +gangway, and under the quarter of one of the boats on the booms. A +couple of the top-men with draw-buckets supplied the water from above, +while the bather stood on the main-deck, enjoying the shower. The time +selected for this delightful bath was usually about four o'clock in +the morning, after the middle watch was out, and before the exhausted +officer tumbled into bed. A four hours' walk, indeed, in a sultry +night, be it managed ever so gently, has a tendency to produce a +degree of heat approaching to feverishness; and I have no words to +describe the luxury of standing under a cool shower when the long task +is ended. We were generally just enough fatigued to be sure of a +sound, light, happy sleep, and just enough heated to revel in the +coolest water that was to be had. In fact, we found that of the sea +much too warm, being only two or three degrees below the temperature +of the air. To remedy this, our plan was, to expose a dozen +buckets-full on the gangway at eight or nine o'clock in the evening; +and these, being allowed to stand till morning, became so much cooler +by the evaporation in the night, that the shock was unspeakably +grateful. + +Perhaps there is not any more characteristic evidence of our being +within the tropical regions than the company of those picturesque +little animals, the flying-fish. It is true, that a stray one or two +may sometimes be met with far north, making a few short skips out of +the water, and I even remember seeing several close to the edge of the +banks of Newfoundland, in latitude 45 deg.; but it is not until the +voyager has fairly reached the heart of the torrid zone that he sees +the flying-fish in perfection. I have hardly ever observed a person so +dull or unimaginative that his eye did not glisten as he watched a +shoal of flying-fish rise from the sea, and skim along for several +hundred yards. There is something in it so totally dissimilar to +everything else in other parts of the world, that our wonder goes on +increasing every time we see even a single one take its flight. The +incredulity of the old Scotch woman on this head is sufficiently +excusable. "You may hae seen rivers o' milk, and mountains o' sugar," +said she to her son, returned from a voyage; "but you'll ne'er gar me +believe you have seen a fish that could flee!" + +The pleasant Trade, which had wafted us with different degrees of +velocity, over a distance of more than a thousand miles, at last +gradually failed. The sails began to flap gently against the masts, so +gently, indeed, that we half hoped it was caused, not so much by the +diminished force of the breeze, with which we wore very unwilling to +part, as by that long and peculiar swell which, + + "In the torrid clime + Dark heaving," + +is productive of oscillating motion on the ship; but the faint +zephyrs, which had coquetted with our languid sails for an hour or +two, at length took their leave, first of the courses, then of the +topsails, and lastly of the royals and the smaller flying kites +aloft. In vain we looked round and round the horizon for some traces +of a return of our old friend the Trade, but could distinguish nothing +save one polished, dark-heaving sheet of glass, reflecting the +unbroken disc of the sun, and the bright clear sky in the moving +mirror beneath. From the heat, which soon became intense, there was no +escape, either on deck or below, aloft in the tops, or still higher on +the cross-trees; neither could we find relief down in the hold; for it +was all the same, except that in the exposed situations we were +scorched or roasted, in the others suffocated. The useless helm was +lashed amidships, the yards were lowered on the cap, and the boats +were dropped into the water, to fill up the cracks and rents caused by +the fierce heat. The occasion was taken advantage of to shift some of +the sails, and to mend others; most of the running-ropes also were +turned end for end. A listless feeling stole over us all, and we lay +about the decks gasping for breath, seeking in vain some alleviation +to our thirst by drink! drink! drink! Alas, the transient indulgence +only made the matter worse! + +Meanwhile, our convoy of huge China ships, rolling very slowly on the +top of the long, smooth, and scarcely perceptible ridges, or sinking +as gently between their summits, were scattered in all directions, +with their heads in different ways, some looking homeward again, and +some, as if by instinct, keeping still for the south. How it happens I +do not know, but on occasions of perfect calm, or such as appear to be +perfectly calm, the ships of a fleet generally drift away from one +another; so that, at the end of a few hours, the whole circle bounded +by the horizon is speckled over with these unmanageable hulks, as they +may for the time be considered. It will occasionally happen, indeed, +that two ships draw so near in a calm as to incur some risk of falling +on board one another. I need scarcely mention, that, even in the +smoothest water ever found in the open sea, two large ships coming +into actual contact must prove a formidable encounter. As long as they +are apart their gentle and rather graceful movements are fit subjects +of admiration; and I have often seen people gazing, for an hour at a +time, at the ships of a becalmed fleet, slowly twisting round, +changing their position, and rolling from side to side, as silently as +if they had been in harbour, or accompanied only by the faint, +rippling sound tripping along the water-line, as the copper below the +bends alternately sunk into the sea, or rose out of it, dripping wet, +and shining as bright and clean as a new coin, from the constant +friction of the ocean during the previous rapid passage across the +Trade-winds. + +But all this picturesque admiration changes to alarm when ships come +so close as to risk a contact; for these motions, which appear so slow +and gentle to the eye, are irresistible in their force; and as the +chances are against the two vessels moving exactly in the same +direction at the same moment, they must speedily grind or tear one +another to pieces. Supposing them to come in contact side by side, the +first roll would probably tear away the fore and main channels of both +ships; the next roll, by interlacing the lower yards, and entangling +the spars of one ship with the shrouds and backstays of the other, +would in all likelihood bring down all three masts of both ships, not +piecemeal, as the poet hath it, but in one furious crash. Beneath the +ruins of the spars, the coils of rigging, and the enormous folds of +canvas, might lie crushed many of the best hands, who, from being +always the foremost to spring forward in such seasons of danger, are +surest to be sacrificed. After this first catastrophe, the ships would +probably drift away from one another for a little while, only to +tumble together again and again, till they had ground one another to +the water's edge, and one or both of them would fill and go down. In +such encounters it is impossible to stop the mischief, and oak and +iron break, and crumble in pieces, like sealing-wax and pie-crust. +Many instances of such accidents are on record, but I never witnessed +one. + +To prevent these frightful _rencontres_ care is always taken to hoist +out the boats in good time, if need be, to tow the ships apart, or, +what is generally sufficient, to tow the ships' heads in opposite +directions. I scarcely know why this should have the effect, but +certainly it appears that, be the calm ever so complete, or dead, as +the term is, a vessel generally forges ahead, or steals along +imperceptibly in the direction she is looking to; possibly from the +conformation of the hull. + +Shortly after the Trade-wind left us, a cloud rose in the south, which +soon filled the whole air, and discharged upon us the most furious +shower I ever beheld. The rain fell down in perpendicular lines of +drops, or spouts, without a breath of wind, unaccompanied by thunder +or any other noise, and in one great gush or splash, as if some +prodigious reservoir had been upset over the fleet from the edge of +the cloud. + +Our noble commander, delighted with the opportunity of replenishing +his stock of water, called out, "Put shot on each side, and slack all +the stops down, so that the awnings may slope inwards. Get buckets and +empty casks to hand instantly!" + +In a few minutes the awnings were half full of water, and a hole +connected with a hose having been prepared beforehand near the lowest +point, where the canvas was weighed down by the shot, a stream +descended as if a cock had been turned. Not a drop of this was lost; +but being carried off, it was poured into a starting-tub at the +hatchway, and so conveyed by a pipe to the casks in the hold. By the +time the squall was over we had filled six or eight butts; and +although not good to drink, from being contaminated by the tar from +the ropes and sails, the water answered admirably for washing, which +was our object in catching it. + +Ever since the days of Captain Cook it has been the practice to allow +the crew two washing days per week, on the details of which proceeding +we all know the misery of putting on wet clothes, or sleeping in damp +sheets. Now, a shirt washed in salt water is really a great deal worse +than either; putting on linen washed in salt water, you first dry your +unhappy shirt by exposing it to the sun or the fire till it seems as +free from moisture as any bone; you then put it on, in hopes of +enjoying the benefit of clean linen. Alas, not a whit of enjoyment +follows! For if the air be in a humid state, or you are exposed to +exercise, the treacherous salt, which, when crystallised, has hidden +itself in the fibres of the cloth, speedily melts, and you have all +the tortures of being once more wrapped in moist drapery. In your +agony, you pull it off, run to the galley-range, and toast it over +again; or you hang it up in the fiery heat of the southern sun, and +when not a particle of wet seems to remain, you draw it on a second +time, fancying your job at last complete. But, miserable man that you +are! the insidious enemy still lurks there, and no art we yet know of +will expel him, save and except that of a good sound rinsing in fresh +water. + +I need scarcely add, then, that there are few favours of the minor +kind which a considerate captain may bestow on his crew more +appreciated than giving them as much fresh water as will serve to +carry off the abominable salt from their clothes, after they have +first been well scoured in the water of the ocean; it is a great +comfort, and an officer of any activity, by a judicious management of +the ship's regular stock, and, above all, by losing no opportunity of +catching rain water, need seldom be without the means of giving to +each man of his crew a gallon twice a-week during the longest voyage. + +It was from an old and excellent officer I first learned, that, by +proper and constant care, this indulgence might almost always be +granted. It is not easy, I freely admit, at all times, and in all +climates, to keep a supply Of washing-water on board. But a captain +ought to do what is right and kind, simply because it is right and +kind, regardless of trouble; and his conduct in this respect should +not be uninfluenced by the manner in which it is received; at all +events, he may be certain that if his favours be not well received, +the fault lies in his manner of giving them. Sailors have the most +acute penetration possible on these occasions; and if the captain be +actuated by any wish except that of doing his duty uniformly and +kindly, the Johnnies will see through it all, and either laugh at him +or hate him. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AQUATIC SPORTS. + + +One day, after we had lost the north-east Trade wind, a furious +squall, unperceived till it reached us, swept through the fleet. These +violent tornadoes are generally called white squalls, from being +unattended by those black heavy rain clouds. On the occasion of +ordinary squalls, even with the advantage of the warning given by +rising clouds, it is not always easy to escape their force unhurt. If +the wind be fair, a natural reluctance is felt to shorten sail, at all +events, until the squall is so near that there is an absolute +necessity for doing so, and inexperienced officers are often deceived +by the unexpected velocity with which the gust comes down upon them. +Even the oldest sailors are apt to miscalculate the time likely to +elapse before the wind can touch them. In these cases, unless the men +be very active, the sails are torn, and sometimes a mast or a yard is +carried away. It is, besides, often doubtful whether there is wind or +merely a plump of rain in the squall; there are, therefore, few points +of distinction more remarkable between the seamanship of an old and a +young officer, than their power of judging of this matter. To a man +quite inexperienced, a squall may look in the highest degree +threatening; he will order the top-gallant clew-lines to be manned, +place hands by the topsail haulyards, and lay along the main +clew-garnets. His more experienced captain, however, being apprised of +the squall's approach, steps on deck, takes a hasty look to windward, +and says quietly to the officer of the watch, "Never mind, there's +nothing in it, it's only rain; keep the sails on her." + +But although the older authority nine times in ten proves correct in +his judgment, even he might find it difficult, if not impossible, to +tell exactly upon what his confidence rested. Sailors boast, indeed, +of having an infallible test by which the point in question may be +ascertained, their secret being clothed in the following rhymes so to +call them:-- + + "If the rain's before the wind, + 'Tis time to take the topsails in; + If the wind's before the rain, + Hoist your topsails up again." + +The practical knowledge alluded to, however, comes not by rhymes, but +by experience alone, with a kind of intuitive confidence. Many long +and hard years of study, and myriads of forgotten trials must have +been gone through to give this enviable knowledge. + +No experience, however, can altogether guard against these sudden +gusts or white squalls, since they make no show, except, sometimes, by +a rippling of the water along which they are sweeping. On the occasion +above alluded to there was not even this faint warning. The first +ships of the convoy touched by the blast were laid over almost on +their beam-ends, but in the next instant righted again, on the whole +of their sails being blown clean out of the bolt-ropes. The Theban +frigate and the Volage, then lying nearly in the centre of the fleet, +were the only ships which saved an inch of canvas, owing chiefly to +our having so many more hands on board, but partly to our having +caught sight of the ruin brought on the vessels near us, just in time +to let fly the sheets and haulyards and get the yards down. But even +then, with the utmost exertion of every man and boy on board, we +barely succeeded in clewing all up. + +When this hurricane of a moment had passed, and we had time to look +round, not a rag was to be seen in the whole fleet; while the Wexford, +a ship near us, had lost her three top-gallant masts and jib-boom, +and, what was a much more serious misfortune, her fore-topmast was +dangling over the bows. Part of the fore-topsail was wrapped like a +shawl round the lee cat-head, while the rest hung down in festoons +from the collar of the fore-stay to the spritsail yard-arm. A stout +party of seamen from each of the men-of-war were sent to assist in +clearing the wreck, and getting up fresh spars; and a light fair wind +having succeeded to the calm in which we had been lolling about for +many days, we took our wounded bird in tow, and made all sail towards +the equator. By this time, also, the China ships had bent a new set of +sails, and were resuming their old stations in the appointed order of +bearing, which it was our policy to keep up strictly, together with as +many other of the formalities of a fleet in line of battle and on a +cruise as we could possibly maintain. + +While we were thus stealing along pleasantly enough under the genial +influence of this newly-found air, which as yet was confined to the +upper sails, and every one was looking open-mouthed to the eastward to +catch a gulp of cool air, or was congratulating his neighbour on +getting rid of the tiresome calm in which we had been so long +half-roasted, half-suffocated, about a dozen flying-fish rose out of +the water, just under the fore-chains, and skimmed away to windward at +the height of ten or twelve feet above the surface. But sometimes the +flying-fish merely skims the surface, so as to touch the tops of the +successive waves, without rising and falling to follow the undulations +of the sea; that they also rise as high as twenty feet out of the +water is certain, being sometimes found in the channels of a +line-of-battle ship; and they frequently fly into a 74 gun-ship's +main-deck ports. On a frigate's forecastle and gangways, also +elevations which may be taken at eighteen or twenty feet, they are +often found. I remember seeing one, about nine inches in length, and +weighing not less, I should suppose, than half-a-pound, skim into the +Volage's main-deck port just abreast of the gangway. One of the +main-topmen was coming up the quarter-deck ladder at the moment, when +the flying-fish, entering the port, struck the astonished mariner on +the temple, knocked him off the step, and very nearly laid him +sprawling. + +I was once in a prize, a low Spanish schooner, not above two feet and +a-half out of the water, when we used to pick up flying-fish enough +about the decks in the morning to give us a capital breakfast. They +are not unlike whitings to the taste, though rather firmer, and very +dry. They form, I am told, a considerable article of food for the +negroes in the harbours of the West Indies. The method of catching +them at night is thus described:--In the middle of the canoe a light +is placed on the top of a pole, towards which object it is believed +these fish always dart, while on both sides of the canoe a net is +spread to a considerable distance, supported by out-riggers above the +surface of the water; the fish dash at the light, pass it, and fall +into the net on the other side. + +Shortly after observing the cluster of flying-fish rise out of the +water, we discovered two or three dolphins ranging past the ship, in +all their beauty, and watched with some anxiety to see one of those +aquatic chases of which our friends of the Indiamen had been telling +us such wonderful stories. We had not long to wait; for the ship, in +her progress through the water, soon put up another shoal of these +little things, which, as the others had done, took their flight +directly to windward. A large dolphin, which had been keeping company +with us abreast of the weather gangway at the depth of two or three +fathoms, and, as usual, glistening most beautifully in the sun, no +sooner detected our poor dear little friends take wing, than he turned +his head towards them, and, darting to the surface, leaped from the +water with a velocity little short, as it seemed, of a cannon-ball. +But although the impetus with which he shot himself into the air gave +him an initial velocity greatly exceeding that of the flying-fish, the +start which his fated prey had got enabled them to keep ahead of him +for a considerable time. + +The length of the dolphin's first spring could not be less than ten +yards; and after he fell we could see him gliding like lightning +through the water for a moment, when he again rose, and shot forwards +with considerably greater velocity than at first, and, of course, to a +still greater distance. In this manner the merciless pursuer seemed to +stride along the sea with fearful rapidity, while his brilliant coat +sparkled and flashed in the sun quite splendidly. As he fell headlong +on the water at the end of each huge leap, a series of circles were +sent far over the still surface, which lay as smooth as a mirror; for +the breeze, although enough to keep the royals and top-gallant +studding sails extended, was hardly as yet felt below. + +The group of wretched flying-fish, thus hotly pursued, at length +dropped into the sea; but we were rejoiced to observe that they merely +touched the top of the swell, and scarcely sunk in it, at least they +instantly set off again in a fresh and even more vigorous flight. It +was particularly interesting to observe that the direction they now +took was quite different from the one in which they had set out, +implying but too obviously that they had detected their fierce enemy, +who was following them with giant steps along the waves, and now +gaining rapidly upon them. His terrific pace, indeed, was two or three +times as swift as theirs, poor little things! and the greedy dolphin +was fully as quick-sighted as the flying-fish which were trying to +elude him; for whenever they varied their flight in the smallest +degree, he lost not the tenth part of a second in shaping a new +course, so as to cut off the chase; while they, in a manner really not +unlike that of the hare, doubled more than once upon their pursuer. +But it was soon too plainly to be seen that the strength and +confidence of the flying-fish were fast ebbing. Their flights became +shorter and shorter, and their course more fluttering and uncertain, +while the enormous leaps of the dolphin appeared to grow only more +vigorous at each bound. Eventually, indeed, we could see, or fancied +we could see, that this skilful sea sportsman arranged all his springs +with such an assurance of success, that he contrived to fall, at the +end of each, just under the very spot on which the exhausted +flying-fish were about to drop! Sometimes this catastrophe took place +at too great a distance for us to see from the deck exactly what +happened; but on our mounting high into the rigging, we may be said to +have been in at the death; for then we could discover that the +unfortunate little creatures, one after another, either popped right +into the dolphin's jaws as they lighted on the water, or were snapped +up instantly afterwards. + +It was impossible not to take an active part with our pretty little +friends of the weaker side, and accordingly we very speedily had our +revenge. The middies and the sailors, delighted with the chance, +rigged out a dozen or twenty lines from the jib-boom end, and +spritsail yard-arms, with hooks baited merely with bits of tin, the +glitter of which resembles so much that of the body and wings of the +flying-fish, that many a proud dolphin, making sure of a delicious +morsel, leaped in rapture at the deceitful prize. + +It may be well to mention that the dolphin of sailors is not the fish +so called by the ancient poets. Ours, which I learn from the +Encyclopaedia, is the _Coryphoena hippurus_ of naturalists, is +totally different from their _Delphinus phocoena_, termed by us the +porpoise, respecting which there exists a popular belief amongst +seamen that the wind may be expected from the quarter to which a shoal +of porpoises are observed to steer. So far, however, from our +respecting the speculations of these submarine philosophers, every art +is used to drag them out of their native element, and to pass them +through the fire to the insatiable Molochs of the lower decks and +cockpits of his Majesty's ships, a race amongst whom the constant +supply of the best provisions appears to produce only an increase of +appetite. + +One harpoon, at least, is always kept in readiness for action in the +fore part of the ship. The sharpest and strongest of these deadly +weapons is generally stopped or fastened to the fore-tack bumpkin, a +spar some ten or twelve feet long, projecting from the bows of a ship +on each side like the horns of a snail, to which the tack or lower +corner of the foresail is drawn down when the ship is on a wind. This +spar, which affords good footing, not being raised many feet above the +water, while it is clear of the bow, and very nearly over the spot +where the porpoises glide past, when shooting across the ship's +forefoot, is eagerly occupied by the most active and expert harpooner +on board, as soon as the report has been spread that a shoal, or, as +the sailors call it, a "school" of porpoises, are round the ship. +There is another favourite station which is speedily filled on these +occasions; I mean, alongside of the slight-looking apparatus +projecting perpendicularly downwards from the end of the bowsprit. +This spar is not inaptly called the dolphin-striker, from its +appearing to dash into the waves as the ship pitches; perhaps it may +have acquired its name on account of its being so capital a position +from which to strike that fish. The lower end of the spar is connected +with the outer end of the jib-boom, by means of a stout rope, which, +after passing through its extremity, extends to the ship; and it is +upon this guy that the fortunate wielder of the harpoon fixes himself. +The harpoon is a triangular, or rather a heart-shaped barbed weapon, +somewhat larger than a man's head, and in the centre about as thick as +his knuckles. Its point and edges are made of iron so soft that they +can easily be brought to a rough edge by means of a file. This +javelin-head, or, as it is technically called by whalers, the "mouth," +is connected by a slender arm or shank, terminating in a socket. The +barbed head or mouth is eight inches long, and six broad; the shank, +with its socket, two feet and a-half long. The shank is not quite half +an inch in diameter; and as this part is liable to be forcibly +extended, twisted, and bent, it requires to be made of the toughest +and most pliable iron. + +A piece of small, but stout line, called, I think, the foreganger, is +spliced securely to the shank of the harpoon. To the end of this line +is attached any small rope that lies handiest on the forecastle, +probably the top-gallant clew-line, or the jib down-haul. The rope, +before being made fast to the foreganger, is rove through a block +attached to some part of the bowsprit, or to the foremost swifter of +the fore-rigging; a gang of hands are always ready to take hold of the +end, and run the fish right out of the water when pierced by the iron. + +The harpooner has nothing to attend to but the mere act of striking +his object; and there are few exploits in which the dexterity of one +person is more conspicuous over that of another than in delivering the +harpoon. I have heard Captain Scoresby say, that, when a whale is +struck, it is an object of importance to drive the weapon socket-deep +into the blubber, or outer rind, of the floating monster; but in the +case of the porpoise the true point of skill appears to lie in the aim +alone: for the mere weight of the instrument, with its loaded staff, +is sufficient to lodge the barbs in the body of the fish, and in many +cases to carry it right through to the other side. + +The strength of the porpoise must be very great, for I have seen him +twist a whale harpoon several times round, and eventually tear himself +off by main force. On this account, it is of consequence to get the +floundering gentleman on board with the least possible delay after the +fish is struck. Accordingly, the harpooner, the instant he has made a +good hit, bawls out, "Haul away! haul away!" upon which the men +stationed at the line run away with it, and the struggling wretch is +raised high into the air. Two or three of the smartest hands have in +the mean time prepared what is called a running bowline knot, or +noose, the nature of which may be readily described by saying that +although it slips up, or renders, very easily, it is perfectly secure, +without being subject to jamming. This running bowline, of which +several are always previously made ready, is placed by hand round the +body of the porpoise, or it may be cast, like the lasso, over its +tail, and then, but not till then, can the capture be considered quite +secure. I have seen many a gallant prize of this kind fairly +transfixed with the harpoon, and rattled like a shot up to the block, +where it was hailed by the shouts of the victors as the source of a +certain feast, and yet lost after all, either by the line breaking, or +the dart coming out during the vehement struggles of the fish. + +I remember once seeing a porpoise accidentally struck by a minor +description of fish-spear called a grains, a weapon quite inadequate +for such a service. The cord by which it was held, being much too +weak, soon broke, and off dashed the wounded fish, right in the wind's +eye, at a prodigious rate, with the staff erect on its back, like a +signal-post. The poor wretch was instantly accompanied, or pursued, by +myriads of his own species, whose instinct, it is said, teaches them +to follow any track of blood, and even to devour their unfortunate +fellow-fish. I rather doubt the fact of their cannibalism, but am +certain that, whenever a porpoise is struck and escapes, he is +followed by all the others, and the ship is deserted by the shoal in a +few seconds. In the instance just mentioned, the grains with which the +porpoise was struck had been got ready for spearing a dolphin; but the +man in whose hands it happened to be, not being an experienced +harpooneer, could not resist the opportunity of darting his weapon +into the first fish that offered a fair mark. + +The dolphin, the bonito, and the albacore, are sometimes caught with +the grains, but generally by means of lines baited either with bits of +tin, or with pieces of the flying-fish, when any are to be had. In +fine weather, especially between the tropics, when the whole surface +of the sea is often covered with them, a dozen lines are hung from the +jib-boom end and spritsail yard, all so arranged, that when the ship +sends forward, the hook, with its glittering bait, barely touches the +water, but rises from it when the ship is raised up by the swell. The +grains, spoken of above, resembles nothing so much that I know of as +the trident which painters thrust into the hands of Daddy Neptune. If +my nautical recollections, however, serve me correctly, this spear has +five prongs, not three, and sometimes there are two sets, placed in +lines at right angles to one another. The upper end of the staff being +loaded with lead, it falls down and turns over the fish, which is then +drawn on board on the top of the grains, as a potato or a herring +might be presented on the point of a fork. + +The dolphin is eaten and generally relished by every one, though +certainly a plaguy dry fish. It is often cut into slices and fried +like salmon, or boiled and soused in vinegar, to be eaten cold. The +bonito is a coarser fish, and only becomes tolerable eating by the +copious use of port-wine. + +It happened in a ship I commanded that a porpoise was struck about +half-an-hour before the cabin dinner; and I gave directions, as a +matter of course, to my steward to dress a dish of steaks, cut well +clear of the thick coating of blubber. It so chanced that none of the +crew had ever before seen a fish of this kind taken, and in +consequence there arose doubts amongst them whether or not it was +good, or even safe eating. The word, however, being soon passed along +the decks that orders had been given for some slices of the porpoise +to be cooked for the captain's table, a deputation from forward was +appointed to proceed as near to the cabin door as the etiquette of the +service allowed, in order to establish the important fact of the +porpoise being eatable. The dish was carried in, its contents +speedily discussed, and a fresh supply having been sent for, the +steward was, of course, intercepted in his way to the cook. "I say, +Capewell," cried one of the hungry delegates, "did the captain really +eat any of the porpoise?" + +"Eat it!" exclaimed the steward, "look at that!" at the same time +lifting off the cover, and showing a dish as well cleared as if it had +previously been freighted with veal cutlets, and was now on its return +from the midshipmen's berth. + +"Ho! ho!" sung out Jack, running back to the forecastle; "if the +skipper eats porpoise, I don't see why we should be nice; so here +goes!" Then pulling forth the great clasp-knife which always hangs by +a cord round the neck of a seaman, he plunged it into the sides of the +fish, and, after separating the outside rind of blubber, detached +half-a-dozen pounds of the red meat, which, in texture and taste, and +in the heat of its blood, resembles beef, though very coarse. His +example was so speedily followed by the rest of the ship's company, +that when I walked forward, after dinner, in company with the doctor, +to take the post-mortem view of the porpoise more critically than +before, we found the whole had been broiled and eaten within +half-an-hour after I had unconsciously given, by my example, an +official sanction to the feast. + +On the 24th of May, the day before crossing the equator, I saw the +grandest display of all these different kinds of fish which it has +ever been my fortune to meet with. In my journal, written on that day, +I find some things related of which I have scarcely any recollection, +and certainly have never witnessed since. A bonito, it appears, +darted out of the water after a flying-fish, open-mouthed, and so true +was the direction of his leap that he actually closed with the chase +in the air, and sought to snap it up; but, owing to some error in his +calculation, the top of his head striking the object of pursuit, sent +it spinning off in a direction quite different from that which his own +momentum obliged him to follow. A number of those huge birds, the +albatrosses, were soaring over the face of the waters, and the +flying-fish, when rising into the air to avoid the dolphins and +bonitos, were frequently caught by these poaching birds, to the very +reasonable disappointment of the sporting fish below. These intruders +proceeded not altogether with impunity, however; for we hooked several +of them, who, confident in their own sagacity and strength of wing, +swooped eagerly at the baited hooks towed far astern of the ship, and +were thus drawn on board, screaming and flapping their wings in a very +ridiculous plight. To render this curious circle of mutual destruction +quite complete, though it may diminish our sympathy for the persecuted +flying-fish, I ought to mention that on the same day one dropped on +board in the middle of its flight, and in its throat another small +fish was found half swallowed, but still alive! + +All this may be considered, more or less, as mere sport; but in the +capture of the shark, a less amiable, or, I may say, a more ferocious +spirit is sure to prevail. There would seem, indeed, to be a sort of +perpetual and hereditary war waged between sailors and sharks, like +that said to exist between the Esquimaux and the Indians of North +America, where, as each of the belligerents is under the full belief +that every death, whether natural or violent, is caused by the +machinations of the other side, there is no hope of peace between +them, as long as the high conflicting parties shall be subject to the +laws of mortality. + +In like manner, I fear, that in all future times, as in all times +past, when poor Jack falls overboard in Madras roads, or in Port Royal +harbour, he will be crunched between the shark's quadruple or +quintuple rows of serrated teeth, with as merciless a spirit of +enjoyment as Jack himself can display. Certainly, I nave never seen +the savage part of our nature peep out more clearly than upon these +occasions, when a whole ship's company, captain, officers, and young +gentlemen inclusive, shout in triumphant exultation over the body of a +captive shark, floundering in impotent rage on the poop or forecastle. +The capture always affords high and peculiar sport, for it is one in +which every person on board sympathises, and, to a certain extent, +takes a share. Like a fox-chase, it is ever new, and draws within its +vortex every description of person. Even the monkey, if there be one +on board, takes a vehement interest in the whole progress of this wild +scene. I remember once observing Jacko running backwards and forwards +along the after-part of the poop hammock-netting, grinning, screaming, +and chattering at such a rate, that, as it was nearly calm, he was +heard all over the decks. + +"What's the matter with you, Master Mona?" said the quarter-master; +for the animal came from Teneriffe, and preserved his Spanish +cognomen. Jacko replied not, but merely stretching his head over the +railing, stared with his eyes almost bursting from his head, and by +the intensity of his grin bared his teeth and gums nearly from ear to +ear. + +The sharp curved dorsal fin of a huge shark was now seen, rising +about six inches above the water, and cutting the glazed surface of +the sea by as fine a line as if a sickle had been drawn along. + +"Messenger! run to the cook for a piece of pork," cried the captain, +taking command with as much glee as if it had been an enemy's cruiser. + +"Where's your hook, quarter-master?" + +"Here, sir, here!" cried the fellow, feeling the point, and declaring +it as sharp as any lady's needle, and in the next instant piercing +with it a huge junk of rusty pork, weighing four or five pounds; for +nothing, scarcely, is too large or too high in flavour for the stomach +of a shark. + +The hook, which is as thick as one's little finger, has a curvature +about as large as that of a man's hand when half closed, and is from +six to eight inches in length, with a formidable barb. This +fierce-looking grappling-iron is furnished with three or four feet of +chain, a precaution which is absolutely necessary; for a voracious +shark will sometimes gobble the bait so deep into his stomach, that he +would snap through the rope as easily as if he were nipping the head +off an asparagus. + +A good strong line, generally the end of the mizen-topsail-haulyards, +being made fast to the chain, the bait is cast into the ship's wake; +for it is very seldom so dead a calm that a vessel has not some small +motion through the water. I think I have remarked that at sea the +sharks are most apt to make their appearance when the ship is going +along at a rate of somewhat less than a mile an hour, a speed which +barely brings her under command of the rudder, or gives her what is +technically called steerage-way. + +A shark, like a midshipman, is generally very hungry; but in the rare +cases when he is not in good appetite he sails slowly up to the bait, +smells at it, and gives it a poke with his shovel-nose, turning it +over and over. He then edges off to the right or left, as if he +apprehended mischief, but soon returns again, to enjoy the delicious +_haut gout_ of the damaged pork, of which a piece is always selected, +if it can be found. + +While this coquetry or shyness is exhibited by John Shark, the whole +after-part of the ship is so clustered with heads that not an inch of +spare room is to be had for love or money. The rigging, the mizen-top, +and even the gaff, out to the very peak, the hammock-nettings and the +quarters, almost down to the counter, are stuck over with breathless +spectators, speaking in whispers, if they venture to speak at all, or +can find leisure for anything but fixing their gaze on the monster, +who as yet is free to roam the ocean, but who, they trust, will soon +be in their power. I have seen this go on for an hour together; after +which the shark has made up his mind to have nothing to say to us, and +either swerved away to windward, if there be any breeze at all, or +dived so deep that his place could be detected only by a faint touch +or flash of white many fathoms down. The loss of a Spanish galleon in +chase, I am persuaded, could hardly cause more bitter regret, or call +forth more intemperate expressions of anger and impatience than the +failure in hooking a shark is always sure to produce on board a ship +at sea. + +On the other hand, I suppose the first symptom of an enemy's flag +coming down in the fight was never hailed with greater joy than is +felt by a ship's crew on the shark turning round to seize the bait. +The preparatory symptoms of this intention are so well known to every +one on board, that, the instant they begin to appear, a greedy whisper +of delight passes from mouth to mouth amongst the assembled multitude; +every eye is lighted up, and such as have not bronzed their cheeks by +too long exposure to sun and wind to betray any change of colour may +be seen to alter their hue from pale to red, and back to pale again, +like the tints on the sides of the dying dolphin. + +It is supposed by seamen that the shark must of necessity turn on his +back before he can bite anything, and, generally speaking, he +certainly does so turn himself before he takes the bait; but this +arises from two circumstances--one of them accidental and belonging to +the particular occasion, the other arising out of the peculiar +conformation and position of his mouth. When a bait is towed astern of +a ship that has any motion through the water at all, it is necessarily +brought to the surface, or nearly so. This, of course, obliges the +shark to bite at it from below; and as his mouth is placed under his +chin, not over it, he must turn nearly on his back before he can seize +the floating piece of meat in which the hook is concealed. Even if he +does not turn completely round, he is forced to slue himself, as it is +called, so far as to show some portion of his white belly. The instant +the white skin flashes on the sight of the expectant crew, a subdued +cry, or murmur of satisfaction, is heard amongst the crowd; but no one +speaks, for fear of alarming the shark. + +Sometimes, the very instant the bait is cast over the stern, the +shark flies at it with such eagerness that he actually springs +partially out of the water. This, however, is rare. On these occasions +he gorges the bait, the hook, and a foot or two of the chain, without +any mastication or delay, and darts off with his treacherous prize +with such prodigious velocity and force that it makes the rope crack +again as soon as the whole coil is drawn out; but in general he goes +more leisurely to work, and seems rather to suck in the bait than to +bite at it. Much dexterity is required in the hand which holds the +line at this moment; for a bungler is apt to be too precipitate, and +to jerk away the hook before it has got far enough down the shark's +maw. Our greedy friend, indeed, is never disposed to relinquish what +may once have passed his formidable batteries of teeth; but the hook, +by a premature tug of the line, may fix itself in a part of the jaw so +weak that it gives way in the fierce struggle which always follows. +The secret of the sport is, to let the voracious monster gulp down the +huge mess of pork, and then to give the rope a violent pull, by which +the barbed point, quitting the edge of the bait, buries itself in the +coats of the victim's throat or stomach. As the shark is not a +personage to submit patiently to such treatment, it will not be well +for any one whose foot happens to be accidentally on the coil of the +rope, for, when the hook is first fixed, it spins out like the +log-line of a ship going twelve knots. + +The suddenness of the jerk with which the poor devil is brought up, +when he has reached the length of his tether, often turns him quite +over on the surface of the water. Then commence the loud cheers, +taunts, and other sounds of rage and triumph, so long suppressed. A +steady pull is insufficient to carry away the line; but it sometimes +happens that the violent struggles of the shark, when too speedily +drawn up, snap either the rope or the hook, and so he gets off, to +digest the remainder as he best can. It is, accordingly, held the best +practice to play him a little, with his mouth at the surface, till he +becomes somewhat exhausted. No sailor, therefore, ought ever to think +of hauling a shark on board merely by the rope fastened to the hook; +for, however impotent his struggles may generally be in the water, +they are rarely unattended with risk when the rogue is drawn half-way +up. To prevent the line breaking, or the hook snapping, or the jaw +being torn away, the device formerly described, of a running bowline +knot, is always adopted. This noose, being slipped down the rope, and +passed over the monster's head, is made to jam at the point of +junction of the tail with the body. When this is once fixed, the first +act of the piece is held to be complete, and the vanquished enemy is +afterwards easily drawn over the taffrail and flung on the deck, to +the unspeakable delight of all hands. But, although the shark is out +of his element, he has by no means lost his power of doing mischief; +and I would advise no one to come within range of the tail, or thrust +his toes too near the animal's mouth. The blow of a tolerably +large-sized shark's tail might break a man's leg; and I have seen a +three-inch hide tiller-rope bitten more than half-through full ten +minutes after the wretch had been dragged about the quarter-deck, and +had made all his victors keep at the most respectful distance. I +remember hearing the late Dr. Wollaston, with his wonted ingenuity, +suggest a method for measuring the strength of a shark's bite. If a +smooth plate of lead, he thought, were thrust into the fish's mouth, +the depth which his teeth should pierce the lead would furnish a sort +of scale of the force exerted. + +I need scarcely mention, that, when a shark is floundering about, the +quarter-deck becomes a scene of pretty considerable confusion; and if +there be blood on the occasion, as there generally is, from all this +rough usage, the stains are not to be got rid of without a week's +scrubbing, and many a growl from the captain of the after-guard. For +the time, however, all such considerations are superseded; that is to +say, if the commander himself takes an interest in the sport, and he +must be rather a spoony skipper that does not. If he be indifferent +about the fate of the shark, it is speedily dragged forward to the +forecastle, amidst the kicks, thumps, and execrations of the +conquerors, who very soon terminate his miserable career by stabbing +him with their knives, boarding-pikes, and tomahawks, like so many +wild Indians. + +The first operation is always to deprive him of his tail, which is +seldom an easy matter, it not being at all safe to come too near; but +some dextrous hand, familiar with the use of the broad axe, watches +for a quiet moment, and at a single blow severs it from the body. He +is then closed with by another, who leaps across the prostrate foe, +and with an adroit cut rips him open from snout to tail, and the +tragedy is over, so far as the struggles and sufferings of the +principal actor are concerned. There always follows, however, the most +lively curiosity on the part of the sailors to learn what the shark +has got stowed away in his inside; but they are often disappointed, +for the stomach is generally empty. I remember one famous exception, +indeed, when a very large fellow was caught on board the Alceste, in +Anjeer Roads at Java, when we were proceeding to China with the +embassy under Lord Amherst. A number of ducks and hens which had died +in the night were, as usual, thrown overboard in the morning, besides +several baskets, and many other minor things, such as bundles of +shavings and bits of cordage: all of which were found in this huge +sea-monster's inside. But what excited most surprise and admiration +was the hide of a buffalo, killed on board that day for the ship's +company's dinner. The old sailor who had cut open the shark stood with +a foot on each side, and removed the articles one by one from the huge +cavern into which they had been indiscriminately drawn. When the +operator came at last to the buffalo's skin, he held it up before him +like a curtain, and exclaimed, "There, my lads! d'ye see that? He has +swallowed a buffalo; but he could not disgest the hide!" + +I have never been so unfortunate as to see a man bitten by a shark, +though, in calm weather, it is usual to allow the people to swim about +the ship. It would seem that they are disturbed by the splashing and +other noises of so many persons, and keep at a distance; for although +they are often observed near the ship both before and after the men +have been bathing, they very rarely come near the swimmers. I remember +once, indeed, at Bermuda, seeing a shark make a grab at a midshipman's +heel, just as he was getting into the boat alongside. This youngster, +who, with one or two others, had been swimming about for an hour, was +the last of the party in the water. No shark had been seen during the +whole morning; but just as he was drawing his foot into the boat the +fish darted from the bottom. Fortunately for my old messmate, there +was no time for the shark to make the half-turn of the body necessary +to bring his mouth to bear; and he escaped, by half an inch, a fate +which, besides its making one shudder to think of, would have deprived +the service of an officer now deservedly in the higher ranks of his +profession. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A MAN OVERBOARD! + + +The strange and almost savage ceremonies used at sea on crossing the +equator have been so often described that a voyager, at this time of +day, may be well excused for omitting any minute account of such wild +proceedings. The whole affair, indeed, is preposterous in its +conception, and, I must say, brutal in its execution. Notwithstanding +all this, however, I have not only permitted it to go on in ships +which I commanded, but have even encouraged it, and set it agoing, +when the men themselves were in doubt. Its evil is transient if any +evil there be, while it certainly affords Jack a topic for a month +beforehand and a fortnight afterwards; and if so ordered as to keep +its monstrosities within the limits of strict discipline, which is +easy enough, it may even be made to add to the authority of the +officers, instead of weakening their influence. + +In a well-regulated ship, within one hour from the time when these +scenes of riot are at their height, order is restored, the decks are +washed and swabbed up, the wet things are hung on the clothes' lines +between the masts to dry; and the men, dressed in clean trousers and +duck frocks, are assembled at their guns for muster, as soberly and +sedately as if nothing had happened to discompose the decorous +propriety of the ship's discipline. The middies, in like manner, may +safely be allowed to have their own share of this rough fun, provided +they keep as clear of their immediate superiors as the ship's company +keep clear of the young gentlemen. And I must do the population of the +cockpit the justice to say, that, when they fairly set about it, +maugre their gentleman-like habits, aristocratical sprinklings, and +the march of intellect to boot, they do contrive to come pretty near +to the honest folks before the mast in the article of ingenious +ferocity. The captain, of course, and, generally speaking, all the +officers keep quite aloof, pocketing up their dignity with vast care, +and ready, at a moment's warning, to repress any undue familiarity. As +things proceed, however, one or two of the officers may possibly +become so much interested in the skylarking scenes going forward as to +approach a little too near, and laugh a little too loud, consistently +with the preservation of the dignity of which they were so uncommonly +chary at first starting. It cannot be expected, and indeed is not +required, that the chief actors in these wild gambols, stripped to the +buff, and shying buckets of water at one another, should be confined +within very narrow limits in their game. Accordingly, some mount the +rigging to shower down their cascades, while others squirt the +fire-engine from unseen corners upon the head of the unsuspecting +passer-by. And if it so chances (I say chances) that any one of the +"commissioned nobs" of the ship shall come in the way of these +explosions, it is served out to him like a thunder-storm, "all +accidentally," of course. Well; what is he to do? He feels that he has +indiscreetly trusted himself too far; and even if he has not actually +passed the prescribed line, still he was much too near it, and the +offence is perhaps unintentional. At all events, it is of too trifling +a nature; and, under the peculiar circumstances of the moment, to make +a complaint to the captain would be ridiculous. Having, therefore, got +his jacket well wet, and seeing the ready means of revenging himself +in kind, he snatches up a bucket, and, forgetting his dignity, hurls +the contents in the face of the mid who has given him a sousing but +two seconds before! From that moment his commission goes for nothing, +and he becomes, for the time being, one of the biggest Billy-boys +amongst them. The captain observing him in this mess, shrugs his +shoulders, walks aft, muttering, "It's all your own fault, Mr. +Hailtop; you've put yourself amongst these mad younkers; now see how +they'll handle you!" + +Nothing, I confess, now looks to me more completely out of character +with our well-starched discipline than a "staid lieutenant" romping +about the booms, skulling up the rigging, blowing the grampus, and +having it blown upon him by a parcel of rattle-pated reefers. But I +remember well in the Volage being myself so gradually seduced by this +animating spectacle of fun, that, before I knew where I was, I had +crossed the rope laid on the deck as a boundary between order and +disorder, and received a bucket of cold water in each ear, while the +spout of a fire-engine, at the distance of two feet, was playing full +in my eyes. On turning my head round to escape these cataracts, and +to draw breath, a tar-brush was rammed half-way down my throat! + +Far different was the scene, and very different, of course, my +deportment, four or five years afterwards on the same spot, when, +instead of being the junior lieutenant, I was the great gun of all, +the mighty master-nob of the whole party, that is to say, the captain +himself. I was then in command of the Lyra, a ten-gun sloop-of-war; +and after the shaving operations were over, and all things put once +more in order, I went on board the Alceste frigate to dine with my +excellent friend and commanding officer, the late Sir Murray Maxwell. +Lord Amherst, the ambassador to China, was on board, and in great glee +with the sight of what had been enacted before him; for although, as I +have always said, these scenes are not of a nature to bear agreeable +description, they certainly are amusing enough to see--for once. + +We soon sat down to dinner; and there was, of course, a great deal of +amusement in telling the anecdotes of the day, and describing Father +Neptune's strange aspect, and his still stranger-looking family and +attendants. I ventured to back one of my figures against all or any of +theirs, if not for monstrosity, at least for interest of another kind. +Our dripping Neptune in the Lyra was accompanied, as usual, by a huge +she-monster representing Amphitrite, being no other than one of the +boatswain's mates dressed up with the main-hatchway tarpaulin for a +cloak, the jolly-boat's mizen for a petticoat, while two half-wet +swabs furnished her lubberly head with ringlets. By her side sat a +youth, her only son Triton, a morsel of submarine domestic history +ascertained by reference previously made to Lempriere's Dictionary. +This poor little fellow was a great pet amongst the crew of the brig, +and was indeed suspected to be entitled by birth to a rank above his +present station, so gentle and gentleman-like he always appeared. Even +on this occasion, when disfigured by paint, pitch, and tar, copiously +daubed over his delicate person, to render him fit company for his +papa old Neptune, he still looked as if his ill-favoured parents had +stolen him, and were trying in vain to disguise their roguery by +rigging him up in their own gipsy apparel. + +It was very nearly dark when I rowed back to the Lyra, which had been +hanging for the last half hour on the frigate's weather-quarter, at +the distance of a cable's length, watching for my return. The wind was +so light, and the brig so close, that no signal was made to heave to; +indeed I had scarcely rowed under the Alceste's stern, on my way back, +before it was necessary to call out, "In bow!" The rattle of the oar +on the thwarts gave the earliest notice of my approach to the people +on board the little vessel, and I could hear the first lieutenant +exclaim in haste, "Attend the side! Where are the sides-men?" + +Scarcely had these words been spoken, when I heard a splash in the +water, followed by a faint cry of distress and despair. In the next +instant the brig was hove about, and the stern-boat lowered down, +accompanied by all the hurried symptoms of a man having fallen +overboard. I made the people in the boat tug at their oars towards the +spot; but though we pulled over and over the ship's wake twenty times, +the water was everywhere unruffled and unmarked by any speck. At +length I rowed on board, turned the hands up to muster, to ascertain +who was gone, and found all present but our poor little Triton! It +appeared that the lad, who was one of the sides-men, fatigued with the +day's amusement, had stretched himself in the fore-part of the +quarter-deck hammock-netting, and gone to sleep. The sharp voice of +the officer, on seeing the gig almost alongside, had roused the +unhappy boy too suddenly; he quite forgot where he was, and, instead +of jumping in-board, plunged into the sea, never to rise again! + +There are few accidents more frequent at sea than that of a man +falling overboard; and yet, strange to say, whenever it happens, it +takes every one as completely by surprise as if such a thing had never +occurred before. What is still more unaccountable, and, I must say, +altogether inexcusable, is the fact of such an incident invariably +exciting a certain degree of confusion, even in well-regulated ships. +Whenever I have witnessed the tumultuous rush of the people from +below, their eagerness to crowd into the boats, and the reckless +devotion with which they fling themselves into the water to save their +companions, I could not help thinking that it was no small disgrace to +us, to whose hands the whole arrangements of discipline are confided, +that we had not yet fallen upon any method of availing ourselves to +good purpose of so much generous activity. + +Sailors are men of rough habits, but their feelings are not by any +means coarse; and, generally speaking, they are much attached to one +another, and will make great sacrifices to their messmates or +shipmates when opportunities occur. A very little address on the part +of the officers, as I have before hinted, will secure an extension of +these kindly sentiments to the quarter-deck. But what I was alluding +to just now was the cordiality of the friendships which spring up +between the sailors themselves, who, it must be recollected, have no +other society, and all, or almost all, whose ordinary social ties have +been broken either by the chances of war, or by the very nature of +their roving and desultory life, which carries them they really know +not where, and care not wherefore. + +I remember once, when cruising off Terceira in the Endymion, that a +man fell overboard and was drowned. After the usual confusion, and a +long search in vain, the boats were hoisted up, and the hands called +to make sail. I was officer of the forecastle, and on looking about to +see if all the men were at their stations, missed one of the +foretop-men. Just at that moment I observed some one curled up, and +apparently hiding himself under the bow of the barge, between the boat +and the booms. "Hillo!" I said, "who are you? What are you doing here, +you skulker? Why are you not at your station?" + +"I am not skulking, sir," said the poor fellow, the furrows in whose +bronzed and weather-beaten cheek were running down with tears. The man +we had just lost had been his messmate and friend, he told me, for ten +years. I begged his pardon in full sincerity, for having used such +harsh words to him at such a moment, and bid him go below to his berth +for the rest of the day. + +"Never mind, sir, never mind," said the kind-hearted seaman, "it can't +be helped. You meant no harm, sir. I am as well on deck as below. +Bill's gone, sir, but I must do my duty." + +So saying he drew the sleeve of his jacket twice or thrice across his +eyes, and mastering his grief within his breast, walked to his station +as if nothing had happened. + +In the same ship, and nearly about the same time, some of the people +were bathing alongside in a calm sea. It is customary on such +occasions to spread a studding sail on the water, by means of lines +from the fore and main yard-arms, for the use of those who either +cannot swim, or who are not expert in this art, so very important to +all seafaring people. Half-a-dozen of the ship's boys, youngsters sent +on board by that admirable and most patriotic of naval institutions, +the Marine Society, were floundering about in the sail, and sometimes +even venturing beyond the leech rope. One of the least of these +urchins, but not the least courageous of their number, when taunted by +his more skilful companions with being afraid, struck out boldly +beyond the prescribed bounds. He had not gone much further than his +own length, however, along the surface of the fathomless sea, when his +heart failed him, poor little man! and along with his confidence away +also went his power of keeping his head above water. So down he sank +rapidly, to the speechless horror of the other boys, who, of course, +could lend the drowning child no help. + +The captain of the forecastle, a tall, fine-looking, hard-a-weather +fellow, was standing on the shank of the sheet anchor, with his arms +across, and his well-varnished canvas bat drawn so much over his eyes +that it was difficult to tell whether he was awake, or merely dozing +in the sun, as he leaned his back against the fore-topmast backstay. +The seaman, however, had been attentively watching the young party +all the time, and, rather fearing that mischief might ensue from their +rashness, he had grunted out a warning to them from time to time, to +which they paid no sort of attention. At last he desisted, saying they +might drown themselves if they had a mind, for never a bit would he +help them; but no sooner did the sinking figure of the adventurous +little boy catch his eye, than, diver-fashion, joining the palms of +his hands over his head, he shot head-foremost into the water. The +poor lad sunk so rapidly that he was at least a couple of fathoms +under the surface before he was arrested by the grip of the sailor, +who soon rose again, bearing the bewildered boy in his hand, and, +calling to the other youngsters to take better care of their +companion, chucked him right into the belly of the sail in the midst +of the party. The fore-sheet was hanging in the calm, nearly into the +water, and by it the dripping seaman scrambled up again to his old +berth on the anchor, shook himself like a great Newfoundland dog, and +then, jumping on the deck, proceeded across the forecastle to shift +his clothes. + +At the top of the ladder he was stopped by the marine officer, who had +witnessed the whole transaction, as he sat across the gangway +hammocks, watching the swimmers, and trying to get his own consent to +undergo the labour of undressing and dressing. Said the soldier to the +sailor, "That was very well done of you, my man, and right well +deserves a glass of grog. Say so to the gun-room steward as you pass; +and tell him it is my orders to fill you out a stiff norwester." + +The soldier's offer was kindly meant, but rather clumsily timed, at +least so thought Jack; for though he inclined his head in +acknowledgment of the attention, and instinctively touched his hat, +when spoken to by an officer, he made no reply, till out of the +marine's hearing, when he laughed, or rather chuckled out to the +people near him, "Does the good gentleman suppose I'll take a glass of +grog for saving a boy's life?" + +It is surely very odd that there should ever be such a thing as a +sailor who cannot swim. And it is still more marvellous that there +should be found people who actually maintain that a sailor who cannot +swim has a better chance than one who can. + +This strange doctrine, as may well be supposed, derives but slender +support from any well-established facts. It is merely asserted that, +on some occasions of shipwreck, the boldest swimmers have been lost in +trying to reach the shore, when they might have been saved had they +stayed by the ship. This may be true enough in particular cases, and +yet the general position grounded upon it utterly absurd. The most +skilful horsemen sometimes break their necks, but this is hardly +adduced as an argument against learning to ride. I suppose there is +not an officer in the service, certainly not one who has reached the +rank of captain, who has not seen many men drowned solely from not +being able to swim; that is, because they had not learned a very +simple art, of which, under his official injunctions, and aided by due +encouragement, they might readily have acquired a sufficient +knowledge. My own conscience is not quite clear on this score, +whatever that of my brother officers may be; and certainly, should I +again take the command of a ship, I shall use every exertion, and +take advantage of every opportunity, to encourage the men and officers +to acquire this invaluable accomplishment. Would it be unreasonable to +refuse the rating of A.B. (able seaman) on the ship's books to any man +who could not swim? If it be our duty to ascertain that a sailor can +"hand, reef, and steer," before we place against his name these +mystical letters, might we not well superadd, as a qualification, that +he should also be able to keep his head above water, in the event of +falling overboard, or that he should have it in his power to save +another's life, if required to leap into the sea for that purpose by +the orders of his superior? At present, in such an emergency, an +officer has to ask amongst a dozen persons, "Which of you can swim?" +instead of saying to the one nearest him, "Jump overboard after that +man who is sinking!" + +This, then, seems the first material step in the establishment of an +improved system in that branch of seamanship which relates to picking +up men who fall overboard. There can be no doubt that highly-excited +feelings always stand in the way of exact discipline, and especially +of that prompt, hearty, and thoroughly confiding obedience to the +officer under whose orders we are serving. Such obedience is necessary +on this occasion, above all others, and is essentially required, in +order to accomplish the purpose in view. + +Different officers will, of course, devise different plans for the +accomplishment of the same end. Every one who has been exposed to the +misery of seeing a man fall overboard must remember that by far the +greatest difficulty was to keep people back, there being always ten +times as many persons as are required, not only ready, but eager to +place themselves in the situations of greatest risk. In executing the +duties of a ship-of-war, there should be no volunteering allowed. +Every man ought to have a specific duty, or a set of duties, to +perform at all times. But these duties, in the case of a man falling +overboard, must, of course, vary with the hour of the day or night, +with the circumstance of its being the starboard or the larboard watch +on deck, with the weather being fine or tempestuous, or with the +course the ship is steering relatively to the wind, the quantity of +sail, and so on. The crew of every ship should be exercised or +drilled, if not as frequently, at least specifically, in the methods +of picking up a man, as they are trained in the exercise of the great +guns and small arms, or in that of reefing topsails. + +Every one who has been much at sea must remember the peculiar sounds +which pervade a ship when a man is known to have fallen overboard. The +course steered is so suddenly altered, that as she rounds to the +effect of the sails is doubled; the creaking of the tiller-ropes and +rudder next strike the ear; then follows the pitter-patter of several +hundred feet in rapid motion, producing a singular tremor, fore and +aft. In the midst of these ominous noises may be heard, over all, the +shrill startling voice of the officer of the watch, generally +betraying in its tone more or less uncertainty of purpose. Then the +violent flapping of the sails, and the mingled cries of "Clear away +the boats!" "Is the life-buoy gone?" "Heave that grating after him!" +"Throw that hen-coop over the stern!" "Who is it, do you know?" +"Where did he fall from?" "Can he swim?" "Silence!" An impetuous, and +too often an ill-regulated rush now succeeds to gain the boats, which +are generally so crowded that it becomes dangerous to lower them down, +and more time is lost in getting the people out again than would have +manned them twice over, if any regular system had been prepared, and +rendered familiar and easy by practice beforehand. + +I could give a pretty long list of cases which I have myself seen, or +have heard others relate, where men have been drowned while their +shipmates were thus struggling on board who should be first to save +them, but who, instead of aiding, were actually impeding one another +by their hurry-skurry and general ignorance of what really ought to be +done. I remember, for example, hearing of a line-of-battle-ship, in +the Baltic, from which two men fell one evening, when the ship's +company were at quarters. The weather was fine, the water smooth, and +the ship going about seven knots. The two lads in question, who were +furling the fore-royal at the time, lost their hold, and were jerked +far in the sea. At least a dozen men, leaving their guns, leaped +overboard from different parts of the ship, some dressed as they were, +and others stripped. Of course, the ship was in a wretched state of +discipline where such frantic proceedings could take place. The +confusion soon became worse confounded; but the ship was hove aback, +and several boats lowered down. Had it not been smooth water, +daylight, and fine weather, many of these absurd volunteers must have +perished. I call them absurd, because there is no sense in merely +incurring a great hazard, without some useful purpose to guide the +exercise of courage. These intrepid fellows merely knew that a man had +fallen overboard, and that was all; so away they leaped out of the +ports and over the hammock-nettings, without knowing whereabouts the +object of their Quixotic heroism might be. The boats were obliged to +pick up the first that presented themselves, for they were all in a +drowning condition; but the two unhappy men who had been flung from +aloft, being furthest off, went to the bottom before their turn came. +Whereas, had not their undisciplined shipmates gone into the water, +the boats would have been at liberty to row towards them, and they +might have been saved. I am quite sure, therefore, that there can be +no offence more deserving of punishment, as a matter of discipline, +and in order to prevent such accidents as this, than the practice of +leaping overboard after a man who has fallen into the water. There are +cases, no doubt, in which it would be a positive crime in a swimmer +not to spring, without waiting for orders, to the rescue of a +fellow-creature whom he sees sinking in the waves, at whatever hazard +to himself or to others; but I speak of that senseless, blindfold +style in which I have very often witnessed men pitch themselves into +the water, without knowing whether the person who had fallen overboard +was within their reach or not. Even in highly-disciplined ships this +will sometimes take place; and the circumstances which increase the +danger seem only to stimulate the boldest spirits to brave the risk. I +conceive there is no method of putting a stop to the practice but by +positively enjoining the people not to go overboard, unless expressly +ordered; and by explaining to them on every occasion when the ship's +company are exercised for this purpose, that the difficulty of picking +a man up is generally much augmented by such indiscreet zeal. + +The following incidents occurred in a frigate off Cape Horn, in a gale +of wind, under close-reefed main-topsail and storm-staysails. At +half-past twelve at noon, when the people were at dinner, a young lad +was washed out of the lee fore-channels. The life-buoy was immediately +let go, and the main-topsail laid to the mast. Before the jolly-boat +could be lowered down, a man jumped overboard, as he said, +"promiscuously," for he never saw the boy at all, nor was he ever +within half-a-cable's length of the spot where he was floundering +about. Although the youth could not swim, he contrived to keep his +head above water till the boat reached him, just as he was beginning +to sink. The man who had jumped into the sea was right glad to give up +his "promiscuous" search, and to make for the life-buoy, upon which he +perched himself, and stood shivering for half-an-hour, like a shag on +the Mewstone, till the boat came to his relief. + +At four o'clock of the same day a man fell from the rigging; the usual +alarm and rush took place; the lee-quarter boat was so crowded that +one of the topping lifts gave way, the davit broke, and the cutter, +now suspended by one tackle, soon knocked herself to pieces against +the ship's side. Of course, the people in her were jerked out very +quickly, so that, instead of there being only one man in the water, +there were nearly a dozen swimming about. More care was taken in +hoisting out another boat, and, strange to say, all the people were +picked up, except the original unfortunate man, who, but for the +accident, which ought to have been prevented, would in all probability +have been saved. Neither he nor the life-buoy, however, could be +discovered before the night closed. + +The life-buoy at present in use on board his Majesty's ships, and, I +trust, in most merchant ships, has an admirable contrivance connected +with it, which has saved many lives, when otherwise there would hardly +have been a chance of the men being rescued from a watery grave. + +This life-buoy, which is the invention of Lieutenant Cook of the Navy, +consists of two hollow copper vessels connected together, each about +as large as an ordinary-sized pillow, and of buoyancy and capacity +sufficient to support one man standing upon them. Should there be more +than one person requiring support, they can lay hold of rope beckets +fitted to the buoy, and so sustain themselves. Between the two copper +vessels there stands up a hollow pole, or mast, into which is +inserted, from below, an iron rod, whose lower extremity is loaded +with lead, in such a manner, that when the buoy is let go the iron rod +slips down to a certain extent, lengthens the lever, and enables the +lead at the end to act as ballast. By this means the mast is kept +upright, and the buoy prevented from upsetting. The weight at the end +of the rod is arranged so as to afford secure footing for two persons, +should that number reach it; and there are also, as I said before, +large rope beckets, through which others can thrust their head and +shoulders, till assistance is rendered. + +On the top of the mast is fixed a port-fire, calculated to burn, I +think, twenty minutes, or half-anhour; this is ignited most +ingeniously by the same process which lets the buoy down into the +water. So that a man falling overboard at night is directed to the +buoy by the blaze on the top of its pole or mast, and the boat sent to +rescue him also knows in what direction to pull. Even supposing, +however, the man not to have gained the life-buoy, it is clear that, +if above the surface at all, he must be somewhere in that +neighbourhood; and if he shall have gone down, it is still some +satisfaction, by recovering the buoy, to ascertain that the poor +wretch is not left to perish by inches. + +The method by which this excellent invention is attached to the ship, +and dropped into the water in a single instant, is perhaps not the +least ingenious part of the contrivance. The buoy is generally fixed +amidships over the stern, where it is held securely in its place by +being strung, or threaded, as it were, on two strong perpendicular +iron rods fixed to the taffrail, and inserted in holes piercing the +framework of the buoy. The apparatus is kept in its place by what is +called a slip-stopper, a sort of catch-bolt or detent, which can be +unlocked at pleasure, by merely pulling a trigger. Upon withdrawing +the stopper, the whole machine slips along the rods, and falls at once +into the ship's wake. The trigger which unlocks the slip-stopper is +furnished with a lanyard, passing through a hole in the stern, and +having at its inner end a large knob, marked "Life-Buoy;" this alone +is used in the day-time. Close at hand is another wooden knob, marked +"Lock," fastened to the end of a line fixed to the trigger of a +gunlock primed with powder: and so arranged, that, when the line is +pulled, the port-fire is instantly ignited, while, at the same +moment, the life-buoy descends, and floats merrily away, blazing like +a lighthouse. It would surely be an improvement to have both these +operations always performed simultaneously, that is, by one pull of +the string. The port-fire would thus be lighted in every case of +letting go the buoy; and I suspect the smoke in the day-time would +often be as useful in guiding the boat, as the blaze always is at +night. + +The gunner who has charge of the life-buoy lock sees it freshly and +carefully primed every evening at quarters, of which he makes a report +to the captain. In the morning the priming is taken out, and the lock +uncocked. During the night a man is always stationed at this part of +the ship, and every half-hour, when the bell strikes, he calls out +"Life-buoy!" to show that he is awake and at his post, exactly in the +same manner as the look-out-men abaft, on the beam, and forward, call +out "Starboard quarter!" "Starboard gangway!" "Starboard bow!" and so +on, completely round the ship, to prove that they are not napping. + +After all, however, it must be owned, that some of the most important +considerations, when a man falls overboard, have as yet scarcely been +mentioned. These are,-- + +First, the quickest and most effectual method of arresting the ship's +progress, and how to keep her as near the spot where the man fell as +possible. + +Secondly, to preserve entire, during these evolutions, the general +discipline of the ship, to maintain silence, and to enforce the most +prompt obedience, without permitting foolhardy volunteering of any +kind. + +Thirdly, to see that the boat appointed to be employed on these +occasions is secured in such a manner that she may be cast loose in a +moment, and, when ready for lowering down, that she is properly +manned, and fitted, so as to be efficient in all respects when she +reaches the water. + +Fourthly, to take care in lowering the boat neither to stave nor to +swamp her, nor to pitch the men out. + +And, lastly, to have a sufficient number of the sharpest-sighted men +in the ship stationed aloft in such a manner as to give them the best +chance, not only of discovering the person who is overboard, but of +pointing him out to the people in the boat, who may not otherwise know +in what direction to pull. + +It is conceived that all these objects may be accomplished with very +little, if any, additional trouble, in all tolerably well-disciplined +ships. + +Various opinions prevail amongst officers as to the first point; but, +I think, the best authorities recommend that, if possible, the ship +should not merely be hove aback when a man falls overboard, but that +she ought to be brought completely round on the other tack. Of course, +sail should be shortened in stays, and the main-yard left square. This +plan implies the ship being on a wind, or from that position to having +the wind not above two points abaft the beam. But, on one tack or the +other, this will include a large portion of the sailing of every ship. + +The great merit of such a method of proceeding is, that, if the +evolution succeeds, the ship, when round, will drift right down +towards the man; and, although there may be some small risk in +lowering the boat in stays, from the ship having at one period +stern-way, there will, in fact, be little time lost if the boat be +not lowered till the ship be well round, and the stern-way at an end. +There is more mischief done, generally, by lowering the boat too soon, +than by waiting till the fittest moment arrives for doing it coolly; +and it cannot be too often repeated, that almost the whole depends +upon the self-possession of the officer of the watch. This important +quality is best taught by experience, that is to say, by a thorough +and familiar practical knowledge of what should be done under all +circumstances. The officer in command of the deck ought to let it be +seen and felt, by his tone of voice, and by the judicious promptness +of his orders, that he, at least, is perfectly master of himself, and +knows distinctly what course it is best to adopt. + +If the ship be running before the wind, or be sailing large, and under +a press of sail, the officer must exercise his judgment in rounding +to, and take care in his anxiety to save the man, not to let the masts +go over the side, which will not advance, but defeat his object. If +the top-gallant-sheets, the topsail, and top-gallant-haulyards, be let +fly, and the head-yards braced quickly up, the ship when brought to +the wind will be nearly in the situation of reefing topsails. Under +these circumstances, it will hardly be possible to bring her about, +for, long before she can have come head to wind, her way will be so +much deadened that the rudder may have ceased to act. Still, however, +I am so strong an advocate for the principle of tacking, instead of +merely lying-to, when a man is overboard, that, even under the +circumstances above described, as soon as the boat is lowered down and +sent off, and the extra sail gathered in, I would fill, stand on till +the ship had gained head-way enough to render the evolution certain, +and then go about, so as to bring her head towards the boat. It must +be recollected, that when a ship is going well off the wind, in the +manner here supposed, it is impossible to round her so quickly as to +replace her on the spot where the man fell; to reach which a great +sweep must always be made. But there seems to me no doubt, that, in +every possible case, even when going right before it, the ship will +always drift nearer and nearer to that spot, if eventually brought to +the wind on the opposite tack from that on which she was luffed up. + +It will conduce greatly to the success of these measures, if it be an +established rule, that, whenever the alarm is given of a man being +overboard, the people, without further orders, fly to their appointed +stations for tacking ship; and that only those persons who shall be +specifically selected to man and lower down the boats, and for other +duties, shall presume to quit the places assigned to them on going +about. It so happens that when the men are in their stations for +tacking, they are almost equally in their stations for shortening +sail, or for performing most other evolutions likely to become +necessary at such moments. + +The excepted men should consist of at least two boats' crews in each +watch, and of others whose sole duty it should be to attend to the +operation of lowering the boats, into which no men but those expressly +appointed should ever be allowed to enter. These persons, selected for +their activity, strength, and coolness, should belong to the +after-guard, main and mizen-top, and gunner's crew, men whose duties +lie chiefly abaft or about the mainmast. Midshipmen in each watch +should also be named to the different boats; and their orders ought to +be positive never to allow more than the proper crew to enter, nor on +any account to permit the boat to be lowered till fully and properly +manned. I grant that it requires no small nerve to sanction the delays +which an attention to these minute particulars demands; but the +adequate degree of faith in their utility will bring with it the +requisite share of decision, to possess which, under all +circumstances, is, perhaps, one of the most characteristic +distinctions of a good commanding officer. + +There ought, in every ship, to be selected a certain number of the +sharpest-sighted persons, who should be instructed, the instant the +alarm is given, to repair to stations appointed for them aloft. +Several of these ought to plant themselves in the lower rigging, some +in the topmast shrouds, and one, if not two, might advantageously be +perched on each of the cross-trees. Those persons, whose exclusive +duty is to discover the man who is overboard, should be directed to +look out, some in the ship's wake, some on either side of it, and to +be particularly careful to mark the spot near which the ship must have +been when he fell, in order that when she comes about, and drifts near +the place, they may know where to direct their attention, and also to +take care that the ship does not forge directly upon the object they +are seeking for. The chief advantage of having look-out-men stationed +aloft in this manner consists in their commanding a far better +position compared to that of persons on deck, and still better when +compared to the people in the boat; besides which, having this object +alone to attend to, they are less likely to be unsuccessful. +Moreover, from their being in considerable numbers, and scattered at +different elevations, their chances are, of course, much increased of +discovering so small an object as a man on the surface. + +The people in the boat possess no such advantages, for they are +occupied with their oars, and lose between the seas all sight of the +surrounding objects near them, while they can always see the ship's +masts; and as soon as they detect that any one of the look-out-men +sees the person who is overboard, and points in the proper direction +for them to pull, they can shape their course accordingly. Presently +another look-out, instructed by the first where to direct his eyes, +also discovers the man; then another sees him, then another, and so +on, till all who are aloft obtain sight of the desired object, and +join in pointing with their hands to where it is to be found. The +officer in the boat, thus instructed by innumerable pointers, rows at +once, and with confidence, in the proper direction, and the drowning +man is often rescued from his deep-sea grave, when, had there been no +such look-outs, or had they been fewer in number or lower down, he +must have perished. + +It is curious to observe the electric sort of style in which the +perception of an object, when once pointed out, flashes along from man +to man. As each in succession catches sight of his shipmate, he +exclaims, "There he is! there he is!" and holds out his hand in the +proper direction for the guidance of the boat. Indeed, I have seldom +witnessed a more interesting sight than that of eighty or a hundred +persons stationed aloft, straining their eyes to keep sight of a poor +fellow who is struggling for his life, and all eagerly extending +their hands towards him, as if they could clutch him from the waves. +To see these hands drop again is inexpressibly painful, from its +indicating that the unfortunate man is no longer distinguishable. One +by one the arms fall down, reluctantly, as if it were a signal that +all hope was over. Presently the boat is observed to range about at +random; the look-out-men aloft, when repeatedly hailed and asked, "if +they see anything like him?" are all silent. Finally, the boat's +recall-flag is hoisted, sail is again made on the ship, the people are +piped down, and this tragical little episode in the voyage being +concluded, everything goes on as before. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +SUNDAY ON BOARD A MAN-OF-WAR.--MUSTERING BY DIVISIONS. + + +The first article of war runs as follows:--"All commanders, captains, +and officers, in or belonging to any of His Majesty's ships or vessels +of war, shall cause the public worship of Almighty God, according to +the Liturgy of the Church of England established by law, to be +solemnly, orderly, and reverently performed in their respective ships; +and shall take care that prayers and preaching, by the chaplains in +holy orders of the respective ships, be performed diligently, and that +the Lord's day be observed according to law." + +The precision with which these injunctions are attended to will depend +chiefly on three things:--The personal disposition of the captain; the +nature of the service upon which the ship is employed; and the state +of the weather. It is nearly always in the captain's power to make the +Sunday a day of rest to the people committed to his charge. Sooner or +later he is sure to reap the fruits of his conduct in this matter, and +is made to feel, that, to command the respect or to win the regard of +his crew, he must show them, on all ordinary occasions, that he is +himself under the guidance of right principles. In the same spirit, +his authority will be strengthened by every touch of consideration +with which the inevitable sternness of his rule is softened; and the +more he manages to impart to all such indulgences the character of +routine, or matters of course and constant usage, so much the better. +We feel obliged to a person who confers almost any favour upon us; but +if this favour be one of daily or weekly occurrence, and, at each time +of its concession, we are reminded of the weight of our obligation, +all kindliness is in danger of being removed from it, and we would +sometimes rather go without than hold the advantage by a tenure thus +avowedly capricious. + +A captain of sense and feeling, therefore, makes it his business, in +the first place, to find out what is right and proper, consistently +with the rules of the service, and then to ascertain how far the +peculiar nature of the employment upon which the ship is engaged will +admit of indulgences. Having settled with himself what is possible to +be done with propriety, he should grant it not as a matter of personal +favour, but simply because it is fitting in itself. + +It is not possible, at sea, to comply to the letter with the fourth +commandment; but we have no right on that account to dispense with its +spirit, which is at all times and in all places within every man's +reach. The absolute necessity, however, of performing some work, +appears a sufficient reason with many people for doing away with the +ordinance of Sunday altogether, and converting it into a day of hard +and irksome toil, instead of a season of at least comparative rest. On +the other hand, some officers either allow essential public interests +to be neglected which ought to be attended to, or they harass their +people by exacting more attention to religious observances than the +poor sailors can bestow with any chance of profit. Which of these +courses is the worst, I really cannot say. If Sunday be made a working +day, and no attention is paid to its appropriate duties, the crew are +by no means satisfied, and but too readily contract, by degrees, the +habit of neglecting their obligations both to God and man. On the +contrary, if the day be entirely taken up with devotional exercises, +to the fatigue of their minds and bodies, they are exceedingly apt, +after a time, to vote the "whole concern," as they call it, a bore, +and to make up for this forced attention by the most scandalous +indecencies, when out of sight of their "psalm-singing captain." + +I would accordingly recommend every officer in command of a ship to +bring as many of the arrangements of his Sunday as possible into a +jog-trot order, not to be departed from unless there should arise an +absolute necessity for such deviation. Nineteen Sundays might, indeed, +pass over without any apparent advantage being gained from this +uniformity, but on the twentieth some opportunity might occur, of +infinite value to all concerned, which opportunity might, in all +probability, prove unavailing but for the previous preparation. To +borrow a professional illustration of the most familiar kind; it may +be asked, how many hundred times do we exercise the great guns and +small arms, for once that we fire them in real action? And why should +it be supposed that, for the useful application of our mental +energies to the most important of all warfare, habitual training is +less necessary? + +Without going needlessly deep into these speculations, I may observe +that, even in the least regularly disciplined ships, there is now a +marked difference between Sunday and any other day in the week. +Although the grand object seems to be to have everything as clean as +possible, and in its most apple-pie order, great part of the labour +employed to produce this result is over before Sunday arrives. The +decks, for instance, receive such a thorough allowance of holy-stoning +and scrubbing on Saturday, that a mere washing, with perhaps a slight +touch of the brushes and sand, brings them into the milk-white +condition which is the delight of every genuine first lieutenant's +heart. All this is got over early in the morning, in order that the +decks may be swabbed up and the ropes nicely flemished down before +seven bells, at which time it is generally thought expedient to go to +breakfast, though half-an-hour sooner than usual, in order to make the +forenoon as long as possible. I should have mentioned that the +hammocks are always piped up at seven o'clock. If they have been slung +overnight, they are as white as any laundress could have made them; +and, of course, the hammock-stowers take more than ordinary care to +place them neatly in the nettings, with their bright numbers turned +inwards, all nicely lashed up with the regulated proportion of turns, +each hammock being of a uniform size from end to end. + +While the people are at breakfast, the word is passed to "clean for +muster," in any dress the commanding officer may think most suitable +to the climate or weather. Between the tropics, the order for rigging +in frocks and trousers is generally delivered in these words:-- + +"Do you hear, there! fore and aft! Clean for muster at five +bells--duck frocks and white trousers!" + +In colder regions, it is "Blue jackets and trousers;" and in rainy, +cold, or blowing weather, the following order is sung out along the +lower deck, first by the husky-throated boatswain, and then in a still +rougher enunciation by his gruff satellites, the boatswain's mates:-- + +"D'ye hear, there! Clean shirt and a shave for muster at five bells!" + +Twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, the operation of shaving is +held to be necessary. These are called "clean-shirt days." Mondays and +Fridays are the days appointed for washing the clothes. + +It is usual to give the men three quarters, instead of half-an-hour to +breakfast on Sundays, that they may have time to rig themselves in +proper trim before coming on deck. The watch, therefore, is called at +a quarter-past eight, or it may be one bell, which is half-past. The +forenoon watch bring their clothes-bags up with them, in order that +they may not be again required to leave the deck before muster. The +bags are piled in neat pyramids, or in other forms, sometimes on the +booms before the boats, and sometimes in a square mass on the after +part of the quarter-deck of a frigate. It strikes my recollection that +in most ships there is a sort of difficulty in finding a good place on +which to stow the bags. + +As soon as the forenoon watch is called, the between decks, on which +the men live, is carefully cleaned, generally by what is called dry +holy-stoning. This is done by rubbing the deck with small smooth +pieces of freestone, after a layer of well-dried sand has been +sprinkled over it. This operation throws up a good deal of dust; but +it makes the deck white, which is the grand point aimed at. The wings, +the store-rooms, and the cockpits, undergo a similar dose of rubbing +and scrubbing; in short, every hole and corner of the decks, both +above and below stairs, as folks on shore would say, is swept, and +swept, and swept again, on a Sunday morning, till the panting sweepers +are half dead; indeed, the rest of the ship's company are worried out +of all patience, from eight o'clock to half-past ten, with the eternal +cry of "Pipe the sweepers!" followed by a sharp, interrupted whistle, +not unlike the note of a pet canary. + +What with cleaning the decks and cleaning themselves, the watch below +have fully enough to do to get all ready by five bells. It must be +remembered, too, that they have had the morning watch to keep, since +four o'clock, and the whole trouble of washing the upper decks, +shaking out the reefs, stowing the hammocks, and coiling down the +ropes; all easy matters of routine, it is true, but still sufficiently +tiresome when multiplied so often. + +At the appointed hour of half-past ten, to a single stroke of the +bell, the mate of the watch, directed by the officer on deck, who +again acts in obedience to the captain's orders, conveyed to him by +the first lieutenant, calls out,-- + +"Beat to divisions!" + +It should have been stated, that, before this period arrives, the +mate of the decks and the mate of the hold, the boatswain, gunner, and +carpenter, have all severally received reports from their subordinates +that their different departments are in proper order for inspection. +Reports to the same effect being then finally made to the first +lieutenant by the mates and warrant-officers, he himself goes round +the ship to see that all is right and tight, preparatory to the grand +inspection. I ought also to have mentioned that the bags of the watch +below are piped up at ten o'clock, so that nothing remains between +decks but the mess-tables, stools, and the soup and grog kids. Long +before this hour, the greater number of the whole ship's company have +dressed themselves and are ready for muster; but the never-ending +sweepers, the fussy warrant-officers' yeomen, the exact purser's +steward, the slovenly midshipmen's boy, the learned loblolly boy, and +the interminable host of officers' servants, who have always fifty +extra things to do, are often so sorely pressed for time, that at the +first tap of the drum beating to divisions, these idlers, as they are +technically much miscalled, may often be seen only then lugging their +shirts over their heads, or hitching up their trousers in all the +hurry-scurry of a lower-deck toilet. I should have recorded that in +the ship's head, as well as on the fore-part of the main-deck, and +likewise between the guns, chiefly those abreast of the fore-hatchway, +there have been groups assembled to scrape and polish themselves ever +since breakfast-time, and even before it. Some are washing themselves; +others cutting, and combing, and trimming their hair; for, now-a-days, +there are none of those huge long tails, or club ties, which descended +along the back of the sailors who fought with Benbow and Rodney. The +dandyism of Jack has now taken another turn, and the knowing thing at +present is to have a parcel of ringlets hanging from the temples +almost to the collar-bone. Some of the youngest and best-looking of +the foretop-men would also very fain indulge in the feminine foppery +of ear-rings; but in the British Navy this is absolutely forbidden. + +I remember once, on the beach of Madras, witnessing an amusing scene +between Sir Samuel Hood, then commander-in-chief in India, and the +newly-promoted boatswain of a sloop-of-war belonging to the squadron. +The Admiral, who was one of the bravest, and kindest, and +truest-hearted seamen that ever trod a ship's decks, was a sworn foe +to all trickery in dress. The eye of the veteran officer was directed +earnestly towards the yeast of waves, which in immense double rows of +surf, fringe and guard the whole of that flat coast. He was watching +the progress of a Massullah boat, alternately lost in the foam, and +raised in very uncertain balance across the swell, which, though just +on the break, brought her swiftly towards the shore. He felt more +anxious than usual about the fate of this particular boat, from having +ordered on shore the person alluded to, with whom he wished to have +some conversation previous to their parting company. This boatswain +was a young man, who had been for some years a follower of the Admiral +in different ships, and to whom he had just given a warrant. The poor +fellow, unexpectedly promoted from before the mast to the rank of a +warrant-officer, was trigged out in his newly-bought, but marvellously +ill-cut uniform, shining like a new dollar, and making its wearer, +who for the first time in his life had put on a long coat, feel not a +little awkward. + +As soon as the boat was partly driven up the beach by the surf, and +partly dragged beyond the dash of the breakers by the crowd on shore, +this happiest of warrant-officers leaped out on the sand, and seeing +the Admiral above him, standing on the crest of the natural glacis +which lines the shore, he took off his hat, smoothed down the hair on +his forehead, sailor fashion, and stood uncovered, in spite of the +roasting sun flaming in the zenith. + +The Admiral, of course, made a motion with his hand for the boatswain +to put his hat on; but the other, not perceiving the signal, stood +stock-still. + +"I say, put on your hat!" called the commander-in-chief, in a tone +which made the newly-created warrant start. In his agitation he shook +a bunch of well-trimmed ringlets a little on one side, and betrayed to +the flashing eyes of the Admiral a pair of small round silver +ear-rings, the parting gift, doubtless, of some favoured and favouring +"Poll or Bess" of dear, old, blackguard Point Beach. Be this as it +may, the Admiral, first stepping on one side, and then holding his +head forward, as if to re-establish the doubting evidence of his +horrified senses, and forcibly keeping down the astonished seaman's +hat with his hand, roared out,-- + +"Who the devil are you?" + +"John Marline, sir!" replied the bewildered boatswain, beginning to +suspect the scrape he had got himself into. + +"Oh!" cried the flag-officer, with a scornful laugh. "Oh! I beg your +pardon; I took you for a Portuguese." + +"No, sir!" instinctively faltered out the other, seeing the Admiral +expected some reply. + +"No! Then, if you are not a foreigner, why do you hoist false colours? +What business has an English sailor with these d----d machines in his +ears?" + +"I don't know, sir," said poor Marline. "I put them in only this +morning, when I rigged myself in my new togs to answer the signal on +shore." + +"Then," said Sir Samuel, softened by the contrite look of his old +shipmate, and having got rid of the greater portion of his bile by the +first explosion, "you will now proceed to unrig yourself of this top +hamper as fast as you can; pitch them into the surf if you like; but +never, as you respect the warrant in your pocket, let me see you in +that disguise again." + +When the drum beats the well-known "_Generale_," the ship's company +range themselves in a single line along both sides of the +quarter-deck, the gangways, and all round the forecastle. In a +frigate, the whole crew may be thus spread out on the upper deck +alone; but in line-of-battle ships the numbers are so great that +similar ranges, each consisting of a division, are likewise formed on +the opposite sides of the main-deck. The marines, under arms, and in +full uniform, fall in at the after-part of the quarter-deck; while the +ship's boys, under the master-at-arms, with his ratan in hand, muster +on the forecastle. + +In some ships the men are sized, as it is called, the tallest being +placed at the after-end, and so on down to the most diminutive, who is +fixed at the extremity. But this arrangement, being more of a +military than of a naval cast, is rarely adopted now-a-days. It will +seldom happen, indeed, that the biggest and burliest fellows in a +ship's company are the leading men. They may chance, indeed, to be +poulterers, cook's mates, or fit only to make sweepers of; personages +who after a three years' station barely know the stem from the stern, +and could no more steer the ship than they could take a lunar +distance. Officers, however, on first joining a ship, are very apt to +be guilty of some injustice towards the people by judging of them too +hastily from appearance alone. We are insensibly so much prepossessed +in favour of a fine, tall, good-looking sailor-lad, and prejudiced +against a grizzled, crooked, little wretch, that if both happen to be +brought before us for the same offence, we almost instinctively commit +the injustice of condemning the ugly fellow, and acquitting the +smart-looking one, before a tithe of the evidence has reached our +ears. + +Leaving these speculative questions, however, for the present, let us +return to the divisions, which are arranged along the deck, not, as +formerly, by sizes, but, in the proper way, by the watch-bill. The +forecastle-men, of course, come first, as they stand so in the lists +by which they are mustered at night by the mate of the watch; then the +foretop men, and so on to the gunners, after-guard, and waisters. +Each division is under charge of a lieutenant, who, as well as the +midshipmen of his division, appears in full uniform. The people are +first mustered by the young gentlemen, and then carefully inspected by +the officer of the division, who sees that every man is dressed +according to order, and that he is otherwise in proper trim. It is +also usual in hot climates for the surgeon and his assistants to pass +along the lines, to ascertain, partly by the men's looks, and partly +by an examination of their limbs, that no traces of scurvy have begun +to show themselves. + +While the mustering and inspecting of the divisions is going on, the +captain paces the quarter-deck, in company with the first lieutenant. +No other voices are heard except theirs, and that of the midshipmen +calling over the names of the men, or the officers putting some +interrogatory about a spot of tar on a pair of duck trousers, or an +ill-mended hole in the sleeve of a shirt. In a few minutes even these +sounds are hushed, and nothing is distinguishable fore and aft but the +tread of the respective officers, on their way aft to report to the +captain on the quarter-deck that all are present, properly dressed, +and clean, at their different divisions. The marine officer likewise +makes a report of his party and their equipments. The first lieutenant +now turns to the captain, takes off his hat, and says,-- + +"All the officers have reported, sir." + +To which the other replies,-- + +"We'll go round the ship, then, if you please;" and off they trudge, +after leaving the deck in charge of the second lieutenant, or the +master, as may be determined upon at the moment. + +As the captain approaches the first division, he is received by the +officer commanding it, who touches his hat, and then falls into the +train behind. Of course, the moment the skipper appears, the men along +the whole line take off their hats, smooth down their locks, make many +clumsy efforts to stand erect, fumble interminably with the waistband +of their trousers, and shuffle, to more or less purpose, according to +the motion of the ship, to maintain their toes exactly at the line or +seam in the deck along which they have been cautioned twenty times +they are to stand. The captain, as he moves slowly past, eyes each man +from head to foot, and lets nothing pass of which he disapproves. The +officer of the division is ready to explain, or to take a note of what +alteration is required; but supposing all to be right, not a syllable +is spoken, and at the end of the division the captain again touches +his hat to the officer, who returns the salute, and remains with his +people. + +He then proceeds to the forecastle, at the break of which he is +received by the three warrant-officers, the boatswain, gunner, and +carpenter, in their best coats, cut after the fashion of the year one, +broad-tailed, musty, and full of creases from bad packing and little +use, and blazing from top to bottom with a double-tiered battery of +buttons of huge dimensions. Behind these worthy personages, who seldom +look much at home in their finery, stands the master-at-arms, in front +of his troop of troublesome small fry, known by the name of the ship's +boys, destined in good time to be sailors, and perhaps amongst the +best and truest that we ever number in our crews. + +In this way, in short, it is a most important, and almost an +imperative duty, on the officers of every man-of-war, to ascertain, by +actual investigation, how far their people are entitled to the ratings +they claim. If we do not see to this, we are perpetually misapplying +the resources of the nation, by mistaking their true quality. + +I should have mentioned, that before leaving the upper deck the +captain proceeds to inspect the marines, who are drawn up across or +along the quarter-deck abaft. Most captains think it both judicious +and kind to visit the marines first, and I have never seen this +practice adopted without manifest advantage. The marines are excellent +fellows, well-trained, hardy, cheerful, duly respecting themselves, +and proud of their service: while, from belonging to a fixed corps, +and from not being liable to be perpetually disbanded and scattered, +they acquire a permanent interest, or an inherent _esprit de corps_, +as well as a permanent footing in the Navy. In like manner, the marine +officers constitute one of the most gentleman-like bodies of men in +the King's service. They are thoroughly imbued with all the high +sentiments of honour belonging to the military character; and they +possess, moreover, in a very pleasant degree, the freedom of manner +and versatility of habits peculiar to those who go down to the sea in +ships. + +The utility of this important body of men on board a man-of-war is so +great, that it becomes the duty of every lover of the profession to +support all its ranks and classes, and to render their situation when +afloat one of respectability, happiness, and contentment. In speaking +of the utility of the jolly marines, as they are kindly enough called +by the sailors, who, in spite of all their quizzing, really esteem +their pipe-clayed shipmates, I refer less to their services in action, +than to their inestimable value in sustaining the internal discipline +of the service. The manner in which this is brought about forms one of +the most interesting peculiarities in the whole range of naval +affairs; but it deserves to be treated of separately, and at length. + +The two divisions ranged along the main-deck, supposing the ship's +company so distributed, next engage the captain's attention. I think +it is usual to take that first which stands on the starboard side of +the deck, with the after-end, or its left, as military men would say, +close against the bulkhead of the captain's cabin, while the foremost +men of the division extend under the forecastle. On arriving at the +galley or kitchen, the captain is received by the cook (or as much as +may be left of him, according to the Greenwich Hospital joke), behind +whom stands his mate, generally a tall, glossy, powerful negro, who, +unlike his chief, has always a full allowance of limbs, with a round +and shining face, about as moist as one of the tubful of huge suet +puddings, tied up in bags alongside of him. The cook, aided by +"Quamino," lifts the lids off the coppers, that the captain may peer +into them, and ascertain whether or not all is clean and nice. With +the end of his wooden leg the cook then gives a twist to the cock of +the coppers, to let some of the pease-soup in preparation run off and +show itself to the noble commander's inspection. The oven-doors are +next opened, the range or large fire stirred up, and every hole and +corner exposed to view; the object of the grand visitation being to +see that this essential department of the ship is in the most perfect +state of cleanliness and good order. + +Still further forward, before the galley, in the very nose of her, as +the foremost nook or angle of the ship is called, and a little on one +side, lies the sick-bay, or hospital; at the door of which the +surgeon, backed by his assistants, receives the captain and his double +the first lieutenant, and his double the mate of the main-deck. In +they march, all in a row. The captain takes care not to pass any +invalid's hammock without dropping a word of encouragement to its pale +inmate, or begging to be informed if anything further can be done to +make him comfortable. Only those men who are very unwell, however, are +found in their beds; the rest being generally seated on the chests and +boxes placed round the bay, a part of the ship which, I need scarcely +mention, is kept, if possible, more clean, airy, and tidy than any +other. If a speck of dirt be found on the deck, or a gallipot or phial +out of its place, woe betide the loblolly-boy, the assistant-surgeon's +assistant, and the constant attendant upon the hospital. This +personage is usually a fellow of some small knowledge of reading and +writing, who, by overhearing the daily clinical lectures of the +doctor, contrives to pick up a smattering of medical terms, which he +loses no opportunity of palming off upon his messmates below as +sublime wisdom sucked in at Alma Mater. + +Just before leaving the sick-bay, the captain generally turns to the +surgeon, and says, as a matter of course, "Doctor, mind you always +send aft at dinner-time for anything and everything you require for +the sick;" and I have frequently remarked that his whole tone and +manner are greatly softened during this part of the rounds, perhaps +without his being conscious of any difference. A very small share of +attention on the part of a commanding-officer on such occasions, if +kindly and unaffectedly exercised, leaves a wonderfully favourable +impression, not only among the invalids to whom it is more +particularly addressed, but seldom fails to extend its salutary +influence over the rest of the ship's company, and thus, of course, +contributes materially to strengthen and to maintain his authority. +Such expressions of sympathy never fail to act like drops of oil on +the machinery of discipline, making all its wheels work smoothly and +sweetly. + +The lower deck is next examined. The bags have been carried on deck, +so that, as I mentioned before, nothing remains but the people's +mess-tables and mess things, their kids, and crockery. As Jack is +mighty fond of a bit of show in his way, many of the berths or +mess-places exhibit goodly ranges of tea-cups and regiments of plates +worthy of the celebrated Blue Posts Tavern, occasionally flanked by a +huge tea-pot, famously emblazoned with yellow dragons and imitation +Chinese. The intervals between the shelves are generally ornamented +with a set of pictures of rural innocence, where shepherds are seen +wooing shepherdesses, balanced by representations of not quite such +innocent Didos weeping at the Sally Port, and waving their lily hands +to departing sailor-boys. On the topmost-shelf stands, or is tied to +the side, a triangular piece of a mirror, three inches perhaps by +three, extremely useful in adjusting the curls of our nautical +coxcombs, of whom one at least is to be found in every berth. + +The mess-tables, which are kept so bright you would suppose them +whitewashed, are hooked to the ship's side at one end, while the other +is suspended by small ropes covered with white canvas. Against these +lines rest the soup and grog kids, shining in a double row along the +deck, which is lighted up, fore and aft, for the captain's visit, by a +candle in each berth. In frigates it is usual, I believe, to let the +people have a certain number of chests, besides their bags. These not +only form convenient seats for the men at meals, and couches on which +to stretch their worn-out limbs during the watch below, but they +afford a place in which the sailors may stow away some part of their +best attire, deposit their little knick-knacks, and here and there a +book, or mayhap a love-letter, or some cherished love-token. A chest, +in short, or the share of a chest, even though it be only a quarter, +or a sixth part, is always so great a comfort that this indulgence +ought to be granted when it can possibly be allowed. In single-decked +ships, I conceive it may generally be permitted: in a line-of-battle +ship hardly ever. In a frigate, as there are no guns on the lower +deck, where the people mess and sleep, there is nothing to clear away +on coming into action; but in a ship of the line the men pass their +whole lives amongst the guns, by night as well as by day, and as it is +absolutely necessary to keep every part ready for action at an +instant's warning, nothing can be allowed to remain between the guns +but such articles as may be carried out of the way in a moment. It is +sometimes nonsensical, and even cruel, to carry this system into a +frigate, where the same necessity for keeping the space unencumbered +does not exist. Doubtless the mate of the lower deck, and often enough +the first lieutenant, and sometimes even the captain, will be anxious +to break up all the men's chests, in order to have a clear-looking, +open, airy, between-decks, to make a show of; but with proper care it +may be kept almost as clear and quite as clean with a couple of chests +in each berth as without. Even were it otherwise, we ought, I think, +rather to give up a little appearance to secure so great a share of +comfort to those who, at best, are not overburdened with luxuries. + +As the captain walks aft, along the lower deck, he comes to the +midshipmen's berth, or room, in which the youngsters mess. It is the +foremost and largest of a range of cabins built up on each side, and +reaching as far aft as the gun-room, or mess-place of the commissioned +officers. It is only in line-of-battle ships that the mids mess in the +cockpit; while in frigates they not merely mess but sleep in the part +of the lower deck called, I know not why, the steerage. I ought to +have mentioned that before the cabins of the officers, and abaft those +of the sailors, lie the berths of the marines; but, of course, those +mess-places of the men are not partitioned off, being merely denoted +by the tables and shelves. The boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, have +their cabins in the steerage. + +The captain peeps into each of these dens as he moves along. In that +of the midshipmen he may probably find a youth with the +quarantine-flag up; that is, in the sick-list. His cue, we may +suppose, is always to look as miserable and woe-begone as possible. If +he have had a tussle with a messmate, and one or both his eyes are +bunged up in consequence, it costs him no small trouble to conceal his +disorderly misdeeds. It would be just as easy, in fact, to stop the +winds as to stop the use of fisty-cuffs amongst a parcel of +hot-blooded lads between thirteen and nineteen, although, of course, +such _rencontres_ are held to be contrary to the laws and customs used +at sea, and are punishable accordingly. The captain, pretending +ignorance, however, merely grins; and, without exposing the boy to +the necessity of getting up a story, remarks:-- + +"I suppose, Master Peppercorn, you fell down the after-hatchway +ladder, and struck your eye against the corner of a chest? Didn't you? +And, what is odd enough, I dare say, when I cross to the starboard +berth, I shall find Mr. Mustardseed, who has met with exactly the same +accident about the same time. What do yo think? Eh?" + +"I don't know, sir," answers the badgered youngster; "Mr. Mustardseed +and I are not on speaking terms." + +"Very likely not," chuckles the skipper, as he proceeds to thrust his +nose curiously into the warrant officers' little boxes. On arriving at +the gun-room, he merely glances, with a well-bred air of assumed +indifference, at the apartment of the officers, with whose habits and +arrangements he scarcely ever ventures to meddle. He next dives into +the cockpit, which in a frigate is used only for the purser's +store-room, leading to the bread-room, both of which he examines +carefully. The spirit-room hatchway, too, is lifted up for his +inspection, as well as that of the after-hold. He then takes a survey +of the cable tiers, which are lighted up for the occasion; as also +different store-rooms of the boatswain, gunner, and carpenter; all of +which ought to be objects of his particular care, for it is of great +consequence that every article they contain should not only have an +assigned and well-known place, but that it should actually be kept in +that place. It is, indeed, quite wonderful how much may be done in the +way of stowage by dint of good management. In a well-regulated ship, +there is not a bolt or a bar, nor any kind of tool belonging to the +carpenter, nor a single rope great or small; canvas fine as duck, or +coarse as No. 1, belonging to the boatswain; nor any description of +warlike store in charge of the gunner, which cannot instantly be laid +hold of, and conveyed in half-a-minute to any part of the ship, alow +or aloft. + +At length, when every square inch of the holds, tiers, sail-rooms, and +all the cabins and berths below, have been examined, the visitation +party return to the quarter-deck, after a full half-hour's ramble. As +the captain re-ascends to the different decks in succession, the men, +who have never budged from their divisions, again pluck off their +hats, the marines carry arms the moment his head shows above the +coamings, and all the officers stop instantaneously in the middle of +their walk to salute their commander, as he once more treads the +quarter-deck. + +"And now, sir," says the captain, turning to the first lieutenant, "if +you please we will rig the church." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE SHIP CHURCH. + + +The carpenters and the watch on deck soon carry aft their benches and +mess-stools; but these not being sufficient to afford accommodation +for all hands, as many capstan-bars as may be required are likewise +brought up and placed athwart the quarter-deck, with their ends +resting on match-tubs and fire-buckets, or on the carronade-slides. +These seats occupy the whole of the space from the break of the +quarter-deck and the belaying bits round the mainmast, as far as the +companion-hatchway. Chairs from the cabin and gun-room are also placed +abaft all, for the captain and officers, and on the lee side for the +warrant-officers and mids; for it need scarcely be mentioned that due +subordination is made to keep its place even in our church. + +The pulpit stands amidships, either on the after-gratings, or on the +deck immediately before the hatchway. In some ships, this part of the +nautical church establishment consists of a moveable reading-desk, +made expressly for the occasion, but brought up from the carpenter's +store-room only when wanted; sometimes one of the binnacles is used +for this purpose; and I remember a ship in which the prayer-book was +regularly laid on a sword-rack, or stand, holding six dozen naked +cutlasses. The desk is covered over with a signal-flag, as well as the +hassock for the chaplain to kneel upon, which is usually a grape or +canister shot-box, surmounted by a cheese of great-gun wads, to make +it soft. + +All this implies that the weather is fine, the awnings spread +overhead, and the curtains stretched fore and aft, to keep out the +heat and glare. In rainy or blustering weather the church is rigged +under the half-deck, much in the same way, except that the pulpit is +placed between two of the guns, and generally on the larboard side, as +nearly abreast of the quarter-deck ladder as may be. + +When all is ready, the bell is tolled by one of the quarter-masters; +and the crew, quietly clustering aft, occupy the bars, stools, planks, +and gun-slides, prepared for their accommodation. The marines range +themselves on the front seats; while the officers take their places, +of course not avowedly in the order of date in their commissions, but, +more or less, they do fall into their respective stations according to +seniority. The chaplain is now informed that every one is assembled; +or, if there be no clergyman on board, the report is made to the +captain, who generally officiates in that case. When the service +begins, if there be any other ship in company, a pendant, such as +men-of-war carry at their mast-head to distinguish them from +merchant-ships, is hoisted at the mizen peak, to show that the ship's +company are at prayers. This signal, which is kept flying during the +performance of divine service, is respected by every other ship, +whether commanded by a superior officer or not. + +Besides the prayers, which, as I have already mentioned, are +"according to the Liturgy of the Church of England, established by +law," the chaplain gives a short discourse, not exceeding at most +twenty or twenty-five minutes in length. Some captains are in the +habit of reading a sermon; but more commonly, when there is no +clergyman on board, the prayers are deemed sufficient. These points, +as may be supposed, become frequent matters of discussion in the +fleet. I shall not enter into them further just now than by observing +that the majority of right-thinking officers appear to agree, that, if +the church service on board ship be not "solemnly, orderly, and +reverently performed," according to the terms and in the spirit of the +first article of war, it is either useless or worse than useless. It +ought therefore to take place as regularly and habitually as the +nature of the ship's duties will allow of. In the next place, it seems +clear, that if the service be rendered so long, or be otherwise so +conducted, as not to arrest the attention of the crew, or not to +maintain it alive when once fixed, it is too long. + +I will venture to say, there is rarely to be met with anywhere a more +orderly or a more attentive congregation, in all respects, than on +board a man-of-war. + +But, notwithstanding all Jack's decorum and his discipline, to say +nothing of his natural inclination, when duly encouraged, to reflect +seriously and properly on any subject, as he is made of ordinary flesh +and bones, his eyes will sometimes refuse to keep open under the +infliction of a dull or ill-delivered discourse; so that if the +person who officiates happens not to read very well, his best chance +for securing any useful attention consists in the brevity of his +prelections. If the quality, rather than the quantity, of instruction +be his object, he should be exceedingly careful not to fatigue his +hearers. The inverse rule of proportion obtains here with such +mortifying regularity, that the longer he makes the church service +beyond the mark of agreeable and easy attention, the more certain will +he be of missing his point. + +The analogy, not to speak it profanely, between overloading a gun and +overloading a discourse applies especially to ship-preaching. Sailors +are such odd fellows that they are nowise moved by noise and smoke; +but they well know how to value a good aim, and always love and honour +a commanding-officer who truly respects their feelings, nor by means +of long-winded and ill-timed discourses, or what they irreverently +call psalm-singing, interferes too much with their religious concerns. + +It would be easy, though perhaps rather invidious, to point out in +what other respects many officers are apt, besides the protracted +length of the church service on Sunday, to err in excess in these +matters. I am very sorry to say it would be still easier to show in +what respects all of us err in defect. I should rejoice much more in +being able to make officers who have not sufficiently reflected on +these things, duly sensible that it is quite as much to their +immediate professional advantage that the religious duties of their +ship should form an essential part of the discipline of the crew, and +be considered not less useful in a moral point of view, than rigging +the masts properly is to the nautical department of their command. + +If, indeed, religion, when applied to the ordinary business of life, +should be found inconsistent with those moral obligations which are +dictated to us by conscience; or even were we to discover that the +ablest, most virtuous, and most successful person, amongst us were +uniformly despisers of religion, then there would certainly be some +explanation, not to say excuse, for young and inexperienced men +venturing to dispute on such subjects, and claiming the bold privilege +of absolutely independent thought and action. But surely there is +neither excuse nor explanation, nor indeed any sound justification +whatsoever, for the presumption of those who, in the teeth of all +experience and authority, not only trust themselves with the open +expression of these cavils, but, having settled the whole question in +their own way, take the hazardous line of recommending their daring +example to those around them. It is also material to recollect that +there is not a single point of duty in the whole range of the naval +profession, which, when well understood, may not be enforced with +greater efficiency by a strict adherence to the sanctions of religion, +than if it were attempted single-handed; so that most of the +objections which one hears made to the due performance of the church +service on board ship, on the score of its interfering with the +discipline, are quite absurd, and inapplicable to the circumstances of +the case. + +The captain of a man-of-war, therefore, if his influence be as +well-founded as it ought, may, in this most material of all respects, +essentially supply the place of a parent to young persons, who must be +considered for the time virtually as orphans. He may very possibly +not be learned enough to lay before his large nautical family the +historical and other external evidences of Christianity, and, perhaps, +may have it still less in his power to make them fully aware of the +just force of its internal evidences; but he can seldom have any doubt +as to his duty in this case more than in any other department of the +weighty obligations with which he is charged; and if he cannot here, +as elsewhere, make the lads under his care see distinctly, in the +main, what course it best becomes them to follow, he is hardly fit for +his station. I freely own that it is far beyond his power to make them +pursue that line, if they choose to be perverse; but he will neglect +an important, I might add, a sacred and solemn part of his business, +if he leaves their minds more adrift on the score of religion than he +can possibly help. Their steering in this ticklish navigation, it is +true, depends upon their own prudence; but it is his bounden duty to +provide them with both a rudder and a compass, and also, as far as he +is able, to instruct them, like a good pilot, in the course they ought +to shape. The eventual success of the great voyage of life lies with +themselves; the captain's duty, as a moral commander-in-chief, is done +if he sets his juvenile squadron fairly under weigh. It is in vain to +conceal from ourselves, that, unless both officers and men can be +embodied more or less as a permanent corps, every ship that is +commissioned merely furnishes a sort of fresh experiment in naval +discipline. The officers are brought together without any previous +acquaintance with one another; and many of them, after a long +residence on shore, have lost most of their naval habits. The +sailors, being collected how and where we can get hold of them, are +too frequently the off-scourings and scum of society. With such a +heterogeneous crew, the first year is employed in teaching them habits +of cleanliness and common decency; and it is only in the third year of +their service that the ship becomes really efficient. Just as that +point has been reached, all hands are turned off, to make room for +another experiment. If a few active men of the crew have become better +sailors, they generally go into the merchant-service for higher wages; +while the officers are again laid on the shelf. Something has been +done lately to retain the petty officers in the navy, but perhaps not +enough. It has been suggested that, instead of giving men pensions for +long servitude, it might be more useful to allow their wages to +increase gradually year by year, at some small rate, and at the end of +fourteen years give them half-pay of the rating to which they had +reached, if they chose to retire.[5] + +In returning to the subject of the church, it must be remembered that +the circumstances of wind and weather will often interfere with the +regularity of our Sunday service. In some parts of an Indian voyage, +for instance, it may be safely calculated that no interruption will +take place; while there occur other stages of the passage when Divine +service must of necessity be stopped, to shorten sail or trim the +yards. In peace-time, or in harbour, or in fine weather at sea, no +such teasing interference is likely to arise; but in war, and on board +a cruising ship, the public service frequently calls a ship's company +to exchange their Bibles and Prayer-books for the sponges and rammers. +The collect in which they have petitioned to be defended from the fear +of their enemies, and that their time might be passed in rest and +quietness, may hardly have passed their lips, before they are eagerly +and joyfully scampering up the rigging to shake the reefs out in chase +of an enemy, with whom, in the next hour, they will perhaps be engaged +in hot fight! + +I remember once in a frigate, cruising deep in the Bay of Biscay, just +as the captain had finished the Litany, and the purser, whose greatest +pleasure it was to officiate as clerk, had said Amen, that the man at +the main royal-mast head screamed out,-- + +"A strange sail, broad on the lee bow!" + +The first effect of this announcement was to make the commander turn +round involuntarily to the man at the wheel and exclaim, "Put the helm +up!" He then closed the book, with a degree of energy of which he was +made somewhat ashamed when the sound was echoed back by that of the +rapidly closing volumes all around him. + +"My lads," said he quickly, but not without solemnity, "our duty to +our King is our duty to God; and if, as I hope, this sail turn out to +be the ship we have been so long looking after, you will not give a +worse account of her to the country, I am sure, for having applied in +good earnest for assistance from aloft." After which, suddenly +changing his tone and manner, he sung out loudly and clearly,-- + +"Hands, make sail! Let go the bow-lines! Round in the weather braces! +Mast-head, there! let me know when the strange sail is right ahead!" + +Then leaping on the hammocks, and resting his glass against the +after-swifter of the main-rigging, he swept the horizon impatiently +for the stranger. Meanwhile, the rattling of the chairs, capstan-bars, +match-tubs, and shot-boxes, gave token of the rapid demolition of our +nautical church. The studding-sail booms shot out like spears from the +yard-arms, and the sails which these spars were to expand hung +dangling and flapping in the air, as if the canvas had been alive, and +joined in the eagerness of the chase; while the ship herself, +trembling fore and aft under these fresh and spirit-stirring impulses, +dashed away at the rate of ten and a-half knots. + +Such are the incidents which happen on board single frigates; those +rattling, joyous, fly-along, Salee-rover sort of cruisers, which range +at large over the wide ocean, scour every coast, and keep the war +famously alive. A much more stately ceremonial is observed on board +fleets, whether at sea, blockading a port, or lying in harbour. The +ships of the different divisions, or squadrons, wait till the admiral +hoists at his mizen-peak the signal indicating that Divine service has +commenced, the bell is then tolled in each of the other ships, the +usual pendant is displayed, and the first article of war is complied +with, not only to the letter, but often, we may hope and trust, fully +up to the spirit. I have heard many clergymen declare that they never +beheld any congregation in which more attention and decorum prevailed +than in our ship churches. + +At sea, both in fleets and on board single ships, the afternoon of +Sunday is generally a season of rest and quietness; but in harbour it +is frequently the most annoying period of the whole week. There is +nothing for the men to do, and the time hangs terribly heavy on their +hands; to which it must be added, that our ships are too often +infested by some of the vilest contaminations of the shore. Bad as +these influences are, at any time or place, I believe they may he +considered at their worst when they come afloat; so that whenever it +can possibly be done without injury to the service, portions of the +ship's company should be allowed to go on shore in turn, albeit their +proceedings when "on liberty," as they call it, are none of the most +commendable. But we must let that pass. In foreign ports, however, +this indulgence is frequently impossible; and in cases when the people +cannot be permitted to land, the different men-of-war in company are +sure to send boat-loads of visitors, or what are called "liberty men," +on board one another's ships, to pass the afternoon of Sunday. This +practice is the very bane of good discipline, and ought at all times +to be discouraged in every way; for it almost inevitably leads to +drunkenness, rioting, and bitter heart-burnings. It has, moreover, the +effect of making the men discontented with their own ship and their +own officers. The sailors are sufficiently sharp criticisers of the +conduct of their superiors, even when they have all the facts before +them, and the power of observing closely, and from day to day. But +when they pass on board other vessels, and interchange exaggerations +over an extra pot of grog, the mischievous consequence is certain; +for each of the parties is likely enough to break up the visit +miserably discontented, and to return under a thorough conviction +that, while everything done in their own ship is wrong, all the +officers are either foolish or tyrannical, or both. If there must be +ship-visiting, let it be on week days, and in the morning; but, +clearly, the less the better; and most assuredly it ought never to be +allowed on Sunday evening. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[5] It would have gratified Captain Hall if he had lived to see that +some of the changes for which he pleads so earnestly are being +adopted, and that the best hands in the navy are now retained as +continuous service men. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +NAVAL RATINGS AND SEA PAY. + +MUSTERING CLOTHES. + + +The dinner-hour on Sunday is noon, the same as on other days; but +there is this distinction, which ought to mark the afternoon in every +well-regulated ship, the people are never disturbed between twelve +o'clock and four, unless some particular service occurs which cannot +without impropriety be deferred. It is customary during the rest of +the week to turn the watch up at one o'clock, but on Sunday, if +possible, the people should be left alone: to be idle if they choose +it, or to read, or otherwise to employ themselves according to their +own fancy. This, after all, is but a trifling indulgence, which hardly +ever puts the captain or officers to any inconvenience. Even if it +did, what would it matter? The interests of the country will not be +worse attended to in the long-run for an occasional relaxation of +strict etiquettes and formal observances. Even if the ship be making a +passage, and that, in strictness, all sail ought to be carried, no +eventual loss will ever attend such very trivial abatement of speed; +for the men will probably be far more active in making and shortening +sail at other times, when their minor comforts are thus regarded, than +when treated as if they had no feelings to be considered. + +The circumstance which most distinctly marks the afternoon of Sunday +on board a man-of-war, even more than on land, is the absence of all +the usual stir caused by the multifarious occupations of the +artificers and crew. Indeed, the lower deck of a man-of-war on Sunday +afternoon, between dinner time and the hour of tea, or evening grog, a +cast of idleness is the most characteristic feature. Groups of men may +be seen sitting on the deck chatting over very old stories, a few are +reading, and many are stretched out flat on their backs fast asleep, +or dosing with their heads laid on their arms on the mess-table. But +the habit of locomotion amongst sailors is so strong, that there are +always numerous parties walking on the main deck in pairs, or in +threes and fours, along a short space, backwards and forwards, +although there seems no reason why their walk should not be twice or +thrice as long. Both sides of the forecastle, too, and the +lee-gangway, are generally filled with these walking philosophers, as +they may in truth be called; for they enjoy the hour that passes, and +are ready to take whatever comes in good part. The weather-gangway is +usually left for the occasional transits of that most restless of +mortals, the officer of the watch, who, as in duty bound, is eternally +fidgeting about the trim of the sails, and must often step forward to +the chestree, from whence, while resting his foot on the tack-block of +the mainsail, he may cast his eye aloft to detect something to alter +in the position of the head-yards. Or if he hears any noise in the +galley, or even on the lower deck, he can walk forward till he is able +to peer down the fore-hatchway, by stooping under the bows of the boat +on the booms. Most of this fidget probably arises, not so much from +any wish to find fault with what is wrong, as to maintain what is +right. The true preventive service of an officer is to interpose his +superintending vigilance between the temptation, on the part of the +men, to err, and their first motion towards offence. Were this +principle fully acted up to in all ships, how rapidly might not our +punishments subside! + +At four, or half-past four in the afternoon, the merry pipe to supper +awakes the sleepers, arrests the peripatetics, and once more clusters +young and old round the mess-table. At sunset the drum beats to +quarters, when the men's names are carefully called over, and the +sobriety of each ascertained. Other duties may be intermitted on the +day of rest, but not that of the guns, which are minutely examined, +and all their appendages got ready every evening with as much earnest +care as if the ship were that instant sailing into action. A moment's +reflection, indeed, will show that there can, of course, be no +difference in this respect between Sunday and any other evening. Then +come in succession the following routine orders, and their +correspondent evolutions:--"Reef topsails!" "Stand by the hammocks!" +"Pipe down!" "Roll up the cloths!" "Call the watch!" "Pipe the +sweepers!" And thus, at last, the first day of the week at sea, in a +man-of-war, is at an end. + +In old times, I recollect, the fashion was for the men to press aft +in a disorganised crowd; but of late years the following more +appropriate and orderly arrangement has been universally adopted. The +men are distributed in a close double row round the quarter-deck +gangways and forecastle, each standing in his place according to the +order of his name on the Open List. A small table is then brought up, +on which are spread the muster-books; and the captain's clerk, who is +the only person seated, begins calling over the names. Each man, as +his turn comes, pulls off his hat, smooths down his hair, and passes +over from the lee side of the deck to the weather side, stepping +across the gratings just before the binnacle. The captain stands to +windward, so that the men advance directly up towards him, and then +pass forward in review. By this means, not only the captain, but the +officers, who, of course, are all present, become better acquainted +with the men, learn their names, and ascertain their respective +ratings and merits. The first lieutenant plants himself at the +captain's elbow to furnish such general information as may be +required, or to appeal for more minute details to the other +lieutenants, warrant-officers, mates, or midshipmen, as the case may +be. + +The captain avails himself of this public opportunity of telling any +of the men that they have been advanced a step on the books since the +last muster; and if these intimations be given without parade, and in +good taste, they afford great satisfaction to the people, though it +may often happen that the changes of rating are almost nominal. It is +a great point gained in all discipline, if the persons we wish to +influence can be made duly sensible that their merits and exertions +are not neglected. It is obvious, too, that if giving a man a higher +rating be a source of encouragement, to disrate him may readily be +used as a means of punishment. I remember, in the Lyra, on my way home +from China, in 1817, that the captain of the foretop, a fine active +lad from North Shields, got into some scrape, not quite bad enough to +bring him within the reach of the terrible gangway, but close to it, +and I was rather perplexed how to chastise the offender. The first +Sunday in the month was close at hand, so I waited till this man's +name was called, and then, after a suitable lecture, desired the +clerk, in the hearing of the whole ship's company, to change his +rating to that of able seaman from captain of the top. The poor fellow +looked bewildered, and, instead of passing on when another name was +called, stood stock-still half-way across the deck. + +"Don't you hear?" I said; "you are no longer captain of the foretop, +you are disrated on the ship's books." + +I then turned to the clerk to see the entry properly made; but on +looking again at the disrated seaman, I observed, to my astonishment, +that he was in tears! + +I certainly had not reckoned upon such a scene; but it at once flashed +upon me that here was an opportunity of gaining two important points. +The first and most obvious of which was to secure this particular +man's future good services by enlisting all that was hearty in his +nature at the instant of its strongest expression; and the next, to +avail myself of the circumstance to stamp a still higher degree of +importance in the eyes of the men than before upon the value of these +ratings. I therefore instantly called out to the clerk to stop his +pen; and then addressing the man, in a voice loud enough to be heard +by all the crew, said, I was quite sure any one who felt so sensibly +the degradation implied in the loss of rank which he had just incurred +was never likely to expose himself again to such a risk. I should +therefore not only give him back his former rating, and replace him in +his station as captain of the top, but assure him that all trace both +of his offence and its punishment should from that moment be entirely +forgotten. + +It is hardly within the range of popular explanation to show in what +particulars the different shades of technical merit consist, by which +many of these ratings are awarded. The letters A.B., which mean Able +Seaman, are placed against the names of those only who are +thorough-bred sailors, or who, in sea phrase, can not only "hand, +reef, and steer," but are likewise capable of heaving the lead in the +darkest night, as well as in the day-time; who can use the palm and +needle of a sail-maker; and who are versed in every part of a ship's +rigging, in the stowage of the hold, and in the exercise of the great +guns. Of course, an A.B. must be able to pull an oar, as well as use +it in sculling, understand the management of a boat under sail, and +know how to cross a surf. He must also learn the art of placing an +anchor in a boat, in order to its being laid out; and how to get it in +again when weighed. In these, and twenty other things which might be +pointed out, he ought to be examined by the boatswain and other +officers before his rating of A.B. is fully established on the books. + +The higher ratings of quarter-master, gunner's mate, captain of the +forecastle and of the tops, and so on, are given chiefly to men who +may not, in fact, know more than every Able Seaman is supposed to be +acquainted with, but who have recommended themselves by their superior +activity and vigilance, and have not only shown themselves fit to +command others by their decision of character, but evinced a sincere +anxiety to see the work of their department well performed. It is of +great consequence to assist in every way the authority of these +leading hands over the other men stationed in the same part of the +ship; and judicious officers will generally be able to avail +themselves to great purpose, in moments of trial, of the energetic +co-operation of these persons. Much of the internal, or what may be +called domestic, discipline of the crew, depends upon the conduct of +these men; for each mess has one of them at its head, who is held more +or less responsible for the behaviour of the people in that knot or +party. I have, however, known some officers exact a great deal too +much from these captains of the messes, and expect them to become +spies and informers against their companions; or, which is just as +unreasonable, hold them fully answerable for all delinquencies +committed in their part of the ship. This is cruel; because, although +they undoubtedly may contribute materially towards the maintenance of +good order, they cannot, by possibility, do more than act as +assistants to the first lieutenant, and chiefly by explaining to the +rest of the people what is required of them. Most men in the long-run, +and perhaps in all ranks of society, but certainly on board a +manof-war, find it so much more agreeable in every respect to do what +is right than what is wrong, that when they come distinctly to know +what is wanted, they almost invariably set about executing it +cheerfully. The first grand point, therefore, in the ship's +discipline, after a system has been adopted which shall be consistent +in all its parts, is, to let the details of this system be thoroughly +understood by every one on board. When a good plan has been once fixed +upon, and the officers are vigilant, patient, and exact in their own +personal conduct, and the leading men have been made fully acquainted +with what is required, the rest of the crew will be but too happy to +do their duty manfully and well, without the instrumentality of the +lash, except in extreme cases. + +In former times, the distinctions amongst ratings of the seamen on the +ship's books were so few that it was impossible to discriminate +correctly, or to assign to each man, with any justice, the exact +rating which his knowledge of seamanship, his experience in the +exercise of that knowledge, his general good conduct, and his +abilities, might entitle him to. An Order in Council, dated November, +1816, established a new system of Ratings; and by another Order, dated +the 23rd of June, 1824, "the net sea pay of the flag-officers of His +Majesty's fleet" was established, "together with the net sea pay and +number of their retinue; the number of commissioned, warrant, petty, +and non-commissioned officers, and the ratings of every description +both of seamen and marines, allowed to each class of His Majesty's +ships, with their rates of net sea pay respectively; and +distinguishing the several classes for sharing the produce of +seizures."[6] + +As soon as the ship's company have been mustered, the captain takes +off his hat and reads the Articles of War, to which, out of respect to +this important act of parliament, the people listen in like manner +uncovered. Between breakfast and divisions, some captains occupy +themselves in examining the weekly reports of the expenditure of +boatswain's, gunner's, and carpenter's stores; and in going over with +the purser the account of the remains of provisions, fuel, and +slop-clothing on board. After which he may overhaul the midshipmen's +log-books, watch, station, and quarter bills, or take a look at their +school-books. If the ship be in harbour, he also glances his eye at +their accounts; and he generally takes occasion to indulge in a little +kindly gossip about their mess, their love of the sea, and the last +letters they received from home. + +Thus the gallant skipper, as well as his gallant crew, has seldom much +spare time on his hands during the forenoon of Sunday. I should be +right glad, indeed, to be informed what day, or hour, or even what +half-hour, in the whole week, from end to end, the captain can fairly +call his own. Not one! Every other person on board has his hour, or +his four hours, or his eight hours of rest, and of relief from all +anxiety; but the poor captain has not a minute. He is the chief over +all, it is true; but he pays dearly and deeply for this distinction in +the shape of heavy responsibilities, and perpetual trials of various +kinds. Our poet says, "uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"--I am +quite sure that unburdened never lie the shoulders that wear two +epaulettes. The captain is at all calls, and must be ready at all +seasons with resources, good or bad, to supply the failures or +indolence of others; while his own fate, fortunes, and character, as +well as the credit of the service, and sometimes that of the country, +are made to hang upon the instantaneous nature of his decisions, and +upon the vigour and efficiency of his exertions, at moments perhaps +when his powers are nearly exhausted, and his spirit all but crushed +by sheer fatigue. The simple enumeration of a captain of a +man-of-war's ordinary responsibilities, I have often thought, would +win for his class a degree of considerate forbearance, and candid +allowance for his difficulties, which, perhaps, it has never yet +fairly received from the public. If, to such enumeration, a notice +respecting the duties of each were appended, an interesting peep +might be afforded to the curious of the internal government of our +singular community, and information supplied on not a few points, +respecting which most people are entirely ignorant. + +It is frequently the practice in the navy on Sundays to muster clothes +at divisions, and to take a list of what slops are required by the men +to complete their kit, or stock of worldly goods. This overhaul or +inspection happens once a month; and when such is the intention, the +word is passed along the lower deck at breakfast-time, that the ship's +company are to "muster clothes at divisions." When the drum beats, +each man brings his bag to the place where he stands in his division, +and proceeds to arrange his things in order on the deck before him, +each article being placed separately, that the officer may count, and, +if he pleases, examine them, after the mates and mids have first +called over the names, to ascertain that every man has the proper +complement of articles, in good order, and well washed. A note is then +taken of what things are wanted, in the way of slops, to supply +worn-out and condemned clothes. "Slops" is the technical name for +jackets, trousers, shirts, and other articles of a sailor's wardrobe, +before they have been used. They are sent on board in bales and boxes +by government, and placed in charge of the purser. + +All this is reported in detail to the lieutenant of the division, who +continues walking backwards and forwards while the inspection is going +on, ready to answer appeals in the event of any difficulties or doubts +arising. He carries in his hand a complete list of his division, and +of each man's clothes; and when the young gentlemen under his orders +have finished their work, and taken down what is wanted, the +lieutenant goes along the line to investigate the whole anew. He then +collects the different memorandums of slops wanted, and proceeds to +make his report to the captain, who either sanctions or disapproves of +the decision of the officer, as he pleases. Frequently the captain +himself goes along the divisions, to look at the men's clothing; but +the glance which he takes is necessarily of a more cursory nature; his +object is, to let the men feel that he is ready to interfere, if need +be, but also to show, that, unless there is any special call for the +interposition of his authority, he confides in those under him. + +A commander should recollect, that, whether it be he himself, or +chiefly his officers and crew, who perform any useful public service, +he invariably reaps at least his full share of the credit. His real +interest, therefore, must always be, not merely to draw about him the +ablest men he can induce to follow him, but to allow them the utmost +latitude of independent action and responsibility, and as much of the +merit of success as possible. If he persevere sincerely in this +course, he will soon discover that the more he endeavours to remove +the credit from himself, or, rather, to divide it handsomely with +those who are acting with him, the more will he generally find the +merit given back to himself. + +I suspect few people have the smallest notion of what a sailor's +wardrobe consists. Every one has, indeed, a vague idea that he must +have a blue jacket and trousers, and a low, canvas, shining sort of +affair, stuck on one side of his head, and called by him a hat. But of +any further particulars, the shore-going world really knows about as +little as they do respecting the dresses of the Emperor of China. +Honest Jack, it is very true, is not much encumbered with clothes; +and too often his wardrobe sadly resembles that of the Honourable Mr. +Dowlas, which was so easily transportable in the Honourable Mr. +Dowlas's pocket-handkerchief. Yet if he have the opportunity, poor +fellow, and be duly encouraged, he is not a little of a dandy in his +way. + +In a well-regulated ship, a sailor's kit consists generally of at +least two blue jackets, and one pea jacket, which is a sort of +lumbering shaggy surtout, or curtailed great-coat, capable of being +wrapped round the body, so as to cover the thighs. Why it is called a +pea jacket I should be glad to be informed by any knowing person; and +I beg leave accordingly to refer the question to that corner of the +United Service Journal reserved for technical queries, a valuable +niche in that ably conducted periodical. A seaman must also have two +pairs of blue trousers, two pairs of shoes, six shirts, four pairs of +stockings, two Guernsey frocks, made of a sort of worsted +stocking-work, without any opening in front; two hats, two black +handkerchiefs, and a comforter to wrap round the throat; together with +several pairs of flannel drawers and waistcoats; for in hot, as well +as in cold climates, and at all times of the year, the men are now +encouraged, as much as possible, to wear flannel next the skin. + +The above forms the kit of a sailor in a ship stationed in high +latitudes. On the Mediterranean station, or on that of North America, +there is such a mixture of severe and mild weather, that a larger +stock is necessary than when the ship is employed exclusively in a +cold, or in a hot climate. On the Indian, South American, and West +Indian stations, which lie almost entirely between the tropics, +woollen clothing gradually disappears, and the men are apt to suffer a +good deal on returning to colder regions; it being hardly to be +expected that folks of such improvident habits as sailors will be able +to take care of articles of dress, for several years together, for +which they have no immediate use. + +I remember a captain, whose ship had been often exposed to these +alternations, amusing his people very much on entering the tropics, by +directing them to roll up all their blue clothes, worsted stockings, +and so on, in neat bundles, each having the name and number of the +person it belonged to written on a wooden tally, and fastened to it. +These being all collected, and packed carefully in well-dried, +watertight casks, were stowed away in the hold, and forgotten, till +the pinching blasts off Cape Horn made the unpacking of the casks a +scene of as great joy as ever attended the opening of a box of finery +at a boarding-school gala. + +In warm climates, the stock of a man-of-war sailor consists of four +duck frocks, which are more like shirts than anything else, with +sundry strings, and touches of blue binding about the breast and +collar, which is generally lined with blue, and allowed to fall over +the shoulders. It is totally contrary to Jack's habits to have +anything tight about his throat; and one of the chief causes of his +invincible estrangement from the royal marine corps is their +stiff-necked custom of wearing polished leather stocks. I hardly +suppose there could be found any motive strong enough to induce a +genuine sailor to buckle a permanent collar round his neck with any +tolerable grace; the alternative of the yard-arm would almost be +preferable! His delight is to place a black or coloured silk +handkerchief lightly over his neck, and to confine its ends across his +breast by means of one of the small bones or vertebrae of a shark, +which forms a neat, white, perforated cylinder. Some very prime +dandies of the mizen-top fold a part of their handkerchief over the +shoulders and back; but it requires the aid of a handsome person, and +a good deal of modest assurance, to make this tolerable. + +They must also provide themselves with four pairs of duck trousers, a +straw hat for fine weather, and a canvas or beaver one for squalls, +though this need not be insisted on. Shoes are not much used, except +by those whose work lies aloft; and prudent hands generally keep a +blue jacket by them, in case of rain or night-work. It is not a bad +rule to muster the crew occasionally with blue jackets, even in hot +weather, to see that such things are really in existence. Each man +has, of course, a bed, a pillow, and two blankets; sheets are never +heard of. He has also two hammocks, one of which is slung and in use, +the other scrubbed, dry, and stowed away, ready to be exchanged for +the dirty one. The hammocks, at the time I first went to sea (1802), +were made of a coarse brown stuff, which it was difficult, if not +impossible, to make white by any amount of scrubbing; and, what was +worse, so thick that it was by no means easily dried. Now-a-days, they +are generally made either of canvas, or of a twilled sacking, and, +when spread out, measure 4-1/2 feet by 3-1/2; but when lashed up, and +ready for stowing away in the netting, they form long sacks, about as +big as a man's body, but not tapering to the ends. + +In ships where much pains is taken to have the hammocks stowed +properly, they are lashed up, so as to preserve the same width all +along, and with neither more nor fewer than seven turns with a +well-blacked small lashing, carefully passed round at equal intervals. +When the hammocks are prepared in this way, and all made of the same +size, (which condition may be secured by putting them through a ring +of given dimensions,) they are laid in symmetrical order all round the +ship, above the bulwark, on the quarter-deck and forecastle, and in +the waist nettings along the gangways. Each hammock, it may be +mentioned, has a separate number painted neatly upon it on a small, +white, oval patch, near one of the corners; so that, when they are all +stowed in the nettings, a uniform line of numbers extends round the +ship, and the hammock of any man who may be taken ill can be found by +his messmates in a moment. The bags, in like manner, of which each +person has two, are numbered separately. In rainy weather the hammocks +are securely covered by painted cloths. + +As a seaman's kit generally forms his whole property, it ought to be +carefully preserved, and every possible facility given that the +service will allow of for his keeping it in good order. A captain of +any consideration will naturally bear in mind, that, as the comfort +and health of the men under his command depend most materially upon +the manner in which they are clad, and especially upon the damp or dry +state of their dress, it becomes an important branch of his duty to +see that their things are taken care of with as much exactness as the +spare sails, cordage, or provisions. It much too frequently happens, +however, that the unfortunate sailors' clothes are more torment to +them than advantage, and they may think themselves lucky if they can +catch hold of a jacket or trousers to shift withal, so eternally are +they interfered with by some inconsiderate officers. "Pipe the bags +up!" "Pipe the bags down!" "Stow the bags afresh!" "Pipe to scrub the +bags!" and twenty such orders are given in a day in some ships, to the +endless misery of the people. It is, no doubt, necessary that the bags +should be scrubbed and stowed properly, and be piped up and down at +the proper times and seasons. But there are two ways of doing these +things: one, which gives the men no more trouble than is absolutely +unavoidable; the other, which harasses and justly provokes them. It is +not enough to say that they must submit, whether they like it or not. +They will submit, it is true; but in what temper? and how will these +men work when called upon to exert themselves, if they are habitually +treated with disrespect, and exposed to needless, and even impertinent +worry? I have even heard of some crack ships, as they are termed, +where the poor devils are obliged to pipe-clay their bags, to make +them look white, forsooth! Why, the very idea of pipe-clay is gall and +wormwood to the taste of the Johnnies. Of late years I understand +there have been introduced black painted water-proof bags, which are a +great comfort to the men. Besides keeping out wet, they require no +trouble to scrub and dry, and, after all, are fully as clean, and far +more useful in every respect. + +To show the various sorts of outfit which the men composing a +man-of-war's crew may be furnished with on first coming on board, I +shall describe a scene which took place on the Leander's +quarter-deck, off the Port of New York, in 1804. We were rather +short-handed in those days; and being in the presence of a blockaded +enemy, and liable, at half-an-hour's warning, to be in action, we +could not afford to be very scrupulous as to the ways and means by +which our numbers were completed, so that able-bodied men were secured +to handle the gun-tackle falls. It chanced one day that we fell in +with a ship filled with emigrants; a description of vessel called, in +the classical dictionary of the cockpit, an "Irish guinea man." Out of +her we pressed twenty Irishmen, besides two strapping fellows from +Yorkshire, and one canny Scot. + +Each of this score of Pats was rigged merely in a great coat, and a +pair of something which might be called an apology for inexpressibles; +while the rest of their united wardrobe could have been stowed away in +the crown of any one of their hats. Their motives for emigrating to a +country where mere health and strength of body are sure to gain an +independent provision were obvious enough; and I must say, that to +this hour I have not been able to forget the melancholy cry or howl +with which the separation of these hardy settlers from their families +was effected by the strong arm of power. It was a case of necessity, +it is true; but still it was a cruel case, and one for the exercise of +which the officer who put it in force deserves almost as much pity as +the poor wretches whose feelings and interests it became his bounden +duty to disregard. + +In most admired contrast to this bewildered drove of half-starved +Paddies stood the two immense, broad-shouldered, high-fed +Yorkshiremen, dressed in long-tailed coats, corduroy breeches, and +yellow-topped boots, each accompanied by a chest of clothes not much +less than a pianoforte, and a huge pile of spades, pick-axes, and +other implements of husbandry. They possessed money also, and letters +of credit, and described themselves as being persons of some substance +at home. Why they emigrated they would not tell; but such were their +prospects, that it was difficult to say whether they or the wild +Irishers were the most to be commiserated for so untoward an +interruption. Be this as it may, it cost the clerk half-an-hour to +write down a list of their multifarious goods and chattels, while a +single scratch of the pen sufficed for that of all the Irishmen. + +At last honest Saunders came under review. He was a tall, raw-boned, +grave-looking personage, much pitted with the smallpox, and wearing a +good deal of that harassed and melancholy air, which, sooner or later, +settles on the brow of an assistant to a village pedagogue. He was +startled, but not abashed, when drawn to the middle of the deck, and +asked, in the presence of fifty persons, what clothes and other things +he possessed? Not choosing at first to betray his poverty, he made no +answer, but looked round, as if to discover where his chest had been +placed. He then glanced at his thread-bare sleeve and tattered shoon, +with a slight touch of dry and bitter humour playing about the corners +of his mouth, and a faint sparkle lighting up his grey and sunken eye, +as he returned the impatient official stare of the clerk, who stood, +pen in hand, ready to note down the items. + +"Don't be frightened, man," said the captain; "no one is going to +hurt you, your things are quite safe. What does your property consist +of?" + +"A trifle, sir, a trifle," quoth poor Sawney; "fourpence ha'penny and +an auld knife!" + +Before concluding this subject, it may perhaps be useful to remark, +that, unless in those cases where such a measure is absolutely +necessary, the actual examination and minute recording of the men's +clothes might, in general, be advantageously dispensed with. I have, +indeed, occasionally fancied I saw traces of irritation and wounded +pride amongst the men, when all their little knick-knacks, every hat, +hose, and handkerchief, or old shoe, was examined into and noted down, +to be reproduced that day month, or its absence accounted for. I tried +a middle course in my own ship, which appeared to answer all the +purposes required. From time to time the men were ordered to bring +their bags to divisions, and to spread out their clothes to air on the +deck, over the guns, along the hammock-nettings, or in the rigging. In +this way the officers and mids, who passed repeatedly up and down the +line, had opportunities enough, if they did their duty, to see that +all the clothes were clean, dry, and in good order. When any man's +things were observed not to be in the condition demanded by the +regulations of the ship, or he was found ragged in his clothes, or not +properly dressed, then such delinquent was no longer indulged with the +exemption, but had his kit subjected to a daily, or weekly, or monthly +scrutiny, as the case might be. As long as he was in this predicament, +he was obliged to exhibit every article in proper condition, and was +not at liberty, without asking leave, to destroy even such worn-out +things as an old Jew clothesman would turn up his beard at. I took +care that no part of this surveillance should be talked of as a +punishment, although, unquestionably, it was intended and felt as +such; but studied rather to give it the character of a necessary duty +in the instance of individuals who, if not so watched, would, by their +misconduct, hurt the general discipline of the ship. It was very +seldom that any one exposed to such drilling for a month or six weeks +ever brought himself within the range of its humiliation a second +time. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[6] CLASSES AND DENOMINATIONS OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS. + +1. Rated Ships, viz.:-- + +_First Rate_.--All Three-decked Ships. + +_Second Rate_.--One of Her Majesty's Yachts, and all Two-decked Ships +whose war complements consist of 700 men and upwards. + +_Third Rate_.--Her Majesty's other Yachts, and all such Yachts as may +bear the Flag or Pendant of an Admiral or Captain Superintending one +of Her Majesty's Dock-yards; and all Ships whose complements are under +700 and not less than 600. + +_Fourth Rate_.--Ships whose complements are under 600 and not less +than 400. + +_Fifth Rate_.--Ships whose complements are under 400 and not less than +250. + +_Sixth Rate_.--Ships under 250. + +2. Sloops and Bomb-Vessels; all such as are commanded by Commanders. + +3. All other smaller Vessels; such as are commanded by Lieutenants or +inferior officers. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +SAILORS' PETS. + + +A dog is the most obvious and natural pet for a gentleman; but still, +a dog, with all his familiarity, is a selfish sort of companion, for +he generally bestows his whole sociability either upon his master, or +his master's servant who feeds him, or upon his master's friend who +accompanies him to the fields. To all others he is not only cold, but +often surly and impertinent. This, indeed, would matter little, if +there were not unfortunately a proverb extant, which has led perhaps +to more squabbles, duels, and other uncharitableness, than most other +causes of dispute. This pugnacious proverb, "Love me, love my dog," +being interpreted, signifies, "If you kick my dog, I kick you." Then +follows, if not the kick, words which hurt honour quite as much, and +in the end too often draw away the life-blood of warriors who, but +for some mangy cur, might have fought themselves into companionship in +public usefulness and fame with "Duncan, Howe, or Jarvis." + +No dog, therefore, can ever become a very general favourite of the +crew; for it is so completely his nature to be exclusive in his +regards, that were a whole pack of hounds on board, they would not be +enough, nor afford a tenth part of the amusement which a single monkey +serves out to a ship's company. I take good care, accordingly, never +to be without one in any ship I command, on the sheer principle of +keeping the men employed, in a good humoured way, when they chance to +have no specific duty to attend to. It must be recollected that we are +often exposed to long periods of inaction, during which mischief is +very apt to be brewed amongst the people. + +But if a good monkey be allowed to run about the ship, I defy any one +to continue long in a bad humour. Jacko is an overmatch for the demon +of idleness, at least if light hearts and innocent diversions be +weapons against which he cannot long contend. Be this as it may, I +make a rule of entering a monkey as speedily as possible after +hoisting my pendant; and if a reform takes place in the table of +ratings, I would recommend a corner for the "ship's monkey," which +should be borne on the books for "full allowance of victuals," +excepting only the grog; for I have observed that a small quantity of +tipple very soon upsets him; and although there are few things in +nature more ridiculous than a monkey half-seas over, yet the reasons +against permitting such pranks are obvious and numerous. + +When Lord Melville, then First Lord of the Admiralty, to my great +surprise and delight, put into my hands a commission for a ship going +to the South American station, a quarter of the world I had long +desired to visit, my first thought was, "Where now shall I manage to +find a merry rascal of a monkey?" Of course, I did not give audible +expression to this thought in the First Lord's room; but, on coming +down-stairs, I had a talk about it in the hall with my friend, the +late Mr. Nutland, the porter, who laughed, and said,-- + +"Why, sir, you may buy a wilderness of monkeys at Exeter 'Change." + +"True! true!" and off I hurried in a Hackney coach. Mr. Cross, not +only agreed to spare me one of his choicest and funniest animals, but +readily offered his help to convey him to the ship. "Lord, sir!" said +he, "there is not an animal in the whole world so wild or fierce that +we can't carry about as innocent as a lamb; only trust to me, sir, and +your monkey shall be delivered on board your ship in Portsmouth +Harbour as safely as if he were your best chronometer going down by +mail in charge of the master." Accordingly he was in a famous +condition for his breakfast next morning, when the waterman ferried +him off from Common Hard to the hulk, on board which the officers had +just assembled. As the ship had been only two or three days in +commission, few seamen had as yet entered; but shortly afterwards they +came on board in sufficient numbers; and I have sometimes ascribed the +facility with which we got the ship manned, not a little to the +attractive agency of the diverting vagabond, recently come from town, +the fame of whose tricks soon extended over Portsea; such as catching +hold of the end of the sail-maker's ball of twine, and paying the +whole overboard, hand over hand, from a secure station in the rigging; +or stealing the boatswain's silver call, and letting it drop from the +end of the cat-head; or his getting into one of the cabin ports and +tearing up the captain's letters, a trick at which even the stately +skipper can only laugh. + +One of our monkey's grand amusements was to watch some one arranging +his clothes bag. After the stowage was completed, and everything put +carefully away, he would steal round, untie the strings, and having +opened the mouth of the bag draw forth in succession every article of +dress, first smell it, then turn it over and over, and lastly fling it +away on the wet deck. It was amusing enough to observe, that all the +while he was committing any piece of mischief he appeared not only to +be under the fullest consciousness of guilt, but living in the perfect +certainty that he was earning a good sound drubbing for his pains. +Still the pleasure of doing wrong was so strong and habitual within +him, that he seemed utterly incapable of resisting the temptation. +While thus occupied, and alternately chattering with terror, and +screaming with delight, till the enraged owner of the property burst +in upon him, hardly more angry with Jacko than with his malicious +messmates, who, instead of preventing, had rather encouraged the +pillage. + +All this was innocent, however, compared to the tricks which the +blue-jackets taught him to play upon the jolly marines. How they set +about this laudable piece of instruction, I know not; but the +antipathy which they established in Jacko's breast against the red +coats was something far beyond ordinary prejudice, and in its +consequences partook more of the interminable war between cat and dog. +At first he merely chattered, or grinned contemptuously at them; or, +at worst, snapped at their heels, soiled their fine pipe-clayed +trousers, or pulled the cartridges out of their cartouch-boxes, and +scattered the powder over the decks; feats for which his rump was +sure to smart under the ratan of the indignant sergeant, to whom the +"party" made their complaint. Upon these occasions the sailors laughed +so heartily at their friend Jacko, as he placed his hands behind him, +and, in an agony of rage and pain, rubbed the seat of honour tingling +under the sergeant's chastisement, that if he could only have reasoned +the matter, he would soon have distrusted this offensive but not +defensive alliance with the Johnnies against the Jollies. Sometimes, +indeed, he appeared to be quite sensible of his absurd position, caned +by his enemy, and ridiculed by his friends, in whose cause he was +suffering. On these occasions, he often made a run, open-mouthed, at +the sailors; in return for which mutinous proceeding he was sure to +get a smart rap over the nose from his own party, which more than +counterpoised the anguish at the other extremity of his person, giving +ludicrous occupation to both his hands, and redoubling the shouts of +laughter at his expense. In short, poor St. Jago literally got what is +currently called monkey's allowance, viz. "more kicks than halfpence." + +In process of time, as Mr. Monkey, by dint of that bitter monitor, +experience, gained higher knowledge in the art of marine warfare and +ship diplomacy, he became much more formidable in his attacks on the +"corps," and generally contrived to keep himself well beyond the reach +of the sergeant's merciless ratan. One of the favourite pranks of the +sailors was to place him near the break of the forecastle, with a +handspike, taken from the bow-chaser gun, in his paws. It was quite as +much as he could carry, and far more than he could use as a missile +against the royals; but he was soon instructed in a method of +employing it, which always grievously annoyed the enemy. +Theoretically, I presume poor Jacko knew no more of the laws of +gravitation, than his friends, the seamen, did of centrifugal action, +when swinging round the hand-lead to gain soundings, by pitching it +far forward into the water; but both the monkey and his wicked +associates knew very well, that if a handspike were held across the +top of the forecastle ladder, and let go when a person was about +half-way down it, the heels of the said individual would be sure to +bring up, or stop the bar. The unhappy marine, therefore, who happened +to be descending the steps when Jacko let his handspike fall, +generally got the skin taken off his heels, or his instep, according +as his rear or his front was turned towards the foe. The instant Jacko +let go his hold, and the law of gravitation began to act, so that the +handspike was heard to rattle down the ladder, off he jumped to the +bow of the barge, overlooking the spot, and there sat, with his neck +stretched out, his eyes starting from his head, and his lips drawn +back, till his teeth, displayed from ear to ear, rapped against one +another like a pair of castanets in a bolero, under the influence of +the most ecstatic alarm, curiously mixed up with the joy of complete +success. The poor wounded Gulpin, in the mean time, rubbed his ankles +as he fired off a volley of imprecations, the only effect of which was +to increase the number of his audience, grinning and laughing in +chorus with the terrified mischief-monger. + +I remember seeing a marine, of more than usual activity, and who had +before been served this trick, catch hold of the end of the weather +middle stay-sail sheet, hanging from the booms, and, before Jacko +knew what he was about, succeed in giving him such a cut across his +sconce as the animal never forgot or forgave. Next morning the monkey +stowed himself away behind the pumps, till the same marine passed; he +then sprung out, and laid hold of him by the calf of the leg; and, in +spite of sundry kicks and cuffs, never once relaxed his jaws till the +teeth met amongst what the loblolly boy, in the pride of his +anatomical knowledge, called the "gastrocnemii muscles" of his enemy's +leg. The cries of "murder!" from the soldier, brought the marines and +many of the sailors under the half-deck to the poor fellow's rescue; +while the author of the mischief scuttled off among the men's feet, +chattering and screaming all the way. He was not again seen during two +or three days; at the end of which, as the wounded "troop" was not +much hurt, a sort of truce was proclaimed between the red and the blue +factions of the ship. Doubtless the armistice was all the better kept +in consequence of some tolerably intelligible hints from the higher +powers, that the peace of the ship was no longer to be invaded to make +sport for those who were evidently more idle than they ought to be, +and for whom, therefore, a little additional work might possibly be +found. + +Old Jacko, however, like one of the weaker states of Europe, whose +fate and fortunes are settled by the protocols of the surrounding +political giants, was no party to these treaties; and having once +tasted the joys of revenge, he could not keep his teeth quiet, but +must needs have another bite. Upon this occasion, however, he kept +clear of the corps, and attacked one of his oldest and dearest +friends, no less a personage than the captain of the foretop. It was +in warm weather, and the men, as usual, were dining on the main-deck; +the grog had been served out, and the happy Johnnies were just +beginning to sip their darling beverage, when Mr. Mischief, +incessantly occupied in his vocation of wrong doing, and utterly +incapable of resisting any good opening to get himself into a scrape, +saw the grog-kid of the captain of the top's mess standing by the +fore-hatchway. So he paced round, as if seeking for a bit of bread, +but all the while keeping his face turned just so far from the fated +grog-vessel that no one suspected his design. On reaching the spot his +heart began to fail him, but not his wickedness; indeed, his was the +very beau ideal of that character described in the satire of Junius, +which, "without courage enough to resist doing a bad action, has yet +virtue enough to be ashamed of it." Whether or not these mixed motives +influenced old Jacko, I cannot pretend to say; but there he sat +chattering, screaming, and trembling, as if the sergeant's cane had +been within an inch of his hide. + +"What ails you, my dear Mr. St. James?" said the captain of the top, +playfully addressing the monkey. "What are you afraid of? Nobody is +going to hurt you; we are all sailors and friends here, man. Not a +marine within hail of you!" + +At this stage of the colloquy the sly rogue having mustered all his +energies, fairly grasped the grog-kid in his arms, and, making a clean +spring from the deck, placed himself, at the first bound, beyond the +reach of the horror-stricken seaman. This exploit was not so adroitly +performed as it might have been if Jacko had been less agitated, and +one-half of the delicious nectar in the sailor's cup was jerked out. + +"You bloody thundering rascal of a monkey!" bellowed the astounded +topman; "let go the kid, or I'll shy this knife at your head!" + +The threat was no sooner uttered than executed; for the sailor, +without waiting to see the effect of his summons, threw the knife; and +had not his saintship ducked his head, there would have been an end of +monkey tricks for that cruise. As the glittering steel passed before +the wicked scamp's eyes, the flash deprived him of all recollection of +the mischief in hand: with a loud yell he leaped on the booms, and in +his terror let the prize slip from his grasp. It fell on the cooming +of the hatchway, hung for one instant, and then dashed right down into +the fore-cockpit, to the infinite astonishment of the boatswain's +yeoman, a thirsty soul, and familiar with drink in all its shapes, but +who declared he never before had tried grog in a shower-bath. + +Up started the enraged party of seamen on their feet. "All hands catch +monkey!" was the cry; and in ten seconds the whole crew, including the +cook with his ladle, and his mate with the tormentors in his hand, +were seen scrambling on deck. Jacko scampered like lightning up the +main-stay, and reached the top before any of the men, who had mounted +the rigging, were half-a-dozen ratlines above the hammocks. The +officers rushed to the quarter-deck, naturally fancying from the +bustling sounds that a man was overboard; but they were soon +undeceived by the shouts of laughter which resounded from every part +of the ship, low and aloft. + +For a few moments Jacko sat on the main-cap, chattering at such a rate +that, had it been dark, one of the men said, you could have seen the +sparks of fire from his teeth. I do not quite believe this; but +certainly I never witnessed such an expression of fear. A dozen men +were soon pouring into the top, while two others were stealing up the +stay, and four or five had got into the topmast-shrouds, to cut off +his retreat in that direction; finally, an active fellow leaped from +the rigging to the topmast, and sliding down the well-greased spar, +almost plumped on the devoted head of this master of the revels. It +was now absolutely necessary for Jacko to do something; so he made a +clear run down the main lift to the lower yard-arm. The gunner's mate +foreseeing this manoeuvre, had sprung to guard his department, and had +already lain out as far as the inner boom iron, with a gasket in his +hand, and quite certain of catching the chase. Not a bit! "A gunner's +mate catch a monkey!" The fable of the Tortoise and the Hare affords +but a feeble simile to characterize such a match; and before old +Hard-a-weather and his gasket had reached the yard-arm, our nimble +Mona had trotted half-way up the leach of the topsail, and was seated +as familiarly on the bridle of the maintop-bowline, as if he had been +perched on the feathery branch of a cocoa-nut tree, enjoying the sea +breeze, in his native island, amongst the beautiful Cape de Verdes. + +The sailors were now fairly baffled, and still more so when the expert +rogue chose to climb a little higher, and then to walk deliberately +along the standing part of the main-topsail brace to the mizen-topmast +head; whence, as if to divert himself, or force his pursuers to mingle +admiration with their rage, he made a flying leap downwards to the +peak haulyards, scampering along the single part till he reached the +end of the gaff. There he sat laughing at a hundred and fifty men and +boys, employed in the vain attempt to catch one monkey! + +Sailors are certainly not men to give up a pursuit lightly; but after +an hour of as hard labour as I ever witnessed, they were all obliged +to relinquish the chase from sheer fatigue, and poor Jacko was +pardoned by acclamation. The captain of the foretop, however, a couple +of days afterwards, more out of fun than from any ill-will on the old +grog score, gave the monkey's ear a pinch, upon which the animal +snapped at his thumb, and bit it so seriously that the man was obliged +to apply to the doctor. When this was reported to me by the surgeon, I +began to think my four-footed friend was either getting rather too +much licence, or that too many liberties were taken with him, so I +gave orders that in future he should be let alone. Nevertheless, Jacko +contrived to bite two more of the people, one of whom was the +sergeant, the other the midshipmen's boy. These were all wounded in +one day; and when the surgeon came to me next morning, as usual, with +the sick-list in his hand, he was rather in dudgeon. + +"Really, sir," said he, "this does seem rather too much of the monkey. +Here are no fewer than three persons in my list from bites of this +infernal beast." + +"Three!" I exclaimed, and straightway got angry, partly at my own +folly, partly at the perversity of my pet, and also somewhat nettled +by the tone not very unreasonably assumed by the doctor. "Send Black, +the quarter-master, here directly." He soon came. + +"Don't you take care of the monkey?" I asked. + +"Yes, sir, I do. You gave me charge of him." + +"Well! and why don't you prevent his biting the people?" + +"I can't prevent him, sir." + +"No! Then throw him overboard!" I cried--"over with him at once! There +he stands, in charge of the corporal and two marines; pitch him right +over the lee-gangway. I will not have the ship's company killed and +wounded at this rate. Over with him, I say!" + +The quarter-master moved off to the lee-gangway, and took the +terrified animal in his arms; while, on its part, the poor creature +seemed conscious of its approaching fate, and spread out its arms over +the seaman's bare breast, as if to supplicate his mercy. The old +sailor, who looked mightily as if he were going to melt upon the +occasion, cast a petitioning glance to windward every now and then +from under the edge of his straw hat, as I paced up and down the deck, +still fuming away at the doctor's demi-official reproach. As I saw the +fellow wished to say something, I at length asked him whether he had +any proposal to make respecting his wicked and troublesome pet. The +old man's face brightened up with this prospect of a respite for his +favourite; and, after humming and hawing for a minute, he said,-- + +"It is all owing to these two great teeth, sir; if they were out, he +would be as harmless as any lamb." + +"I tell you what it is," I replied, catching at this suggestion, "I +positively will not have the whole ship's company driven one after +another into the sick list by your confounded monkey; but if you +choose to draw those wild-boar tusks of his, you may let him live." + +Few reprieves were ever hailed at the foot of the gallows with more +joy by the friends of a felon than this announcement of a commutation +of Mr. St. Jago's sentence was received by his affectionate +companions. Even the marines, though constitutionally predisposed +against him, were glad of the change; and I heard the sentry at the +cabin door say, "I knew the captain had too much regard for the animal +to do him an injury." + +Injury, indeed! I question whether poor Jacko thought the alternative +any favour. At all events, his friends seemed grievously puzzled how +to fulfil the conditions of his exemption from a watery grave; for I +could perceive a council of war going on upon the lee side of the main +deck, as to the best method of proceeding in the affair of the tusks. + +"Who'll hold the monkey?" said one. + +No answer was made to this. It was like the old story of belling the +cat; but there was no Douglas so bold as to try the experiment on +Master Jacko, who at any time was a powerful animal, and would, it was +naturally inferred, make a tenfold effort when his teeth were the +objects of attack. + +"Even suppose we could tie the poor unfortunate victim," said the +quarter-master, "who knows how to pull out these great big teeth? We +might break his jaw in the operation." + +There was a long pause. + +"I dare say," at length cried one of the party, "that the doctor's +mate, who is a good-natured gentleman, would be so kind as to tell us +how we can manage this affair." + +A deputation of the monkey's friends was accordingly despatched to +present a humble petition to the surgeon's assistant, praying that he +would be graciously pleased to lend his professional aid in saving the +jaw, and perhaps the life, of one of the most diverting vagabonds in +his Majesty's service. + +Fortunately, the assistant medico was not one of those priggish +puppies who, having little professional knowledge to balance their own +inherent stupidity, fancy it necessary to support their dignity by the +agency of etiquettes alone. He was, on the contrary, a young man of +skill, good sense, and right feelings, who cared nothing at all about +his dignity when he could be of any use; or rather, who left it to +take care of itself, without thinking of anything but his business. To +tell the truth, he was so much a lover of his art that he felt +secretly tickled with the idea of a new operation, and experienced on +the occasion that peculiar pleasure, known, it is said, only to the +faculty, when a complicated and difficult case falls into their hands. +He had just mixed a glass of grog, after the day's work was done, and +was eyeing the beverage with that sort of serene anticipation which +the sober certainty of waking bliss is sure to produce, when the +deputation made their appearance, having first sent in the boy, whose +arm was still in a sling from the bite of the monkey. + +"Are you in a hurry?" said the doctor, on hearing the novel petition; +for he had nestled himself into the corner of the berth, with one foot +on the bench, the other on the table, and his glass of "half-and-half" +glowing like amber between his eye and the solitary glim of those +profound regions, those diamond mines from which the Hoods and the +Hardys of times past and times present have been drawn up to the very +tip-top of their profession. + +"Yes, sir," replied the spokesman of the party. "There is no time to +be lost, for the captain, who is in a great rage, says, if we don't +extricate the monkey's grinders, overboard he goes to a certainty." + +"Extricate is not the word, you blockhead; extract, I suppose you +mean. Besides, I fancy it is not his grinders which the captain has +ordered to be removed, but his eye-teeth, or tusks, as they may fairly +be called." + +"Well, sir," said the impatient seaman, "just as you please, tushes or +high teeth, if you'll only be kind enough to come and help us out of +this plaguy mess, and save the poor dumb animal's life." + +The quick clatter of feet up the ladders gave the signal that the +successful deputation were returning to the anxious party assembled +between the two guns just abaft the gangway-ladder, and nearly abreast +the after-hatchway, and immediate preparations were made for the +operation. + +While these preparations were going on, the learned doctor had leisure +to consider the case more attentively; and it occurred to him that it +would be needless cruelty to draw the poor beast's tusks, and +therefore he exchanged that too well-known instrument, the dentist's +key, for a pair of bone-nippers, with which he proposed merely to +break off the points. + +"I don't know exactly about that," said the perplexed quarter-master, +when the assistant surgeon explained his views of the matter. "The +captain said to me, 'Draw those wild bear's tushes out of him;' and I +am afraid, if they are only broken, the monkey may still have a chance +for going astern." + +"Nonsense, nonsense!" interrupted the judicious doctor. "Can you +suppose the captain wished that anything should he done to the animal +but just enough to prevent his biting the people?" + +And, suiting the action to the word, he closed the fatal pincers, and +nipped away the ends of the offending tusks, it is to be hoped without +causing him any great pain. But although poor Jacko probably did not +suffer much, his rage knew no bounds; and no sooner was the canvas +unfolded, than he sprang towards the after-hatchway, and catching the +sergeant's hand in his mouth, closed his jaws with all his force. +Instinctively the soldier's cane was in the air, but a dozen voices +roared out, "He can't bite! He has got no tushes left! Don't hit him!" +And, sure enough, although Mr. St. Jago gnawed and struggled, he could +make no impression on the well-tanned fist of the veteran, but, at +length, slunk off quite abashed, amidst the shouts and laughter of the +crew. + +When the ship came to England, and was paid off, I turned over the +monkey to the boatswain, who always remains in the ship, whence he +found his way back to his old haunts in Exeter 'Change, after an +absence of nearly three years; for happening one day, not long after +the ship was paid off, to be in attendance upon a party seeing the +wild beasts, one of the monkeys set up such a chattering in his cage, +that he attracted the attention of the keeper of the establishment. +"That animal seems to know you, sir," said he to me; and upon going +nearer, I discovered my old and mischievous friend grinning with +delight. I must own, indeed, that my heart smote me a little as I +looked at the broken teeth, while the poor fellow held out his paw to +catch my hand, in the spirit of perfect kindness and forgiveness. + +A far different fate, I am sorry to record, befell another monkey of +mine, in another ship, and in a very different quarter of the globe. I +was then in command of the Lyra, on the homeward voyage from China, +after the embassy under Lord Amherst had been concluded. We touched on +our way to Calcutta at the Philippine Islands, and, amongst other live +stock, laid in a monkey which had seen the world. He was born, they +assured us, at Teneriffe, bred at Cadiz, and had afterwards made the +voyage across the Pacific Ocean, _via_ Lima and Acapulco, to Manilla. +Our extensive traveller had made good use of his time and +opportunities, and was destined to see a good deal more of men and +manners, indeed almost to make out the circuit of the globe. This +distinguished monkey had a particular liking for the marines, who +caressed and fed him, and sometimes even ventured to teach him to play +off tricks on Jack, which the sailors promised one day to pay back +with interest on the soldiers. In so diminutive a vessel as a ten-gun +brig, there is but a small party of marines, merely a sergeant's +guard, and no commissioned officer, otherwise I hardly think the +following trick would have been attempted. + +One Sunday, while going the formal division rounds, I came to a figure +which at first sight puzzled me not a little. This was no other than +our great traveller, the monkey, rigged out as a marine, and planted +like a sentry on the middle step of the short ladder, which, in +deep-waisted vessels, is placed at the gangway, and reaches from the +deck to the top of the bulwark. The animal was dressed up in a +complete suit of miniature uniform, made chiefly of the coloured +buntin used for flags with sundry bits of red baize purloined from the +carpenters. His regimental cap was constructed out of painted canvas; +and under his lower jaw had been forced a stock of pump-leather, so +stiff in itself, and so tightly drawn back, that his head was rendered +totally immoveable. His chin, and great part of the cheeks, had been +shaved with so much care, that only two small curled mustachios and a +respectable pair of whiskers remained. His hair behind being tied back +tightly into a queue, the poor devil's eyes were almost starting from +his head; while the corners of his mouth being likewise tugged towards +the ears by the hair-dresser's operations, the expression of his +countenance became irresistibly ludicrous. The astonished recruit's +elbows were then brought in contact and fastened behind by a lashing, +passed round and secured to the middle step of the ladder, so that he +could not budge an inch from his position. One of the ship's pistols, +fashioned like a musket, and strapped to his shoulder, was tied to his +left hand, which again had been sewed by the sail-maker to the +waistband of his beautifully pipe-clayed trousers; in short, he was +rigged up as a complete sea-soldier in full uniform. + +As the captain and his train approached, the monkey began to tremble +and chatter; but the men, not knowing how their chief might relish the +joke, looked rather grave, while, I own, it cost me no small official +struggle to keep down a laugh. I did succeed, however, and merely +said, in passing, "You should not play these tricks upon travellers; +cast him loose immediately." One of the men pulled his knife from his +breast, and cutting the cord which fastened the poor Spaniard to the +ladder, let him scamper off. Unluckily for the gravity of the +officers, however, and that of the crew, Jacko did not run below, or +jump into one of the boats out of sight, but made straight for his +dear friends the marines, drawn up in line across our little +hurricane-house of a poop. Unconscious of the ridicule he was bringing +on his military patrons, he took up a position in front of the corps, +not unlike a fugleman; and I need hardly say, that even the royals +themselves, provoked though they were, now joined in the laugh which +soon passed along the decks, and was with difficulty suppressed during +the remainder of the muster. + +A day or two afterwards, and while the monkey was still puzzled to +think what was the matter with his chin, he happened to observe the +doctor engaged in some chemical process. As his curiosity and desire +for information were just such as ought to characterize a traveller of +his intelligence, he crept gradually from chest to chest, and from bag +to bag, till he arrived within about a yard of Apothecaries' Hall, as +that part of the steerage was named by the midshipmen. Poor Mono's +delight was very great as he observed the process of pill-making, +which he watched attentively while the ingredients were successively +weighed, pounded, and formed into a long roll of paste. All these +proceedings excited his deepest interest. The doctor then took his +spreader, and cut the roll into five pieces, each of which he intended +to divide into a dozen pills. At this stage of the process, some one +called the pharmacopoeist's attention to the hatchway. The instant his +back was turned, the monkey darted on the top of the medicine-chest, +snapped up all the five masses of pill stuff, stowed them hastily +away in his pouch, or bag, at the side of his mouth, scampered on +deck, and leaped into the main rigging, preparatory to a leisurely +feast upon his pilfered treasures. + +The doctor's first feeling was that of anger at the abstraction of his +medicines; but in the next instant, recollecting that unless immediate +steps were taken, the poor animal must inevitably be poisoned, he +rushed on deck, without coat or hat, and knife in hand, to the great +surprise and scandal of the officer of the watch. + +"Lay hold of the monkey, some of you!" roared the doctor to the +people. "Jump up in the rigging, and try to get out of his pouch a +whole mess of my stuff he has run off with!" + +The men only laughed, as they fancied the doctor must be cracked. + +"For any sake," cried the good-natured physician, "don't make a joke +of this matter. The monkey has now in his jaws more than a hundred +grains of calomel, and unless you get it from him, he will die to a +certainty!" + +Literally, the quantity Jacko had purloined, had it been prescribed, +would have been ordered in these terms:-- + +Rx Hydrargyri submuriatis, 3ij. (Take of calomel 120 grains!) + +This appeal, which was quite intelligible, caused an immediate rush of +the men aloft; but the monkey, after gulping down one of the lumps, or +twenty-four grains, shot upwards to the top, over the rail of which he +displayed his shaven countenance, and, as if in scorn of their +impotent efforts to catch him, plucked another lump from his cheek, +and swallowed it likewise, making four dozen grains to begin with. The +news spread over the ship; and all hands, marines inclusive, most of +whom had never been farther in the rigging than was necessary to hang +up a wet shirt to dry, were seen struggling aloft to rescue the poor +monkey from his sad fate. All their exertions were fruitless; for just +as the captain of the maintop seized him by the tail, at the starboard +royal yard-arm, he was cramming the last batch of calomel down his +throat! + +It would give needless pain to describe the effects of swallowing the +whole of this enormous prescription. Every art was resorted to within +our reach in the shape of antidotes, but all in vain. The stomach-pump +was then, unfortunately, not invented. Poor Jacko's sufferings, of +course, were great: first, he lost the use of his limbs, then he +became blind, next paralytic; and, in short, he presented, at the end +of the week, such a dreadful spectacle of pain, distortion, and +rigidity of limb, that I felt absolutely obliged to desire that he +might be released from his misery, by being thrown into the sea. This +was accordingly done when the ship was going along, for the British +Channel, at the rate of seven or eight knots, with a fine fair wind. +Very shortly afterwards it fell calm, and next day the wind drew round +to the eastward. It continued at that point till we were blown fifty +leagues back, and kept at sea so much longer than we had reckoned +upon, that we were obliged to reduce our daily allowance of provisions +and water to a most painfully small quantity. The sailors unanimously +ascribed the whole of our bad luck to the circumstance of the monkey +being thrown overboard. + +I had all my nautical life been well aware that a cat ought never to +be so treated; but never knew, till the fate of this poor animal +acquainted me with the fact, that a monkey is included in Jack's +superstition. + +In the same vessel, and on the same voyage to China, the sailors had +another pet, of a very singular description; viz. a pig--literally a +grunter: nor do I believe there ever was a favourite more deeply +cherished, or more sincerely lamented after her singular exit. On our +sailing from England, six little sows, of a peculiarly fine breed, had +been laid in by my steward. In the course of the voyage, five of these +fell under the relentless hands of the butcher; but one of the six, +being possessed of a more graceful form than belonged to her sister +swine, and kept as clean as any lap-dog, was permitted to run about +the decks, amongst the goats, sheep, dogs, and monkeys of our little +ark. The occurrence of two or three smart gales of wind off the Cape +of Good Hope, and the unceremonious entrance of sundry large seas, +swept the decks of most of our live stock, excepting only this one +pig, known amongst the crew by the pet name of Jean. During the bad +weather off the Bank of Aguilhas, her sowship was stowed in the launch +on the booms, and never seen, though often enough heard; but when we +hauled up to the northward, and once more entered the trade-winds, on +our course to the Straits of Sunda, by which entrance we proposed to +gain the Java Sea, Miss Jean was again allowed to range about the +decks at large, and right happy she seemed, poor lady, to exchange the +odious confinement of the longboat for the freedom of the open waist. + +In warm latitudes, the men, as I have mentioned before, generally +take their meals on deck, and it was Jean's grand amusement, as well +as business, to cruise along amongst the messes, poking her snout into +every bread-bag, and very often she scalded her tongue in the +soup-kids. Occasionally, the sailors, to show the extent of their +regard, amused themselves by pouring a drop of grog down her throat. I +never saw her fairly drunk, however, but twice; upon which occasions, +as was to be expected, she acted pretty much like a human being in the +same hoggish predicament. Whether it was owing to this high feeding, +or to the constant scrubbing which her hide received from sand, +brushes, and holystones, I know not, but she certainly grew and +flourished at a most astonishing rate, and every day waxed more and +more impudent and importunate at the dinner-hour. I saw a good deal of +this familiarity going on, but had no idea of the estimation Jean was +held in, till one day, when we were about half-way across the China +Sea, and all our stock of sheep, fowls, and ducks, was expended, I +said to the steward, "You had better kill the pig, which, if properly +managed, will last till we reach Macao." + +The servant stood for some time fumbling with his hair, and shuffling +with his feet, muttering something to himself. + +"Don't you hear?" I asked. "Kill the pig; and let us have the fry +to-day; the head with plenty of port wine, as mock-turtle soup, +to-morrow; and get one of the legs roasted for dinner on Saturday." + +Off he went; but in half-an-hour returned, on some pretence or other, +when he took occasion to ask,-- + +"Did you say Jean was to be killed, sir?" + +"Jean! Who is Jean?--Oh, now I remember; the pig. Yes, certainly. Why +do you bother and boggle so about killing a pig?" + +"The ship's company, sir--" + +"Well; what have the ship's company to say to my pig?" + +"They are very fond of Jean, sir." + +"The devil they are! Well; what then?" + +"Why, sir, they would take it as a great kindness if you would not +order her to be killed. She is a great pet, sir, and comes to them +when they call her by name, like a dog. They have taught her not to +venture abaft the mainmast; but if you only call her, you'll see that +what I say is true." + +"Indeed! I'll soon try that experiment;" and seized my hat to go on +deck. + +"Shall I tell the butcher to hold fast?" asked Capewell. + +"Of course!" I exclaimed. "Of course!" + +Off shot the steward like an arrow; and I could soon distinguish the +effect of the announcement, by the intermission of those horrible +screams which ever attend the execution of the pig tribe, all which +sounds were instantly terminated on the seizings being cut that tied +poor Jean's legs. + +On reaching the quarter-deck, I told what had passed to the officer of +the watch, who questioned its propriety a little, I thought, by the +tone of his answer. I, however, called out "Jean! Jean!" and in a +moment the delighted pig came prancing along. So great, in fact, was +her anxiety to answer the call, as if to show her sense of the +trifling favour I had just conferred upon her, that she dashed towards +us, tripped up the officer's heels, and had I not caught him, he +would have come souse on the deck. Even as it was, he indulged in a +growl, and muttered out,-- + +"You see, sir, what your yielding to such whims brings upon us." + +I said nothing, and only took care in future to caution my friends to +mind their footing when Jean was summoned aft, which, I allow, was +very often; for there was no resisting the exhibition to all strangers +of such a patent pet as this. To the Chinese in particular our comical +favourite became an object of the highest admiration, for the natives +of the celestial empire soon recognized in this happiest of swine the +celebrated breed of their own country. Many a broad hint I got as to +the acceptable nature of such a present, but I was deaf to them all; +for I felt that Jean now belonged more to the ship's company than to +myself, and that there was a sort of obligation upon me neither to eat +her nor to give her away. + +Under this tacit guarantee she gained so rapidly in size, fat, and +other accomplishments, that, on our return to China, after visiting +Loo Choo and other islands of the Japan Sea, the gentlemen of the +factory would hardly credit me that this huge monster was the same +animal. In talking of Jean's accomplishments, I must not be understood +to describe her as a learned pig; for she could neither play cards, +solve quadratic equations, nor perform any of those feats which +enchant and astonish the eyes of the citizens of London and elsewhere, +where many dogs and hogs are devoutly believed to be vested with a +degree of intelligence rather above than below the average range of +human intellect. Far from this, honest Jean could do little or nothing +more than eat, drink, sleep, and grunt; in which respects she was +totally unrivalled, and the effect of her proficiency in these +characteristic qualities became daily more manifest. At first, as I +have mentioned, when her name was called from any part of the ship, +she would caper along, and dash impetuously up to the group by whom +she was summoned. But after a time she became so excessively fat and +lazy that it required many a call to get her to move, and the offer of +a slice of pine-apple, or a handful of lychees, or even the delicious +mangosteen, was now hardly enough to make her open her eyes, though in +the early stages of the voyage she had been but too thankful for a +potato, or the skin of an apple. As she advanced in fatness, she lost +altogether the power of walking, and expected the men to bring the +good things of their table to her, instead of allowing her to come for +them. + +At the time of Sir Murray Maxwell's attack on the batteries of Canton, +the Lyra, under my command, was lying at Macao, and during our stay +the brig was visited by many of the Chinese authorities. We were also +watched by a fleet of men-of-war junks, and had some reason to suppose +that we might have a brush with them. In that event, I think our worst +chance would have consisted in the enthusiasm with which the Chinese +admiral, captains, and crews, would have fought to have put themselves +in possession of such a prize as Jean. + +While things were in this interesting position, I received orders to +get under weigh, and run up the Canton river to Wampoa. Off we set, +escorted by the Chinese fleet of a dozen sail of junks. The wind was +against us, but we soon beat up to the Bogue, and passed, unharmed, +the batteries, which, to use Lord Nelson's expression, Captain +Maxwell had made to look very like a plum-pudding. We had scarcely +anchored at Second Bar, in the midst of the grand fleet of tea ships, +when we were boarded by a host of Chinese mandarins and Hong +merchants, wearing all the variety of buttons by which ranks are +distinguished in that well-classified land. This was not to compliment +us, or to offer us assistance, or even to inquire our business. One +single object seemed to engage all their thoughts and animate the +curiosity of half the province of Quantung. The fame of our fat sow +Jean, in short, had far outrun the speed of the Lyra, and nothing was +heard on every hand but the wondering exclamations of the natives, +screaming out in admiration, "High-yaw! High-yaw!" + +We had enough to do to clear the ship at night of these our visitors, +but we were by no means left in solitude; for the Lyra's anchorage was +completely crowded with native boats. The motive of all this attention +on the part of the Chinese was not merely pure admiration of Jean; the +fact is, the acute Chinese, skilled especially in hog's flesh, saw +very well that our pet pig was not long for this world, and knowing +that if she died a natural death, we should no more think of eating +her than one of our own crew; and having guessed also that we had no +intention of "killing her to save her life," they very reasonably +inferred that ere long this glorious _bonne bouche_ would be at their +disposal. + +Our men, who soon got wind of this design on the part of the Chinese, +became quite outrageous against Fukee, as the natives are called, and +would hardly permit any visitors to come near their favourite, lest +they should accelerate her inevitable fate by poison. At length poor +dear Jean gave token of approaching dissolution; she could neither +eat, nor drink, nor even grunt; and her breathing was like that of a +broken bellows: in short, she died! Every art was taken to conceal the +melancholy event from the Chinese; but somehow or other it got abroad, +for the other English ships were deserted, and long before sunset a +dense mass of boats, like a floating town, was formed astern and on +both quarters of the Lyra. + +The sailors now held a grand consultation as to what was to be done; +and after much discussion, and many neat and appropriate speeches, it +was unanimously resolved that the mortal remains of the great sow now +no more should be deposited in the mud of the river of Canton, in such +a way that the most dexterous and hungry inhabitant of the celestial +empire should not be able to fish her up again. + +As soon as it was quite dark, and all the Chinese boats sent, as +usual, beyond the circle limited by the ship's buoys, the defunct +pig's friends set to work to prepare for her obsequies. The chief +object was to guard against the ravenous natives hearing the splash, +as she went overboard; and next, that she should not afterwards float +to the surface. The first point was easily accomplished, as will be +seen presently; but there was a long debate, in whispers, amongst the +men, as to the most expedient plan of keeping the body of their late +pet from once more showing her snout above the stream. At length, it +was suggested by the coxswain of one of the boats which had been sent +during the morning to sound the passage, that as the bed of the river +where the brig lay consisted of a deep layer of mud, it would be a +good thing if Jean's remains could be driven so far into this soft +stratum as to lie below the drags and hooks of the Chinese. + +This advice was much applauded, and at once acted upon with that happy +facility of resource which it is the pride of the profession to have +always in store for small as well as for great occasions. The dead sow +was first laid on its back, and then two masses of iron ballast, being +placed one on each side of the cheek, were lashed securely to the neck +and shoulders in such a manner that the ends of the kentlage met +across her nose, and formed, as it was very properly called, an extra +snout for piercing the mud. + +When all was ready, the midship carronade was silently dismounted, the +slide unbolted, and the whole removed out of the way. Jean's enormous +corporation being then elevated, by means of capstan bars and +handspikes, was brought on a level with the port-sill. A slip-rope was +next passed between her hind legs, which had been tied together at the +feet; and poor Miss Piggy, being gradually pushed over the ship's +side, was lowered slowly into the water. When fairly under the +surface, and there were no fears of any splash being caused by letting +her go, one end of the rope was cast off, upon which the well-loaded +carcass shot down perpendicularly at such a rate that there could be +no question of its being immersed a fathom deep, at least, in the mud, +and, of course, far beyond the reach of the disappointed Chinese! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DOUBLING THE CAPE. + + +As our merry little ship approached the far-famed Cape of Good Hope, I +often remained on deck after the watch was out, feasting my eyes on +the sight of constellations known to me before only by name, and as +yet scarcely anchored in my imagination. Each succeeding night, as the +various clusters rose, crossed the meridian, and sunk again into the +western waves, we came more and more into the way, not only of +speaking, but thinking of them, under their conventional titles of +hydras, doves, toucans, phoenixes, and flying-fish, not forgetting the +enormous southern whale, whose beautiful eye, called Fomalhaut, while +it flames in the zenith of the Cape, is hardly known to the +astronomers of this country, from its greatest altitude, as seen by +them, not being ten degrees. + +But of all the Antarctic constellations, the celebrated Southern Cross +is by far the most remarkable, and must, in every age, continue to +arrest the attention of all voyagers and travellers who are fortunate +enough to see it. I think it would strike the imagination even of a +person who had never heard of the Christian religion; but of this it +is difficult to judge, seeing how inextricably our own ideas are +mingled up with associations linking this sacred symbol with almost +every thought, word, and deed of our lives. The three great stars +which form the Cross, one at the top, one at the left arm, and one, +which is the chief star, called Alpha, at the foot, are so placed as +to suggest the idea of a crucifix, even without the help of a small +star, which completes the horizontal beam. When on the meridian, it +stands nearly upright; and as it sets, we observe it lean over to the +westward. I am not sure whether, upon the whole, this is not more +striking than its gradually becoming more and more erect as it rises +from the east. In every position, however, it is beautiful to look at, +and well calculated, with a little prompting from the fancy, to stir +up our thoughts to solemn purpose. I know not how others are affected +by such things; but, for myself, I can say with truth, that, during +the many nights I have watched the Southern Cross, I remember no two +occasions when the spectacle interested me exactly in the same way, +nor any one upon which I did not discover the result to be somewhat +different, and always more impressive, than what I had looked for. + +This constellation being about thirty degrees from the south pole, is +seen in its whole revolution, and, accordingly, when off the Cape, I +have observed it in every stage, from its triumphant erect position, +between sixty and seventy degrees above the horizon, to that of +complete inversion, with the top beneath, and almost touching the +water. This position, by the way, always reminded me of the death of +St. Peter, who is said to have deemed it too great an honour to be +crucified with his head upwards. In short, I defy the stupidest mortal +that ever lived to watch these changes in the aspect of this splendid +constellation, and not to be in some degree struck by them. + +These airy visions are sometimes curiously broken in upon by the most +common-place incidents, which force us back upon ordinary life. On the +28th of May we overtook a packet on her way to the Brazils from +England, which had sailed more than a month after us, but she had not +a single newspaper, army list, navy list, or review on board. The mate +was totally ignorant of all the interesting topics of that most +interesting moment of the war (1812); and in reply to all our +questions, merely observed that everything was just the same as when +we left England. The captain was ill in bed, and could not be spoken +to, so that this intelligent gentleman, his chief officer, had been +lugged on deck to tell the news. He honestly confessed, after being +sufficiently baited and badgered by our interrogatories, that even +when in England he had no time to look at the newspapers, but that he +left public affairs to the management of those whose business it was +to look after them, while he found enough to do in looking after the +packet. + +"I dare say," added the fellow, with rather more dryness of humour +than we had imagined was in his doughy composition, "I dare say the +whole story you are asking about, of Buonaparte and the Russians, is +told very exactly in these bags (pointing to the mail), and if I +deliver them safe at Rio, it will be wrong to say I bring no news." + +On the 4th of June we had a jollification in honour of good old King +George the Third's birthday. In how many different parts of the world, +and with what deep and affectionate sincerity, were cups quaffed and +cheers rung out in the same loyal cause! If sailors would tell the +truth, we should find that when abroad and far away, they generally +use their distant friends as the captain, mentioned some time ago, did +his ship's company's European clothing--stow them away for a future +occasion. I do not say that they forget or neglect their friends; they +merely put them by in safety for a time. In fact, as the song says, a +sailor's heart and soul have plenty to do "in every port," to keep +fully up to the companionships which are present, without moping and +moaning over the remembrance of friends at a distance, who, in like +manner no doubt, unship us also, more or less, from their thoughts, if +not from their memory, for the time being; and it is all right and +proper that it should be so. + +On the 5th of June we parted from our convoy, the China ships; and, +alas! many a good dinner we lost by that separation. Our course lay +more to the left, or eastward, as we wished to look in at the Cape of +Good Hope, while those great towering castles, the tea ships, could +not afford time for play, but struck right down to the southward, in +search of the westerly winds which were to sweep them half round the +globe, and enable them to fetch the entrance of the China seas in time +to save the monsoon to Canton. Each ship sent a boat to us with +letters for England, to be forwarded from the Cape. This was probably +their last chance for writing home; so that, after the accounts +contained in these dispatches reached England, their friends would +hear nothing of them till they presented themselves eighteen months +afterwards. Neither did they expect to know what was passing at home +till they should touch at St. Helena, on the return voyage, in the +latter end of the following year. + +I remember looking over the lee-gangway next day, at the first blush +of the dawn, during the morning watch, and I could barely distinguish +the fleet far to leeward, with their royals just showing above the +horizon. On taking leave of our convoy, we were reminded that there is +always something about the last, the very last look of any object, +which brings with it a feeling of melancholy. On this occasion, +however, we had nothing more serious to reproach ourselves with than +sundry impatient execrations with which we had honoured some of our +slow-moving, heavy-sterned friends, when we were compelled to shorten +sail in a fair wind, in order to keep them company. A smart frigate +making a voyage with a dull-sailing convoy reminds one of the child's +story of the provoking journey made by the hare with a drove of oxen. + +Our merry attendants, the flying-fish, and others which swarmed about +us in the torrid zone, refused to see us across the tropic, and the +only aquatics we fell in with afterwards were clumsy whales and +grampuses, and occasionally a shoal of white porpoises. Of birds there +were plenty, especially albatrosses. The captain, being a good shot +with a ball, brought down one of these, which measured seven feet +between the tips of the wings. I have several times seen them twelve +feet; and I heard a well-authenticated account of one measuring +sixteen feet from tip to tip. On the 22nd of June we came in sight of +the high land on the northern part of the peninsula of the Cape of +Good Hope, the far-famed Table Mountain, which looked its character +very well, and really did not disappoint us, though, in general, its +height, like that of most high lands, is most outrageously exaggerated +in pictures. The wind failed us during the day, and left us rolling +about till the evening, when the breeze came too late to be of much +use. Next day we rounded the pitch of the Cape, but it blew so strong +from the northward, right out of False Bay, accompanied by rain and a +high sea, that we found it no easy job to hold our own, much less to +gain the anchorage. But on the 24th of June, the day after, the wind +moderated and became fair, the weather cleared up, and we sailed +almost into Simon's Bay, a snug little nook at the north-western angle +of False Bay. It then fell calm, but the boats of the men-of-war at +anchor, his Majesty's ships Lion, Nisus, and Galatea, soon towed us +into our berth. During the winter of that hemisphere, which +corresponds to our northern summer, the only safe quarters for ships +is in Simon's Bay, on the south side of the Cape peninsula. + +I have a perfect recollection of the feelings with which I leaped out +of the boat, and first set foot on the continent of Africa, but am +prevented from describing these poetical emotions by the remembrance, +equally distinct, of the more engrossing anxiety which both my +companion and myself experienced about our linen, then on its way to +the laundress in two goodly bundles. For the life of me, I cannot +separate the grand ideas suitable to the occasion, from the base +interests connected with cotton shirts and duck trousers. And such is +the tormenting effect of association, that when I wish to dwell upon +the strange feelings, partly professional and partly historical, +caused by actually gazing on the identical Cape of Good Hope, a spot +completely hammered into the memory of all sailors, straightway I +remember the bitter battling with the washer-folks of Simon's Town +touching the rate of bleaching shirts: and both the sublime and the +beautiful are lost in the useful and ridiculous. + +The 3rd of July was named for sailing; but the wind, which first came +foul, soon lulled into a calm, then breezed up again; and so on +alternately, baffling us in all our attempts to get to sea. Nor was it +till the 5th that we succeeded in forcing our way out against a smart +south-easter, with a couple of reefs in the topsails, and as much as +we could do to carry the mainsail. A westerly current sweeps at all +seasons of the year round the Cape of Good Hope, and sometimes proves +troublesome enough to outward-bound ships. This stream is evidently +caused by the trade-wind in the southern parts of the Indian ocean. +For three days we were bamboozled with light south-easterly airs and +calms, but on the 8th of July, which is the depth of winter in that +hemisphere, there came on a spanking snuffler from the north-west, +before which we spun two hundred and forty miles, clean off the reel, +in twenty-four hours. + +Nothing is more delightful than the commencement of such a fair wind. +The sea is then smooth, and the ship seems literally to fly along; the +masts and yards bend forwards, as if they would drop over the bows, +while the studding-sail booms crack and twist, and, unless great care +be taken, sometimes break across; but still, so long as the surface of +the sea is plane it is astonishing what a vast expanse of canvas may +be spread to the rising gale. By-and-bye, however, it becomes prudent +to take in the royals, flying-jib, and top-gallant studding-sails. The +boatswain takes a look at the gripes and other fastenings of the boats +and booms; the carpenter instinctively examines the port-lashings, and +draws up the pump-boxes to look at the leathers; while the gunner sees +that all the breechings and tackles of the guns are well secured +before the ship begins to roll. The different minor heads of +departments, also, to use their own phrase, smell the gale coming on, +and each in his respective walk gets things ready to meet it. The +captain's and gun-room steward beg the carpenter's mate to drive down +a few more cleats and staples, and, having got a cod-line or two from +the boatswain's yeoman, or a hank of marline stuff, they commence +double lashing all the tables and chairs. The marines' muskets are +more securely packed in the arm-chest. The rolling tackles are got +ready for the lower yards, and the master, accompanied by the gunner's +mate, inspects the lanyards of the lower rigging. All these, and +twenty other precautions are taken in a manner so slow and deliberate +that they would hardly catch the observation of a passenger. It might +also seem as if the different parties were afraid to let out the +secret of their own lurking apprehension, but yet were resolved not to +be caught unprepared. + +Of these forerunners of a gale none is more striking than the repeated +looks of anxiety which the captain casts to windward, as if his +glance could penetrate the black sky lowering in the north-west, in +order to discover what was behind, and how long with safety he might +carry sail. Ever and anon he shifts his look from the wind's eye, and +rests it on the writhing spars aloft, viewing with much uneasiness the +stretching canvas all but torn from the yards. He then steps below, +and for the fortieth time reads off the barometer. On returning to the +deck he finds that, during the few minutes he has been below, the +breeze has freshened considerably, or, it may be, that, coming +suddenly upon it again, he views it differently. At all events, he +feels the necessity of getting the sails in while he yet can, or +before "God Almighty takes them in for him," as the sailors say when +matters have been so long deferred, that not only canvas and yards, +but even masts, are at times suddenly wrenched out of the ship, and +sent in one confused mass far off to leeward, whirling in the gale! + +The men, who are generally well aware of the necessity of shortening +sail long before the captain has made up his mind to call the hands +for that purpose, have probably been collected in groups for some time +in different parts of the upper deck, talking low to one another, and +looking aloft with a start, every now and then, as the masts or yards +give an extra crack. + +"Well! this is packing on her," says one, laying an emphasis on the +word "is." + +"Yes!" replies another; "and if our skipper don't mind, it will be +packing off her presently," with an emphasis on the word "off." "Right +well do I know these Cape gales," adds an ancient mariner of the +South Seas; "they snuffle up in a minute; and, I'll answer for it, the +captain will not carry sail so long off Cape Aguilhas, when he has +gone round that breezy point as often as old Bill has." + +At this moment the tardy voice of the commander, long unwilling to +lose any part of the fair wind, is at length heard, giving the +reluctant order, "Turn the hands up, shorten sail!" The ready clatter +of feet, and the show of many heads at all the hatchways, and +perhaps the sound of a suppressed laugh amongst the men who have been +gossiping and wagering about the gale, give sufficient indication that +this evolution has been expected for some time. + +"All hands shorten sail!" calls out the boatswain, after a louder and +sharper note than usual from his pipe, winded not half the ordinary +length of time, though twice as shrilly; for his object is to mark on +the ears of the people the necessity of unusual expedition and +exertion. A clever and experienced person filling this important +situation will soon teach the men to distinguish between the various +notes of his call, though to unpractised ears the sounds might appear +unvaried. + +"Shorten sail! that's easier said than done," growls forth some +hard-up old cock. + +"No! not a bit easier said than done," unexpectedly observes the +captain, but quite good-humouredly, having accidentally heard the +seaman's remark. "Not a bit, old fellow, if you and the young hands +only work as smartly and cheerfully as I know you can do when you have +a mind. Come, my lads, are you all ready forward?" + +It is a trying moment both for the sails and yards, when the order is +actually given to commence shortening sail; if the pressure from the +wind be considerable, it is necessary to have men stationed to lower +away the haulyards and ease off the tacks at the proper moment, while +others gather in the sails as they come down, fluttering a little +perhaps, if not carefully managed, but still quietly and easily, as +well as quickly. When, however, the wind has risen to a pitch beyond +its due proportion to the canvas spread, and the captain's anxiety to +make the most of a fair wind has tempted him to carry on too long, the +case becomes very difficult, the ropes which keep the sails in their +places contributing also an important share to the support of those +spars to which the sails are bent, or to which they may be hauled out. +Consequently, the moment the ropes alluded to, which are technically +named the haulyards and tacks, are slackened, the yards and booms, +being suddenly deprived of these material supports, are very apt to be +sprung, that is, cracked across, or even carried away, which means +being snapped right in two as short as a carrot, to use Jack's very +appropriate simile. + +It is quite true, that lowering away the sail and easing off the tack +of a studding-sail does diminish the pressure of the sail on the spar, +and, of course, both the yard and the boom have less duty to perform. +Still, the moment which succeeds the order to "Lower away!" is +especially trying to the nerves of the officer who is carrying on the +duty. I have not unfrequently seen comparatively young officers handle +the sails and yards of a ship with perfect ease, from their superior +mechanical knowledge, at times when the oldest sailors on board were +puzzled how to get things right. One officer, for instance, may +direct the preparations for shortening sail to be made according to +the most orthodox rules laid down in Hamilton Moor's "Examination of a +Young Sea Officer," and yet when he comes to give the fatal word, +"Lower away! haul down!" everything shall go wrong. The tack being +eased off too soon, the spar breaks in the middle, and the poor +topmast studding-sail is spitted like a lark on the broken stump of +the boom, while the lower studding-sail, driven furiously forward by +the squall, is pierced by the spritsail yard-arm, the cat-head, and +the bumpkin; or it may be wrapped round the bowsprit, like so much wet +drapery in the inimitable Chantrey's studio over the clay figure of an +Indian bishop. + +"What the blue blazes shall I do next?" moans the poor puzzled officer +of the watch, who sees this confusion caused entirely by his own bad +management. On such an occasion, a kind and considerate captain will +perhaps fairly walk below, and so leave the mortified youth to get +himself out of the scrape as he best can, and rather lose a small +spar, or a bolt of canvas, than expose his officer to the humiliation +of having the task transferred to another; or he will edge himself +near the embarrassed officer, and, without the action being detected +by any one else, whisper a few magical words of instruction in the +young man's ear, by which the proper train of directions are set +agoing, and the whole confusion of ropes, sails, and yards, speedily +brought into order. If this fails, the hands are called, upon which +the captain himself, or more generally the first lieutenant, takes the +trumpet; and the men, hearing the well-known, confident voice of +skill, fly to the proper points, "monkey paw" the split sails, clear +the ropes, which an instant before seemed inextricably foul, and in a +very few minutes reduce the whole disaster to the dimensions of a +common occurrence. "Now, you may call the watch," says the captain; +and the reproved officer again takes charge of the deck. I need hardly +say, that any young man of spirit ought rather to wear his hands to +the bone in learning his duty, than to expose himself to such +mortification as this. + +Let us, however, suppose all the extra sails taken in without +accident, and rolled up with as much haste as may be consistent with +that good order which ought never to be relaxed under any degree of +urgency. In fine weather, it is usual to place the studding-sails in +the rigging, with all their gear bent, in readiness to be whipped up +to the yard-arm at a moment's warning; but when a breeze such as we +are now considering is on the rise, it is thought best to unbend the +tacks and haulyards, and to stow the sails in some convenient place, +either on the booms, between the boats, or in the hammock-nettings. +For the same reason, the small sails are sent on deck, together with +as much top hamper as can readily be moved. These things are scarcely +bundled up and lifted out of the way before the long-expected order to +reef topsails is smartly given out, and crowds of men are seen +skipping up the tight weather-rigging, with a merry kind of alacrity, +which always makes a captain feel grateful to the fellows--I do not +well know why; for, as there is then no real danger, there seems +nothing particularly praiseworthy in this common-place exertion. +Perhaps the consciousness that a storm is coming on, during which +every nerve on board may be strained, makes the captain see with +pleasure a show of activity which, under other circumstances, may be +turned to trials of the utmost hardihood and daring. + +Be this as it may, the yards come sliding down the well-greased masts; +the men lie out to the right and left, grasp the tumultuous canvas, +drag out the earings, and tie the points, with as perfect deliberation +as if it were a calm, only taking double pains to see that all is +right and tight, and the reef-band straight along the yard. The order +has been given to take in the second and third reefs only; but the men +linger at their posts, expecting the further work which they know is +necessary. The captain of the top, instead of moving in, continues to +sit astride the spar, dangling his legs under the weather yard-arm +with the end of the close reef-earing in his hand, quite as much at +his ease as any well-washed sea-bird that ever screamed defiance to a +pitiless south-wester. + +Johnny's anticipations prove right, for the anxious commander, after +gazing twice or thrice to windward, again consulting his barometer, +looking six or eight times at his watch in as many minutes, to learn +how many hours of daylight are yet above the horizon, and perhaps also +stealing a professional opinion from his first lieutenant, an officer +probably of much more technical experience than himself, decides upon +close-reefing. If he be a man of sense, and wishes the work to be done +quickly and well, he must not now hesitate about starting the topsail +sheets, and it will certainly be all the better if one or both the +clew-lines be likewise hauled close up. + +The mainsail is now to be taken in; and as the method of performing +this evolution has long been a subject of hot controversy at sea, I +take the opportunity of saying, that Falconer's couplet,-- + + "For he who strives the tempest to disarm + Will never first embrail the lee yard-arm," + +has, in my opinion, done a world of mischief, and split many thousands +of sails. + +I, at least, plead guilty to having been sadly misled by this +authority for many years, since it was only in the last ship I +commanded that I learned the true way to take in the mainsail when it +blows hard. The best practice certainly is, to man both buntlines and +the lee leechline well, and then to haul the LEE clew-garnet close up, +before starting the tack or slacking the bowline. By attending to +these directions, the spar is not only instantaneously relieved, but +the leeward half of the sail walks sweetly and quietly up to the yard, +without giving a single flap. After which the weather-clew comes up +almost of itself, and without risk or trouble. + +Meanwhile the ship is spinning along very nearly at the same rate as +at first, though two-thirds of the canvas have been taken off her. +These variations in speed are odd enough, and, at times, not easily +accounted for. When the breeze first comes on, all sail set, and the +water quite smooth, the ship can be steered on a straight course +without any difficulty, and she really seems to fly. When the log is +hove, it is discovered, we shall suppose, that she is going eleven +knots. Well, the wind increases, and in come the studding-sails; but +as the water is still smooth, the single-reefed topsails and +top-gallant-sails may be carried, though it is evident the ship is +rather over-pressed, or, at all events, not another stitch of sail +could be set. + +"Heave the log again, and see what she goes now!" says the officer. +"How much?" + +"Eleven knots and a-half, sir," replies the middy of the watch. + +Presently the sea rises, the masts bend, the ship begins to stagger +along, groaning and creaking in every joint, under the severe +pressure. The topsails are close-reefed to meet the increased wind; +but still, as before, she is under quite as much canvas as she can +possibly bear. + +"Heave the log now!" again says the officer. "Ten knots!" reports the +middy. + +By-and-bye the courses are reefed, and before dark the mainsail is +rolled up, the fore and mizen topsails handed, and the top-gallant +yards sent on deck. The sea has now risen to a disagreeable height, +and the steering, in spite of every care, becomes wilder and much more +difficult; and as the ship forges into the breast of the waves, or +rises with a surge not much less startling, her way seems deadened for +the moment, till she bounds up again on the top of the sea, to woo, as +it were, the embraces of the rattling gale. The storm is not slow to +meet this rude invitation; while, if the ropes, sails, and masts, be +all wet, as they generally are in such a breeze, it is difficult to +conceive any tones more gruff and unsentimental than the sounds of +this boisterous courtship. + +In line-of-battle ships, and even in frigates, the close-reefed +main-topsail and foresail may be carried, for a very long time, when +going nearly before the wind; and indeed it is the best seamanship to +crack on her; for when the gale rises to its highest pitch, and the +seas follow in great height, they are apt to curl fairly on board, and +play fine pranks along the decks, even if the violence of the blow on +the quarter do not broach the ship to, that is, twist her head round +towards the wind in such a way that the next sea shall break over her +gangway, and in all probability sweep away the masts. In small vessels +it becomes a most anxious period of the gale when the sea has got up +so much that it is difficult to steer steadily, and when the wind +blows so strong that enough sail cannot be carried to keep the ship +sufficiently ahead of the waves, except at the risk of tearing the +masts away. When the requisite degree of speed cannot be secured, the +inevitable consequence, sooner or later, is, that a monstrous +pea-green solid sea walks most unceremoniously on board, over the +taffrail, and dashes along the decks like those huge debacles, of +which some geologists so confidently point out the traces on the +earth's surface. + +I never happened actually to witness a catastrophe of this kind on the +great scale, though I have seen one or two smartish gales in my time. +Indeed the most serious evils I recollect to have been present at +occurred on board the Volage, on the very passage to India which I am +now describing. The following are the words in which these incidents +are noticed in my journal:-- + +"On the 13th of July, off the Cape of Good Hope, in the midst of a +heavy winter's gale, our worthy passenger, Sir Evan Nepean, governor +of Bombay, was thrown down the ladder, by the violent rolling of the +ship; and another gentleman, the Baron Tuyll, the best-natured and +deservedly popular passenger I ever saw afloat, was very nearly +washed out of his cot by a sea which broke into the stern windows of +the captain's cabin." + +I have often enough been close to wars and rumours of wars, but was +never in a regular sea-fight; and though I have also witnessed a few +shipwrecks and disasters, I never was myself in much danger of what +might be honestly called a lee shore; neither is it my good fortune to +be able to recount, from personal knowledge, any scenes of hardship or +suffering from hunger, cold, or any other misery. My whole +professional life, in short, has been one of such comparative ease and +security, that I cannot now remember ever going far beyond twenty-four +hours without a good bellyful. Still I have often been forced to take +a high degree of interest in formidable adventures of this kind, from +their happening in fleets of which my own ship formed a part, or from +these incidents including among the sufferers persons to whom I was +attached. + +In the year 1815, I accompanied a convoy of homeward-bound Indiamen +from Ceylon, and a right merry part of the voyage it was while we ran +down a couple of thousand miles of the south-east trade-wind; for +these hospitable floating nabobs, the East India captains, seldom let +a day pass without feasting one another; and we, their naval +protectors, came in for no small share of the good things, for which +we could make but a poor return. Along with our fleet, there sailed +from Ceylon a large ship, hired as a transport by Government to bring +home invalid soldiers. There were about 500 souls in her; of these a +hundred were women, and more than a hundred children. I was +accidentally led to take a particular interest in this ill-fated +vessel, from the circumstance of there being four fine boys on board, +sons of a military friend of mine at Point de Galle. I had become so +well acquainted with the parents of these poor little fellows during +my frequent visits to Ceylon, that one day, before sailing, I +playfully offered to take a couple of the boys in my brig, the Victor, +an eighteen-gun sloop of war; but as I could not accommodate the whole +family, the parents, who were obliged to remain abroad, felt unwilling +to separate the children, alas! and my offer was declined. + +Off we all sailed, and reached the neighbourhood of the Cape without +encountering anything in the way of an adventure; there, however, +commenced the disasters of the unfortunate Arniston, as this transport +was called. She had no chronometer on board; a most culpable and +preposterous omission in the outfit of a ship destined for such a +voyage. The master told me that he himself was not in circumstances to +purchase so expensive an instrument, the cost of a good chronometer +being at least fifty or sixty guineas, and that the owners considered +the expense needless. He also stated that on his remonstrating still +more, and urging upon these gentlemen that their property would be ten +times more secure if he were furnished with the most approved means of +taking good care of it, he was given to understand, that, if he did +not choose to take the ship to sea without a chronometer, another +captain could easily be found who would make no such new-fangled +scruples. The poor master shrugged his shoulders, and said he would do +his best; but having often rounded the Cape, he knew the difficulties +of the navigation, when there was nothing but the dead reckoning to +trust to. + +During our passage from Ceylon, it was the practice every day, at one +o'clock, for the Indiamen, as well as the men-of-war, to make signals +showing the longitude of each ship by chronometer. Thus we had all an +opportunity of comparing the going of our respective time-keepers, and +thus, too, the master of the Arniston was enabled to learn his place +so accurately, that if he had only kept company with his friends the +Indiamen, each of whom was provided with at least four or five +chronometers, the deficiency in his equipment might never have led to +the dreadful catastrophe which speedily followed the loss of this +assistance. + +It was late in the month of May when we reached the tempestuous +regions of the Cape; and we were not long there before a furious gale +of wind from the westward dispersed the fleet, and set every one +adrift upon his own resources. The poor Arniston was seen at sunset, +on the day the gale commenced, with most of her sails split, but not +otherwise in danger, for she had a good offing, and the wind was not +blowing on shore. Three heavy gales followed in such quick succession +during the next week, that not only the ordinary course, but the +velocity of the current was changed, and instead of running, as it +almost always does, to the westward, it set, on the days in question, +to the south-eastward. According to the most moderate allowance for +the current, all circumstances being taken into consideration, any +navigator might fairly have supposed that, in the five days which +elapsed from the 24th of May to the 28th inclusive, his ship would +have been drifted to the westward by the current at least a hundred +miles. Our chronometers, however, distinctly showed us that we had +been carried, not, as usual, to the westward, but actually to the +eastward, a distance of more than a hundred miles; so that, in less +than a week, there occurred upwards of two hundred miles of error in +the dead reckoning. + +The master of the Arniston, doubtless, after making every allowance, +according to the best authorities, and working by the most exact rules +of navigation of which he could avail himself, naturally inferred that +his ship was more than a hundred miles to the westward of the Cape, +and he probably considered himself justified in bearing up before a +south-easterly gale, and steering, as he had so much reason to suppose +he was doing, straight for St. Helena. + +It is very important to remark, in passing, to professional men, that +no ship off the Cape, and under any circumstances, ought ever to bear +up, without first heaving the deep sea-lead. If soundings are obtained +on the Bank, it is a sure symptom that the ship is not sufficiently +advanced to the westward to enable her to steer with safety to the +north-north-westward for St. Helena. It is clear the ship in question +must have omitted this precaution. + +All that is known of this fatal shipwreck is simply that the Arniston, +with a flowing sheet, and going nine knots, ran among the breakers in +Struy's Bay, nearly a hundred miles to the eastward of the Cape. The +masts went instantly by the board, and the sea, which broke completely +over all, tore the ship to pieces in a few minutes; and out of her +whole crew, passengers, women, and children, only half-a-dozen seamen +reached the coast alive. All these could tell was, that they bore up +and made all sail for St. Helena, judging themselves well round the +Cape. This scanty information, however, was quite enough to establish +the important fact that this valuable ship, and all the lives on board +of her, were actually sacrificed to a piece of short-sighted economy. +That they might have been saved, had she been supplied with the worst +chronometer that was ever sent to sea, is also quite obvious. I am +sure practical men will agree with me, that, in assuming sixty seconds +a-day as the limit of the uncertainty of a watch's rate, I have taken +a quantity four or five times greater than there was need for. Surely +no time-keeper that was ever sold as such by any respectable +watchmaker for more than thirty or forty guineas, has been found to +go so outrageously ill as not to be depended upon for one week, within +less than ten or fifteen seconds a-day. And as I have shown that a +chronometer whose rate was uncertain, even to an extent five or six +times as great as this, would have saved the Arniston, any further +comment on such precious economy is needless. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SUGGESTIONS TOWARDS DIMINISHING THE NUMBER AND SEVERITY OF NAVAL +PUNISHMENTS. + + +I trust that most of my brother-officers who have commanded ships can +lay their hands upon their hearts and conscientiously declare they +have never inflicted an unjust punishment. I can only confess with +much sorrow, that I, unfortunately, am not of that number. But as mere +regret on such occasions contributes nothing towards remedying the +evils committed, I have long employed my thoughts in devising some +plan which might lessen the number of punishments at sea, and thus, +perhaps, save others from the remorse I have felt, while it might tend +to relieve the service from the discredit of an improper degree of +severity in its penal administration. + +Before proceeding to the main point under consideration, the +diminution of the number and the degree of punishments on board ship, +I must entreat officers not to allow themselves to be misled by the +very mischievous fallacy of supposing that any of the various +substitutes which have yet been proposed for corporal punishment are +one whit less severe than those so long established. It is well known +to officers of experience that this powerful engine of discipline may +be rendered not only the most effective, but essentially the most +lenient, and when duly reported and checked, far more likely to +contribute to the peace and comfort of the men themselves, than any of +the specious but flimsy substitutes alluded to. Solitary confinement, +for example, I take to be one of the most cruel, and, generally +speaking, one of the most unjust of all punishments; for it is +incapable of being correctly measured, and it almost always renders +the offender worse. It prompts him, and gives him time to brood over +revengeful purposes; it irritates him against his officers, and if +long continued almost inevitably leads to insanity and suicide. All +the beneficial effects of example, likewise, are necessarily lost; +because the solitary culprit's sufferings, horrible though they no +doubt are, never meet the eye of the rest of the crew, nor, indeed, +can they ever be truly made known to them, while he himself, when he +quits his cell, makes light of his punishment. But not one man in a +thousand, even of our hardiest spirits, can maintain this air of +indifference at the gangway. And although it must be admitted that a +man, at such moments, can feel no great kindness to his officer, the +transient nature of the punishment, compared to the prolonged misery +of solitary confinement, leaves no time for discontent to rankle. I +never once knew, nor ever heard of an instance in which a corporal +punishment, administered calmly and with strict regard to justice and +established usage, was followed by any permanent ill-will resting on +the mind of a sailor, either towards his captain or towards the +service. + +It happened to me once, when in command of a ship in the Pacific +Ocean, to have occasion to punish a very good seaman. The offence was +in some degree a doubtful one, but, upon the whole, I felt it my duty +to correct it rather sharply. On mature reflection, however, I began +to suspect I had done wrong; and on joining the commander-in-chief, +some weeks afterwards, I laid all the circumstances of the case before +him, and begged him to tell me fairly what he thought. He examined the +details minutely, cross-questioned me about them, and, after some +deliberation, said, that although I had the letter of the law with me, +I had acted hastily, which in this instance was acting unjustly; for +had I waited a little, the true bearings of the case must, he thought, +have made themselves apparent. This judgment of Sir Thomas Hardy +squared but too well with my own feelings upon the matter, and doubled +the shame I was already suffering under. From that hour to this, I +have never ceased to catch with eagerness at any suggestion which I +thought might contribute to save deserving men from a similar +misfortune, and well-disposed officers from the fatal errors of +precipitancy. A little incident has perhaps had its effect in +quickening these speculative ideas into a practical shape. + +Several years after the period alluded to, I happened to be sailing +about Spithead in a gentleman's yacht, when a man-of-war's cutter came +alongside. As no officer had been sent in the boat, the message was +delivered by the coxswain, whom I did not recognize as an old shipmate +till he came to me aft, took off his hat, and held out his hand. I +then recollected the face of the seaman I had unjustly punished! To +all appearance he had entirely forgotten the circumstance: but the +commodore's words, "You ought to have let that man off," rang in my +ears, and my heart smote me as I felt the honest fellow's grasp. "I +shall never rest," I afterwards vowed to myself, "till I have +succeeded in suggesting some regulations which, as far as possible, +shall prevent other officers from falling into the same error." + +It seems to be now generally admitted, by all who have attended to the +subject, that ever since the period when it became the duty of +captains to make periodical reports to the Admiralty of the corporal +punishments inflicted, those punishments have gradually decreased. +Meanwhile the discipline has gone on improving; and therefore it +becomes a matter of much practical importance to investigate the true +bearings of a measure by which such invaluable results have been +brought about. It should never be forgotten, that there is an absolute +necessity for maintaining the present strictness of our discipline, +which is one of the most essential sources of naval success; and, next +to the spirit of honour and patriotism which pervades the profession, +it may be considered the very life-blood of that branch of our +national strength. But there are two very different methods by which +this vital object of exact discipline may be accomplished: one is the +prevention, the other the punishment, of offences. Some officers have +endeavoured to do away with corporal punishment altogether; and some, +on the other hand, have had recourse to hardly anything else. The just +union of the two systems will, I believe, in the end, perform the +greatest public service, at the least cost of human suffering.[7] + +Antecedent to June 1811, the date of the order by which officers in +command of ships were required to send quarterly returns of +punishments to the Admiralty, there was little or no restraint upon +the despotic authority of the captain, as far as corporal punishments +were concerned. And it must be in the recollection of every one who +served in those days, that captains, not really cruel by nature, nor +more intemperate than the ordinary run of men, were sometimes led, by +the mere indulgence of unlimited and unscrutinised authority, to use a +degree of severity not only out of proper measure with the crime, but, +by reason of its questionable justice, hurtful to the discipline of +the ships, and to the general character of the service. Such things +may also possibly have happened even of late years; but certainly, +they have been much less frequent; for although no Admiralty +regulations can convert a hot-headed captain into a cool, +experienced, or reflecting person, nevertheless, it does seem to be +quite within the legitimate range of official power, to compel all +intemperate officers, whether young or old, to behave, as far as their +nature will allow, in the same manner as men of sense, feeling, and +thorough knowledge of the service would act in like circumstances. + +It is a rule, now very generally observed by the best authorities in +the Navy, never to punish a man on the day the offence has been +committed. And experience having shown the wisdom of this delay, there +seems no reason why so simple a rule should not be established +imperatively upon every captain without exception. + +It is important, in discussing the subject of naval discipline, to +recollect under what peculiar and trying circumstances the captain of +a man-of-war is placed, and how much he stands in need not only of +every assistance that can possibly be afforded to guide his judgment, +but of every artificial check that can be devised to control his +temper. As he is charged with the sole executive government of the +community over which he presides, he is called upon to exercise many +of the legislative, as well as the judicial functions of his little +kingdom. Having made laws in the first instance, he has to act the +part of a judge in the interpretation of those laws; while, in the +very next instant, he may stand in the place of a jury to determine +the facts of the case, and of a counsel to cross-question the +witnesses. To this strange jumble of offices is finally added the +fearful task of allotting the punishment, and seeing it carried into +effect! If ever there was a situation in the world, therefore, +requiring all the aids of deliberation, and especially of that +sobriety of thought which a night's rest can alone bestow, it is +surely in the case of a captain of a man-of-war. And if this rule has +been found a good one, even by prudent and experienced officers, who, +it appears, never trust themselves to punish a man without twenty-four +hours' delay at least, how much more important might not such a +regulation prove, if less discreet persons were compelled to adopt +invariably a similar course of deliberation? Nor does it appear +probable that, in the whole complicated range of the service, cases +will often occur when its true interests may not be better answered by +punishments inflicted after such delay, than if the reality or the +semblance of passion, or even the slightest suspicion of anger, were +allowed to interfere with the purity of naval justice. It is so +difficult, indeed, to detach the appearance of vindictive warmth from +punishments which are made to follow quickly after the offence, that +in all such cases there is great danger incurred of inflicting much +pain to little or no purpose. + +In the first place, therefore, I consider it might be very +advantageously established, by a positive order from the Admiralty, +that one whole day, or twenty-four hours complete, should, in every +instance, be allowed to elapse between the investigation of an +offence, and the infliction of the punishment which it may be thought +to deserve. The interval in question, to be of use, should take its +date from the time the circumstances of the case have been inquired +into by the captain himself. The reason of this limitation will be +apparent, if it be recollected that the moment at which the officer's +anger is likely to be the greatest, is when he first becomes +acquainted with the details of the offender's misconduct. + +In order still further to circumscribe the chances of passion +interfering with the judgment, not only of the captain, but of the +officer who makes the complaint, as well as the witnesses and other +parties concerned, I think it should be directed, that all offences +whatsoever are to be inquired into between nine o'clock in the morning +and noon. This is perhaps the only period in the whole day perfectly +free from suspicion as to the influence of those exciting causes which +tend materially to warp the judgment, even of the wisest and best men. +The ship's company take their dinner and grog at mid-day, and the +officers dine soon after. To those who have witnessed in old times the +investigation and punishment of offences immediately after the cabin +dinner, the importance of this regulation will require no further +argument. At any other period of the day, except that above specified, +the irritation caused by fatigue, hunger, or repletion, is so apt to +interfere with the temper, and consequently with the judgment, that it +should never be chosen for so delicate an affair as an inquiry into +details which may be followed by so dreadful a consequence as corporal +punishment. + +It is undoubtedly true, that the essential characteristics of naval +discipline are, and ought to be, promptitude of action, and that +vigorous kind of decision which leads to certainty of purpose at all +times, and under all circumstances. But these very qualities are +valueless, unless they are regulated by justice. Without this, a +man-of-war would very soon become worse than useless to the country, +besides being what a "slack ship" has been emphatically termed, "a +perfect hell afloat!" + +Independently of every other consideration, it is assuredly most +desirable to establish throughout the fleet the conviction, that, +although the punishment of flogging, which has prevailed for so long a +time, cannot possibly be discontinued, it shall be exercised with a +due regard to the offence, and without any added severity on personal +grounds. It is difficult to estimate how essentially this conviction, +if once fixed in the minds of the seamen, and guaranteed, as I think +it might be, in a great measure, by a very simple Admiralty +regulation, would contribute to extend the popularity of the naval +service throughout the country. + +There are some minor details, in addition to the above suggestions, +which it may be useful to consider in connection with them. All +punishments should take place between the hours of nine in the morning +and noon, for the reasons hinted at above. If possible, also, not more +than one day should be allowed to elapse after the inquiry; for, +although there is always something like passion in a punishment which +is too prompt, there may, on the other hand, frequently appear +something akin to vindictiveness in one which has been delayed until +the details of the offence are well-nigh forgotten. The captain should +avoid pronouncing, either during or immediately after the +investigation of an offence, any opinion on the case; much of its +influence would be destroyed if the captain were to commit himself by +threats made in the moment of greatest irritation; he might be apt to +follow up, when cool, a threat made in anger, to show his consistency. + +I could relate many instances of injustice arising from precipitancy +in awarding punishment; but the following anecdotes, for the accuracy +of which I can vouch, seem sufficient to arrest the attention to good +purpose. + +Two men-of-war happened to be cruising in company: one of them a +line-of-battle ship, bearing an admiral's flag; the other a small +frigate. One day, when they were sailing quite close to each other, +the signal was made from the large to the small ship to chase in a +particular direction, implying that a strange sail was seen in that +quarter. The look-out man at the maintop mast-head of the frigate was +instantly called down by the captain, and severely punished on the +spot, for not having discovered and reported the stranger before the +flag ship had made the signal to chase. + +The unhappy sufferer, who was a very young hand, unaccustomed to be +aloft, had merely taken his turn at the mast head with the rest of the +ship's company, and could give no explanation of his apparent neglect. +Before it was too late, however, the officer of the watch ventured to +suggest to the captain, that possibly the difference of height between +the masts of the two ships might have enabled the look-out man on +board the admiral to discover the stranger, when it was physically +impossible, owing to the curvature of the earth, that she could have +been seen on board the frigate. No attention, however, was paid to +this remark, and a punishment due only to crime, or to a manifest +breach of discipline, was inflicted. + +The very next day, the same officer, whose remonstrance had proved so +ineffectual, saw the look-out man at the flag ship's mast-head again +pointing out at a strange sail. The frigate chanced to be placed +nearly in the direction indicated; consequently she must have been +somewhat nearer to the stranger than the line-of-battle ship was. But +the man stationed at the frigate's mast-head declared he could +distinguish nothing of any stranger. Upon this the officer of the +watch sent up the captain of the maintop, an experienced and +quick-sighted seaman, who, having for some minutes looked in vain in +every direction, asserted positively that there was nothing in sight +from that elevation. It was thus rendered certain, or at all events +highly probable, that the precipitate sentence of the day before had +been unjust; for, under circumstances even less favourable, it +appeared that the poor fellow could not by possibility have seen the +stranger, for not first detecting which he was punished! + +I must give the conclusion of this painful story in the words of my +informant, the officer of the deck:--"I reported all this to the +captain of the ship, and watched the effect. He seemed on the point of +acknowledging that his heart smote him; but pride prevailed, and it +was barely an ejaculation that escaped. So much for angry feelings +getting the better of judgment!" + +The following anecdote will help to relieve the disagreeable +impression caused by the incident just related, without obliterating +the salutary reflections which it seems calculated to trace on the +mind of every well-disposed officer. + +Three sailors, belonging to the watering-party of a man-of-war on a +foreign station, were discovered by their officer to have strayed from +the well at which the casks had been filled. These men, it appears, +instead of assisting in rolling the heavy butts and puncheons across +the sand, preferred indulging themselves in a glass of a most +insidious tipple, called Mistela in Spanish, but very naturally +"transmogrified" by the Jacks into Miss Taylor. The offenders being +dragged out of the pulperia, were consigned, without inquiry, to the +launch, though they had been absent only a few minutes, and were still +fit enough for work. The officer of the boat, however, happening to +be an iron-hearted disciplinarian, who overlooked nothing, and forgave +no one, would not permit the men to rejoin the working party, or to +touch a single cask; but when the boat returned to the ship, had the +three offenders put in irons. + +When these circumstances were reported to the captain in the course of +the day, so much acrimony was imparted to his account by the officer, +that the captain merely said, "I shall be glad if you will defer +stating this matter more fully till to-morrow morning, after breakfast; +take the night to think of it." Tomorrow came, and the particulars +being again detailed, even more strongly and pointedly, by the +officer, the captain likewise became irritated, and under the +influence of feelings highly excited had almost ordered the men up for +immediate punishment. Acting, however, upon a rule which he had for +sometime laid down, never to chastise any one against whom he felt +particularly displeased without at least twenty-four hours' delay, he +desired the matter to stand over till the following morning. + +In the meantime, the men in confinement, knowing that their offence +was a very slight one, laid their heads together, and contrived, by +the aid of the purser's steward, to pen a supplicatory epistle to the +captain. This document was conveyed to its destination by his servant, +a judicious fellow. Though it proved no easy matter to decipher the +hieroglyphics, it appeared evident that there were extenuating +circumstances which had not been brought forward. The only remark, +however, which the captain made was, that the letter ought not to have +been brought to him; and that his servant was quite out of order, in +being accessory to any proceeding so irregular. + +The steward took the hint, and recommended the prisoners to appeal to +the complaining officer. Accordingly, next day, when the captain went +on deck, that person came up and said,-- + +"I have received a strange letter, sir, from these three fellows whom +I complained of yesterday; but what they say does not alter my opinion +in the least." + +"It does mine, however," observed the captain, after he had spelled +through it, as if for the first time. + +"Indeed, sir!" exclaimed the other; adding, "I hope you won't let them +off." + +"I tell you what it is," quietly remarked the captain, "I would much +rather you let them off than that I should; for it strikes me, that +all the useful ends of discipline will be much better served, and your +hands, as well as mine, essentially strengthened, by your taking the +initiative in this business instead of me. My advice to you, +therefore, is, that when I go below you send for the men, and say to +them you have read their statement, and that, although it does by no +means excuse, it certainly explains, and so far extenuates, their +offence, that you feel disposed to try what your influence with the +captain can do to get them off altogether." + +"I do not see the force of your reasoning," answered the offended +officer; "nor can I conscientiously trifle with the service in the +manner proposed. I thought at first, and I still think, that these men +ought to be punished; and, as far as I am concerned, they certainly +shall not escape." + +"Well, well," cried the captain, "you will not, I hope, deny that I am +the best judge of what is right and fitting to be done on board this +ship; and I tell you again, that I consider the discipline will be +better served by your being the mover in this case, than by my taking +the affair, as you wish me to do, entirely out of your hands. Will you +do as I suggest?" + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but really I cannot, consistently with my +sense of duty, adopt the course you propose. I think it right to +insist, as far as I can with propriety, on these men being punished." + +"Turn the hands up for punishment, then!" said the captain to the +first lieutenant, who had been walking on the other side of the deck +during this colloquy; "and let the three prisoners be brought on +deck." + +The gratings were soon rigged under the mizen-stay--the +quarter-masters placed with their seizings on either side--the +boatswain and his mates (with the terrible weapons of naval law barely +concealed under their jackets) arranged themselves in a group round +the mast--while the marines, with fixed bayonets and shoulder arms, +formed across the quarter-deck; and the ship's company, standing in +two double rows, lined the sides of the deck. Not the slightest sound +could be heard; and a person coming on deck blindfolded might have +thought the ship lay in dock, without a soul on board. + +In the middle of the open space before the hatchway stood the three +culprits, with their hats off, and their eyes cast down in hopeless +despair; but, to all outward appearance, firm and unmoved. + +When all was declared ready, the first lieutenant descended to the +cabin, but returned again almost immediately, followed closely by the +captain, in his cocked hat and sword, grasping in one hand the +well-known roll of paper containing the articles of war, and in the +other the master-at-arms' report of prisoners. Every head was +uncovered at his appearance; and as he lifted his hat in answer to +this salute, he laid it on the capstan, against which he leaned while +reading the article under which the delinquents had fallen. + +"Now," said he, addressing the three prisoners, "you have been found +guilty of an offence against the good order and discipline of this +ship, which cannot be permitted, and which must positively be put a +stop to. Heretofore it has not occurred, and I trust this will be the +last case. Do you admit that you deserve punishment?" + +No answer. + +"Have you anything to advance why you should not be punished?" + +The fellows nodged one another, scraped the deck with their feet, +fumbled with their hats and waist-bands, and muttered something about +"a letter they had written to the officer what reported them." + +"Letter!" exclaimed the captain; "let me see it." + +The epistle being handed to the captain, he read it aloud to the +assembled ship's company, who listened with all their ears. At the +conclusion, he folded it up, and, turning to the officer, asked,-- + +"What have you to say to this?" + +"Nothing, sir--nothing," was the obdurate reply. + +"Well now, my lads," observed the captain to the crew, after a pause +of several minutes, "I shall give you a chance. These fellows appear, +by their own confession, to have done what they knew to be wrong; and +accordingly, as you perceive, they have brought themselves close +aboard of the gangway. It would serve them all perfectly right to give +each of them a good sound punishment. But I am willing to hope, that +if I forgive them on your account--that is to say, if I let them off +in consideration of the good conduct of the ship's company, and in +confidence of your all behaving well in future--they will be quite as +much disposed to exert themselves to recover their characters, as if +they had tasted the bitterness of the gangway: at all events, I'll try +them and you for once. Pipe down!" + +It is only necessary to state further, that for nearly a year +afterwards there occurred no instance of drunkenness or neglect at the +watering parties. + +There is one other point of importance in this discussion, and as it +seems to possess a considerable analogy in its bearing to the +suggestions already thrown out, it may possibly have greater weight in +conjunction with them than if it were brought forward alone. In every +system of penal jurisprudence it seems to be of the first importance +to let it be felt that the true degradation lies more in the crime +itself, than in the expiatory punishment by which it is followed. +Whenever this principle is not duly understood, punishments lose half +their value, while they are often virtually augmented in severity. The +object of all punishments is evidently to prevent the recurrence of +offences, either by others or by the offender himself. But it is not, +by any means, intended that he should not have a full and fair chance +allowed him for a return to virtue. The very instant punishment is +over, he should be allowed to start afresh for his character. If a man +is never to have his offence or his chastisement forgotten, he can +hardly be expected to set seriously about the re-establishment of his +damaged reputation. + +Neither ought it to be forgotten, that a man so circumstanced has +really stronger claims on our sympathy, and is more entitled to our +protection, than if he had never fallen under censure. He has, in some +sort, if not entirely, expiated his offence by the severity of its +consequences; and every generous-minded officer must feel that a poor +seaman whom he has been compelled, by a sense of duty, to punish at +the gangway, instead of being kept down, has need of some extra +assistance to place him even on the footing he occupied before he +committed any offence. If this be not granted him, it is a mere +mockery to say that he has any fair chance for virtue. + +It might, therefore, I think, be very usefully made imperative upon +the captain, at some short period after a punishment has taken place +(say on the next muster-day), and when the immediate irritation shall +have gone off, to call the offender publicly forward, and in the +presence of the whole ship's company give him to understand that, as +he had now received the punishment which, according to the rules of +the service, his offence merited, both the one and the other were, +from that time forward, to be entirely forgotten; and that he was now +fully at liberty to begin his course anew. I can assert, from ample +experience, that the beneficial effects of this practice are very +great. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[7] The recent instructions issued by the Board of Admiralty would +have gratified Captain Hall had he lived to read them; harmonizing as +they do with the system he so earnestly advocates. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +BOMBAY. + + +Early on the morning of the 11th of August, 1812, we first made the +coast of Asia; and, on steering towards the shore, discovered, close +under the land, a single sail, as white as snow, of a cut quite new to +our seamanship, and swelled out with the last faint airs of the +land-breeze, which, in the night, had carried us briskly along shore. +As we came nearer, we observed that the boat, with her head directed +to the northward, was piled half-mast high with fruits and vegetables, +cocoa-nuts, yams, plantains, intended evidently for the market of +Bombay. The water lay as smooth as that of a lake; so we sheered close +alongside, and hailed, to ask the distance we still were from our +port. None of the officers of the Volage could speak a word of +Hindustanee; and I well remember our feeling of humiliation when a +poor scullion, one of the cook's assistants, belonging to the +governor's suite, was dragged on deck, with all his grease and other +imperfections on his head, to act as interpreter. Sad work he made of +it; for, though the fellow had been in the East on some ten or twelve +former voyages, the languages of the countries he visited had not +formed so important a part of his studies as the quality of the arrack +and toddy which they produced. The word Bombaya, however, struck the +ear of the native boatmen, who pointed in the direction which they +themselves were steering, and called out "Mombay! Mombay!" This word, +I am told by an oriental scholar, is a corruption of Moomba-devy, or +the Goddess of Moomba, from an idol to which a temple is still +dedicated on the island. Others, less fanciful in their etymology, say +that the Portuguese gave it the name of Bom-Bahia, on account of the +excellence of its Port. That nation held possession of Bombay from the +year 1530 to 1661, when it was ceded by the crown of Portugal in full +sovereignty to Charles II. + +It was not long before we came in sight of several headlands. When the +next day broke, and the sun rose upon us over the flat topped Gauts or +mountains of the Mahratta country, I remember feeling almost at a loss +whether I had been sleeping and dreaming during the night. But the +actual sight of the coast gave reality to pictures which, for many a +long year before, I had busied my fancy with painting, in colours +drawn partly from the Arabian Nights and Persian Tales, and partly, if +not chiefly, from those brilliant clusters of oriental images which +crowd and adorn the pages of Scripture. + +Captain Cook asserts somewhere, speaking of the delights of voyaging +and travelling, that to such rovers as he and his companions nothing +came amiss; and I can safely venture to boast, that, as far as this +goes, I may claim a corner of my great brother officer's mantle. At +all events, in sailing over the Indian seas, or travelling in those +countries by land, I hardly ever met anything which did not so much +exceed in interest what I had looked for, that the grand perplexity +became, how to record what I felt, or in any adequate terms to +describe even the simplest facts which struck the eye at every turn in +that "wide realm of wild reality." + +Of all places in the noble range of countries so happily called the +Eastern world, from the pitch of the Cape to the islands of Japan, +from Bengal to Batavia, there are few which can compare with Bombay. +If, indeed, I were consulted by any one who wished as expeditiously +and economically as possible to see all that was essentially +characteristic of the Oriental world, I would say, without hesitation, +"Take a run to Bombay; remain there a week or two; and having also +visited the scenes in the immediate neighbourhood, Eliphanta, Carli, +and Poonah, you will have examined good specimens of most things that +are curious or interesting in the East." + +For this remarkable distinction, peculiar, as far as I know, to that +one spot on the earth's surface, this presidency is indebted to a +variety of interesting circumstances. Bombay is an island, and by no +means a large one, being only between six and seven miles long by one +or two broad. It is not, however, by geographical dimensions that the +wealth of towns, any more than the power and wealth of nations, is +determined. The harbour unites every possible desideratum of a great +sea port; it is easy of access and egress; affords excellent anchoring +ground; is capacious beyond the utmost probable demands of commerce; +and, owing to the great rise and fall of the tides, is admirably +adapted for docks of every description. The climate is healthy; and +the country, being diversified by numerous small ridges and hills, +furnishes an endless choice of situations for forts, towns, bazaars, +and villages, not to say bungalows or villas, and all sorts of +country-houses, and some very splendid retreats from the bustle of +business. The roads which intersect this charming island were +beautifully Macadamised, as I well remember, long before that grand +improvement was heard of in England; and as the soil of the island is +made up of that rich kind of mould resulting from decomposed basalt or +lava, the whole surface affords a good sample of the perennial verdure +of tropical scenery, which dazzles and surprises the new-comer, while +its interest seldom fails to rise still higher upon a more prolonged +and intimate acquaintance. + +Such are among the eminent physical advantages enjoyed by Bombay; but +even these, had they been many times greater, would have been light in +the balance compared to those of a moral, or rather of a political +nature, which conspired in 1812 to render it one of the most important +spots in that quarter of the globe. At the time I speak of, it was +almost the only possession exclusively British within several hundred +miles in any direction. The enormous territory of the Mahrattas lay +close to Bombay on the east. + +On the morning after my arrival at Bombay, I got up with the first +blush of the dawn, and hastily drawing on my clothes, proceeded along +greedily in search of adventures. I had not gone far, before I saw a +native sleeping on a mat spread in the little verandah extending +along the front of his house, which was made of basket-work plastered +over with mud. He was wrapped up in a long web of white linen, or +cotton cloth, called, I think, his cummer-bund, or waist-cloth. As +soon as the first rays of the sun peeped into his rude +sleeping-chamber, he "arose, took up his bed, and went into his +house." I saw immediately an explanation of this expression, which, +with slight variations, occurs frequently in the Bible, in connection +with several of the most striking and impressive of Christ's miracles, +particularly with that of the man sick of the palsy. My honest friend +the Hindoo got on his feet, cast the long folds of his wrapper over +his shoulder, stooped down, and having rolled up his mat, which was +all the bed he required, he walked into the house with it, and then +proceeded to the nearest tank to perform his morning ablutions. + +I remember mentioning this, amongst many other illustrations of the +incidents recorded in Scripture, to a worthy old Scotch lady, upon +whom I expected it to produce the same pleasing and satisfactory +effect which it had wrought on me. I made, however, a great mistake; +for so far from raising myself in her estimation, on the score of +correct observation, I sunk, I fear, irrecoverably, in her good +graces, by presuming, as she alleged, to interfere with the wonder of +the miracle, the essence of which, according to her, I discovered to +consist, not in the recovery of "the man, who was made whole," but in +his being able to shoulder a four-post bed, and carry it off without +inconvenience! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +SIR SAMUEL HOOD. + + +As soon as the Volage was refitted, and her crew refreshed, after our +voyage from England of four months and a half, we sailed from Bombay +to the southward along the western coast of India; and having rounded +Ceylon, at Point de Galle, on the extreme south-western corner, where +we merely touched to land the governor's dispatches, before we hauled +up to the northward, and, after twelve days' passage, sailed into the +beautiful harbour of Trincomalee. There, to my great joy, we found the +commander-in-chief, Sir Samuel Hood; who, to my still greater joy, +informed me that a vacancy had been kept open for me in his flag ship, +the Illustrious. In a few minutes my traps were packed up, my +commission made out, and I had the honour of hailing myself a +professional follower of one of the first officers in his Majesty's +service. It is true, I was only fifth lieutenant, and not even fifth +on the Admiral's list for promotion; for I came after a number of old +officers who had served under Sir Samuel for many long years of +patient, or rather impatient, expectation: but my first and grand +purpose was attained, although my chance of advancement was very +small, and very remote. + +In capstans, and other machines, there is a mechanical device, with +which every person is acquainted, termed a pall or catch, by which the +work gained in the effort last made shall be secured, and the machine +prevented from turning back again. Something of this kind takes place +in life, particularly in naval life; and happy is the officer who +hears the pall of his fortunes play "click! click!" as he spins +upwards in his profession. Proportionately deep is the despair of the +poor wretch who, after struggling and tugging with all his might at +the weary windlass of his hopes, can never bring it quite far enough +round to hear the joyous sound of the pall dropping into its berth! I +well remember most of these important moments of my own life; and I +could readily describe the different sensations to which their +successive occurrence gave rise, from the startling hour when my +father first told me that my own request was now to be granted, for on +the very next day I was to go to sea--up to that instant when the +still more important announcement met my ear, "Those whom God hath +joined together let no man put asunder!" + +"It is easy to be cheerful when one is successful," says a high +authority; and there are "few people who are not good-natured when +they have nothing to cross them," says another equally profound +recorder of common-places; but the secret of good fortune seems to lie +far less in making the most of favourable incidents, or in submitting +manfully to disastrous ones, than in studying how to fill up to +advantage the long intervals between these great epochs in our lives. +So that there is, perhaps, no point of duty which affords more scope +for the talents of a superior than the useful and cheerful employment +of the heads and hands of his officers and people during those trying +periods of inaction which occur in every service. Sir Samuel Hood +possessed this faculty in a wonderful degree, as he not only kept us +all busy when there was nothing to be done, but contrived to make us +happy and contented, though some of our prospects were poor enough in +all conscience. My own, for example, since I was placed at the tip of +the tail of his long string of private followers; and when the +Admiralty List came out, on which I had built so many beautiful +castles in the air, my poor name was not upon it at all. I had not +expected to be first or second, or even third; fourth I had reckoned +upon as possible; fifth as probable; sixth as certain; so that my +horror and disappointment were excessive when this kindest of +commanders-in-chief broke to me the fatal news, in the following +characteristic manner. + +A telegraphic signal had been made from the flagstaff at the +Admiral's house to the ship, in these words:-- + +"Send Mr. Hall on shore, with a crow-bar, two pick-axes, and two +spades." + +All the way to the landing-place I puzzled myself with thinking what +on earth could be the object of these tools; little dreaming, good +easy lieutenant! that I was so soon to dig the grave of my own hopes. +The Admiral received me at the door with his coat off; and holding out +his remaining hand (his right arm was shot away in action), he +squeezed mine with even more than his wonted kindness. + +"I have been waiting for you with some impatience;" he said, "to be +present at the hunt after a white ant's nest, a sort of thing I know +you like. These rogues, the _Termites bellicosi_, as I find the +naturalists call them, have made their way into the house! and having +carried their galleries up the walls and along the roof, have come +down in great force upon a trunk of clothes, which they would have +destroyed entirely before night, had I not caught sight of them. Now +let us to work; for I propose to rip up the floor of the verandah, in +order to follow their passages and galleries till I reach their nest, +if it be a mile off; won't this he a glorious piece of service?" +exclaimed the Admiral, as he warmed himself by anticipating the chase. +He could hardly have been more delighted, I am persuaded, had he been +giving orders for a fleet under his command to bear down upon the +enemy's line. I could not venture to do more than bow, and say I was +much obliged to him for having so considerately thought of me at such +a moment. + +"Oh!" cried he, apparently recollecting himself, "but I have something +else to show you; or rather to tell you, for I must not show it; +though I fear it will not please you quite so much as the prospect of +a white ant-hunt. Here, Gigna," called the Admiral to his steward, who +stood by with a tea-kettle of hot water, ready to pour over the ants, +"put away that affair, which we shall not require this half-hour yet; +and hold this crow-bar while I step into the office with Mr. Hall." + +"It is of no use to mince the matter," said the veteran, shutting the +door, and turning to me with somewhat of the air which he might be +supposed to have put on, had he been instructed from home to tell me +that one or both my parents were dead; "it is no use to conceal the +fact from you; but here is the Admiralty List, just come to my hands, +and your name, in spite of all you tell me of promises, verbal and +written, is NOT ON IT!" + +Had the Admiral fired one of the flag-ship's thirty-two pounders, +double-shotted, down my throat, he could not have demolished more +completely my bodily framework than this fatal announcement shattered +to pieces the gilded crockeryware of my fondest hopes. All the gay +visions of command, and power, and independence, in which I had +indulged my fancy during the voyage, vanished like the shadows of a +dream I fain would recall, but could not. I was at first quite +stupified, and can remember nothing that passed for some minutes. As I +recovered my scattered senses, however, I recollect gazing at the +anchorage from the open window of the Admiralty House, near which we +stood. The flag-ship then lay just off Osnaburg Point, with her +ensign, or, as it used to be called in old books, her Ancient, the +"meteor flag of England," dropped, in the calm, so perpendicularly +from the gaff-end, that it looked like a rope more than a flag; while +its reflection, as well as that of the ship herself, with every mast, +yard, and line of the rigging, seemed, as it were, engraved on the +surface of the tranquil pool, as distinctly as if another vessel had +actually been inverted and placed beneath. I have seldom witnessed so +complete a calm. The sea-breeze, with which the shore had been +refreshed for twenty minutes, had not as yet found its way into the +recesses of the inner harbour, which, take it all in all, is one of +the snuggest and most beautiful coves in the world. And such is the +commodious nature of this admirable port, that even the Illustrious, +though a large 74-gun ship, rode at anchor in perfect security, within +a very few yards of the beach, which at that spot is quite steep to, +and is wooded down to, the very edge of the water. I gazed for some +moments, almost unconsciously, at this quiet scene, so different from +that which was boiling and bubbling in my own distracted breast, and +swelling up with indignation against some of my friends at home, who I +had such good reason to believe had either betrayed or neglected me, +maugre all sorts of promises. + +In the midst of my reverie, which the kind-hearted Admiral did not +interrupt, I observed the wind just touch the drooping flag; but the +air was so light and transient, that it merely produced on it a gentle +motion from side to side, like that of a pendulum, imitated in the +mirror beneath, which lay as yet totally unbroken by the sea-breeze. +Presently the whole mighty flag, after a faint struggle or two, +gradually unfolded itself, and, buoyed up by the new born gale, spread +far beyond the gallant line-of-battle ship's stern, and waved +gracefully over the harbour. It is well known to nice observers of the +human mind, that the strangest fancies often come into the thoughts at +a moment when we might least expect them; and though, assuredly, I was +not then in a very poetical or imaginative humour, I contrived to +shape out of the inspiring scene I was looking upon a figure to soothe +my disappointed spirit. As I saw the ensign uncurl itself to the wind +I said internally, "If I have but life, and health, and opportunity, I +trust, notwithstanding the bitterness of this disappointment, I shall +yet contrive to unfold, in like manner, the flag of my own fortunes +to the world." + +Just as this magnanimous thought crossed my mind's eye, the Admiral +placed his hand so gently on my shoulder that the pressure would not +have hurt a fly, and said, in a cheerful tone, "Never mind this +mishap, master Hall; everything will come right in time; and if you +only resolve to take it in the proper and manly temper, it may even +prove all the better that this has happened. Nothing is without a +remedy in this world; and I'll do what I can to make good this maxim +in your case. In the mean time, however, come along, and help me to +rout out these rascally white ants. Off coat, however, if you please; +for we shall have a tough job of it." + +It cost us an hour's hard work; for we had to rip up the planks along +the whole of the verandah, then to shape a course across two cellars, +or _godongs_, as they are called in the East, and finally the +traverses of these singular insects obliged us to cut a trench to the +huge hillock or nest, which rose to the height of five or six feet +from the ground, in numberless shoots, like pinnacles round the roof +of a Gothic church. We might have attacked them at headquarters in +the first instance, had we wished it; but the Admiral chose to go more +technically to work, and to sap up to his enemy by regular approaches. +In this way we had the means of seeing the principles upon which these +ants proceed in securing themselves, at every step of their progress, +by galleries or covered ways, which, though extremely feeble, are +sufficiently strong to keep off the attacks of every other kind of +ant. It is curious enough, that, although the white ant be the most +destructive of its species, it is said to be, individually, by far +the weakest, and cannot move a step without the artificial protection +of the galleries it constructs as it goes along; just as the besiegers +of a fortification secure themselves in their trenches and zigzags. + +We now brought our spades into play; and having cut the hill across, +laid open the secrets of these most curious of all the ant tribe. At +last we reached the great queen ant, the mother of millions of her +race, a most enormous personage to be sure, nearly four inches long, +and as thick as a man's finger, with a head not larger than that of a +bee, but a body such as I have described, filled with eggs, which +continually rolled out like a fluid from a reservoir. Never shall I +forget the shout of rapture which the gallant Admiral sent over half +the harbour, as he succeeded in gaining the object of his labour. + +There are some men who go about everything they undertake with all +their hearts and souls, and this great officer was one of those. He +did nothing by halves and quarters, like so many other people. The +greatest deeds of arms, or the most trivial objects of passing +amusement, engrossed his whole concentrated attention for the time. He +was equally in earnest when holding out examples of private +generosity, or lending the heartiest and kindest encouragement even to +the least distinguished of his followers, as when performing acts of +the highest public spirit, or making the greatest sacrifices to what +he considered his duty. Everything, in short, that he did, or thought, +or uttered, bore the stamp of the same peculiar impress of genuine +zeal. So eminently exciting, and even fascinating, was this truly +officer-like conduct, that even those who had served under him the +longest often wondered at the extent of their own exertions when +roused by his example, and were led almost to believe that his very +look had something stimulating in it which actually gave fresh vigour +to their arms as well as to their thoughts. With all this, he was the +gentlest of the gentle, and accomplished whatever he undertook without +apparent effort, or the least consciousness that what he was doing was +remarkable. + +I remember an instance of his skill in the small way. One morning, +near the spot where he had headed the storming party against the white +ants, a working party of the crew of the Illustrious had commenced +constructing a wharf before the dockyard. The stones of which this +platform or landing-place was to be built were, by Sir Samuel Hood's +orders, selected of very large dimensions, so much so, that the +sailors came at last to deal with a mass of rock so heavy, that their +combined strength proved unequal to moving it beyond a few inches +towards its final position at the top of one corner. The Admiral sat +on his horse looking at the workmen for some time, occasionally +laughing, and occasionally calling out directions, which the baffled +engineers could by no means apply. At length, his Excellency the +Commander-in-chief became fidgety, and having dismounted, he tried to +direct them in detail; but never a bit would the stone budge. Finally, +losing all patience, he leaped from the top of the bank, and roared +out, in a voice of reproach and provocation, "Give me the crow-bar!" +Thus armed, he pushed the officers and men to the right and left, +while he insisted upon having the whole job to himself, literally, +single-handed. He first drove the claws of the instrument well under +the edge of the stone, then placed with his toe a small iron pin on +the ground under the bar, and across its length, to act as a fulcrum, +or shoulder. When all things were carefully adjusted to his mind, he +slipped his hand to the upper end of the lever, and weighing it down, +gave what he called "life" to the huge stone, which, just before, +half-a-dozen strong men had not been able to disturb. Sure enough, +however, it now moved, though only about half-an-inch, towards its +intended resting-place. At each prize or hitch of the bar, the rock +appeared to advance farther, till, after five or six similar shifts, +it was finally lodged in the station prepared for it, where, I doubt +not, it rests to this day, and may occupy for centuries to come. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +EXCURSION TO CANDELAY LAKE IN CEYLON. + + +The fervid activity of our excellent admiral, Sir Samuel Hood, in +whose flag-ship I served as lieutenant, from 1812 to 1815, was +unceasing. There was a boyish hilarity about this great officer, which +made it equally delightful to serve officially under him, and to enjoy +his friendly companionship. An alligator-hunt, a sport in which the +Malays take great delight, was shared in by the Admiral, who made the +place ring with his exclamation of boyish delight. Scarcely had we +returned from the alligator-hunt, near Trincomalee, when Sir Samuel +applied himself to the collector of the district, who was chief +civilian of the place, and begged to know what he would recommend us +to see next. + +"Do you care about antiquities?" said the collector. + +"Of course," replied the Admiral, "provided they be genuine and worth +seeing. What have you got to show us in that way? I thought this part +of the country had been a wild jungle from all time, and that the +English were only now bringing it into cultivation." + +"On the contrary," observed our intelligent friend, "there are +manifest traces, not very far off, of a dense and wealthy population. +At all events, the inhabitants appear to have understood some of the +arts of life, for they formed a huge tank or pond for the purpose of +irrigation; so large, indeed, that there still exists, in one corner +of it, a sheet of water extensive enough to deserve the name of a +lake." + +"Let us go and see it," exclaimed the admiral. "Can we ride? Order the +horses; who minds the heat of the sun?"--for, like almost all +new-comers, Sir Samuel cared nothing for exposure, and laughed at the +precautions of more experienced residents. + +The collector of Trincomalee soon satisfied the Admiral that an +expedition to Candelay Lake, as the ancient tank of the natives was +called, could not be undertaken quite so speedily. Boats and horses +indeed were all ready, and tents could easily be procured; but it was +likewise necessary to prepare provisions, to pack up clothes, and to +send forward a set of native pioneers to clear the way through +brushwood, otherwise impenetrable. The Admiral was in such ecstacies +at the prospect of an adventure which was to cost some trouble, that +he allowed nobody rest till everything had been put in train. Early in +the morning of the next day but one, we accordingly set out in several +of the flag-ship's boats, accompanied by a mosquito fleet of native +canoes to pilot and assist us; Lady Hood, whom no difficulties could +daunt, accompanied Sir Samuel; the captain of his ship, and his +flag-lieutenant, with the collector as pilot, and one or two others, +made up the party; and our excursion, though nearly destitute of +adventures vulgarly so called, proved one of the most interesting +possible. + +The early part of our course lay over the smooth and beautiful +harbour of Trincomalee, after which we passed through a series of +coves, forming what is called the Lake of Tamblegam, a connecting bay +or arm of the sea, though far out of sight of the main ocean. We soon +lost ourselves amid innumerable little islands clad thickly in the +richest mantles of tropical foliage down to the water's edge, and at +many places even into the water; so that, as not a stone or the least +bit of ground could be seen, these fairy islets appeared actually to +float on the surface. We had to row our boats through a dense aquatic +forest of mangroves for nearly a mile, along a narrow lane cut through +the wood expressly for us the day before by the natives. These +fantastical trees, which grow actually in the water, often recall to +the imagination those villages one sees in countries liable to +frequent inundation, where each house is perched on the top of piles. +We saw with astonishment clusters of oysters and other shell-fish +clinging to the trunk and branches, as well as to the roots of these +trees, which proves that the early voyagers were not such inventors of +facts as folks suppose them, nor far wrong in reporting that they had +seen fish growing like fruit on trees! + +Shortly before entering this watery wilderness, we encountered a party +of native pearl-divers; and the Admiral, who was at all times most +provokingly sceptical as to reported wonderful exploits, pulled out +his watch, and insisted on timing the best diver amongst them, to see +how long he could remain under water. In no case did the poor fellow +make out a minute complete; upon which, the Admiral held up his watch +exultingly in his triumph, and laughing to scorn the assurances that +at other parts of the island divers might be found who could remain +five minutes at the bottom. "Show me them! show me them!" cried he, +"and then, but not till then--begging you pardon--I shall believe it." +The challenge remained unanswered. + +The method used by these divers is to place between their feet a +basket loaded with one or two large lumps of coral, the weight of +which carries them rapidly to the bottom. The oysters being then +substituted for the stones, the diver disengages his feet, and shoots +up to the surface again, either bringing the full basket with him, or +leaving it to be drawn up by a line. + +Nothing could be imagined more wild than the mangrove avenue through +which we rowed, or rather paddled, for the strait was so narrow that +there was no room for the oars when pushed out to their full length. +The sailors, therefore, were often obliged to catch hold of the +branches and roots of the trees, to draw the boats along. The foliage, +as may be supposed, where perennial heat and moisture occur in +abundance, spread overhead in such extraordinary luxuriance that few +of the sun's rays could penetrate the massy net-work of leaves and +branches forming the roof of our fairy passage. Not a single bird +could be seen, either seated or on the wing; nor was even a chirp +distinguishable above the dreamy hum of millions of mosquitoes +floating about, in a calm so profound, that it seemed as if the +surface of the water had never been disturbed since the Creation. The +air, though cool, felt so heavy and choky, that, by the time we had +scrambled to the end of this strange tunnel or watery lane, we could +scarcely breathe, and were rejoiced to enter the open air +again,--although, when we came out, the sun "flamed in the forehead of +the morning sky," and beat fiercely and hotly upon the parched ground, +from which every blade of grass had been scorched away. + +The village of Tamblegam, to which we soon came, is inhabited by a +colony of Hindoo emigrants from the coast of Malabar. It is a neat +little place, of which the huts, formed chiefly of branches of the +tamarind-tree and leaves of the plantain, standing under prodigiously +high cocoa-nuts, are so very diminutive, that the whole looks more +like a child's toy-box village than the residence of grown people. The +principal edifice is a pagoda built of stone, exactly ten feet square. +Not fancying there could be any harm in taking such a liberty, we +entered the pagoda unceremoniously, and one of our artists set to work +sketching the bronze image which the natives worship as a deity, a +figure not quite three inches in height; but the Hindoos were shocked +at our impiety, and soon ousted the Admiral and his party. Close by +was a little tank or pool of water, beautifully spangled over with the +leaves and flowers of the water-lily. Here several groups of Indian +girls had assembled to enjoy the coolness of the water in a style +which we envied not a little. Instead of plunging in and swimming +about as with us, one person sits down, while others pour pitchers of +water over the head. We took notice also of one particularly +interesting party of young damsels, who waded in till the water +reached nearly to their breasts. Each of these girls held in her hand +a chatty, or water-pot, shaped somewhat like an Etruscan vase, the +top of which barely showed itself above the level of the pool. Upon a +signal being given by one of the party, all the girls ducked out of +sight, and at the same time raised their water-jars high in the air. +In the next instant, just as their heads began to re-appear above the +surface, the vessels were simultaneously inclined so that the water +might pour out gradually, and in such measure that by the time the +bathers again stood erect, the inverted jars might be quite empty. +Nothing could be more graceful than the whole proceedings; and we sat +in the shade of the pagoda looking at these water-nymphs for +half-an-hour in great admiration. + +In the mean time a slender pole, forty feet in height, had been +erected by a set of native tumblers, who presently exhibited before us +various feats of extraordinary agility and strength--some of these are +almost too curious to be believed by those who are not aware of the +flexibility and dexterity of the Hindoos. We were most surprised and +amused by the exploits of a lady of forty, which is considered a very +old age in that climate, who ran up the pole more like a monkey than a +human being, and then sticking herself on the top horizontally like a +weathercock, whirled herself round, to the great astonishment of the +European beholders. What tickled us particularly on this occasion was +the good lady accompanying her strange movements with a noise so +exactly like that of our old and respected friend Punch, when drubbed +by his faithful wife Judy, that we all burst out a-laughing. + +The sun had now fallen past that particular angle in the sky above +which it is considered by the bearers inexpedient to travel, we +nestled ourselves into our respective palankeens, and proceeded on +the journey through what seemed to us a very respectable forest, +growing on lands which had once been under the plough, but apparently +very long ago. To our inexperienced eyes and European associations, it +seemed as if a century at least must have elapsed from the time such a +matting of wood first supplanted the labours of the husbandman; but +our friend the collector soon explained to us, that, if any spot of +ground in that rich district were neglected for a very few years, +natural trees, as tall as those we now admired so much, would soon +shoot up spontaneously, and occupy all the soil. We shook our heads at +this with the confident scepticism of ignorance, and exchanged glances +amongst ourselves at the expense of our official companion; but in the +course of an hour we were compelled, by the evidence of our own +senses, to alter our note of disbelief. On coming to the real +untouched virgin forest of the climate, we beheld a most noble +spectacle indeed, in the way of scenery, such as I at least had never +seen before, and have but rarely met with since. I do not recollect +the names of the principal trees, though they were mentioned to us +over and over again. The grand Banyan, however, with which European +eyes have become so correctly familiar through the pencil of Daniell, +rose on every side, and made us feel, even more decidedly than the +cocoa-nut trees had done in the morning, that we were indeed in +another world. + +Shortly after we had left the Indian village, the night fell, and, +while we were threading the gigantic forest by the light of torches, +the only thing at all like an adventure promised to occur to us; but +it ended in nothing. The party consisted of six palankeens, each +attended by eight bearers, though only four at a time, or at most six, +supported the poles; these trotted along by the side of the bearers, +between two and three dozen coolies or porters carrying provisions and +torches. + +With a mixture of vague alarm and curiosity we now listened to the +accounts of wild elephants in these woods, though in the morning we +had heard the same stories with indifference and incredulity; while +the old hands of the party, who had felt rather piqued at our distrust +of their marvellous narrations, pointed out with malicious +satisfaction the recent foot-marks of these undisputed and formidable +lords of the soil. + +Sir Samuel and Lady Hood, with some of his staff, had left their +palankeens and walked forward on the path, which barely admitted two +people abreast, in order to enjoy the exceeding beauty of the Indian +jungle, lighted up with the blaze of our torches. Suddenly the +headmost musalgee or torch-bearer paused, listened, and then +retreated precipitately, upon the hinder ranks. Nothing was said by +them, and nothing could we hear in the woods to explain the cause of +this panic, which, however, soon became general amongst the natives. +The bearers set down the palankeens, and in an instant they, as well +as all the coolies, took to their heels, while the torches flitted +about in the forest in a style which, had there been no apprehension, +might have been acknowledged as very picturesque. Sir Samuel not +only stood fast himself, but ordered all of us to do so +likewise--remarking, that, until we knew what to fly from, we might +only be making matters worse by moving. Presently the loud crashing of +the underwood of the forest, and a heavy thumping on the ground, gave +abundant evidence that a wild elephant was close to us. + +Some of the natives told us afterwards that they had seen the monster; +but, although we peered into the forest with all our eyes, none of us +could honestly take upon us to say we actually saw him--though +assuredly we heard his footsteps as he broke his way through the +jungle. Robinson Crusoe and his wolves in Tartary came to our +recollection; and upon our asking the natives what effect fires really +had on wild beasts, they all assured us that hardly any animal, +however ferocious, would come up to a light, and that we were safe so +long as we kept near a torch. This might be consolatory reasoning for +the musalgees, each of whom carried a light, but it afforded little +security to us, who, it was evident, would again be left in the dark +should an elephant cross our path a second time. The Admiral, +therefore, and by his desire all of us, made an attempt to carry the +torches ourselves. But we were soon so plaguily smoked and scorched +for our pains, that we rested contented with the risk, and the bearers +having gradually crept back to the palankeens, we once more moved on. +In spite of all that had passed, some of the party remained so +doggedly sceptical, from being habitually distrustful of all things +wonderful, that they declared the whole affair a mere matter of panic, +and dared to swear there could not be found an elephant within fifty +miles of us. Scarcely had this opinion, so injurious to the honours +and glories of our late adventure, been uttered, when the +commander-in-chief, who, as usual, was leading the way, snatched a +light from one of the men's hands, and waved it over what the +geologists call a "recent deposit," half the size of a wheelbarrow, +and out-rivalling in its column of smoke the muggiest torch in the +line. + +"There!" exclaimed the Admiral, better pleased than if he had found a +pile of rupees, instead of so much recent Album Graecum. "Will that +evidence satisfy you? How many hundred yards off do you think can the +fellow be who left this trace of his proximity?" + +It was past ten o'clock when we reached our tents, which had been +pitched in the morning on the borders of the celebrated lake we came +to visit. All the party were well fagged, and so ravenously hungry, +that we shouted for joy on seeing supper enter just as we came to the +ground. + +"This," said our excellent caterer the collector, "is the dish upon +which we pride ourselves most at Trincomalee. It is the true Malay +curry--rich, as you perceive, in flavour, and more than half of it +gravy--which gravy, I beg you particularly to take notice, is full of +minced vegetables, while the whole is softened with some of the +youngest kind of cocoa-nut, plucked this very evening since the sun +went down." + +These praises really fell far short of the merits of this glorious +supper; nor can I remember anything in the way of gourmandise in any +part of the world comparable to this exquisite midnight feast. + +At the door and windows of our supper tent were hung up by the neck +sundry well-bedewed goglets of spring water, cheek by jowl with a +jolly string of long-necked bottles of Lafitte and Chateau Margaux, +joyously fanning themselves in the thorough draught of the cool +night-breeze, breathing so gently along, that we could just hear it +whispering through the leaves of the damp forest, and sweeping towards +the lake past the tents, the curtains of which it scarcely stirred. + +The wine perhaps was almost more chilled than a fastidious +wine-fancier might have directed; nevertheless, it flowed over our +parched palates with an intensity of zest which I do not believe it is +in mortals to be conscious of enjoying till they have toiled a whole +day in the sun within half-a-dozen degrees of the equator. Bottle +after bottle--each one more rich and racy than its valued and lamented +predecessor--vanished so fast, that, ere an hour had elapsed, we felt +as if a hundred mad elephants would have stood no chance with us! + +As we straggled off to our respective beds, made up in the palankeens, +according to the custom of the country, we became sensible of a +serious annoyance, of which we had taken but little notice while +baling in the hot curries and cool clarets within the tent. A most +potent and offensive smell was brought to us by the land-wind; and the +Admiral, who was not a man to submit to any evil capable of remedy, +insisted on an immediate investigation into the cause of this +annoyance. + +After hunting about in the wind's eye for a short time in the jungle, +with torches in our hands, we came upon a huge dead buffalo, swollen +almost to double his natural size. Upon seeing this, the bearers and +servants shrugged their shoulders, as if the case had been hopeless. +Not so the gallant Admiral, who, in his usual style of prompt +resource, called out, "Let us bury this monster before we go to bed." +And, sure enough, under his directions, and by his assistance, we +contrived, in a quarter of an hour, to throw sand, earth, and leaves +enough over the huge carcase to cover it completely. "There's a cairn +for you!" exclaimed the Admiral, throwing down his spade, which he had +been using with his only hand; "and now let us turn in; for by the +first peep of the morning we must have a touch at the wild ducks and +peacocks on the sides of the lake, and perhaps we may contrive to have +a shot at a buffalo or a stray elephant." + +Accordingly, next morning, actually before it was light, I felt the +indefatigable Admiral tugging at my ear, and bidding me get up, to +accompany him on a shooting excursion, and as he said, "Mayhap we +shall get sight of some of those elephants, the existence of which you +presumed to doubt last night. Come, Mr. Officer, show a leg! I know +you are a bit of a philosopher, and curious in natural history; so +rouse up and come along with me." + +Most cordially did I then anathematise all philosophy, and wish I had +never expressed any curiosity on the score of wild beasts, peacocks, +or ancient tanks; but as the Admiral was not a person to be trifled +with, I made a most reluctant move, and exchanged the delightful dream +of hot curries and cool sherbet for the raw reality of a +shooting-match, up to the knees in water, at five in the morning. At +one place, such was his Excellency's anxiety to secure a good shot at +some ducks, that he literally crawled for a couple of hundred yards +among the muddy shore of the lake on his knees, and at the end +expressing himself fully repaid by getting a single capital shot at a +wild peacock! He was also gratified by bringing down a magnificent +jungle-cock--a bird which resembles our barn-door fowl in form, but +its plumage is vastly more brilliant, and its flight more lofty and +sustained, than any of which the bird can boast in its tame state. Our +scramble in the mud brought us within sight of a drove of several +hundred buffaloes. We saw also several troops of wild deer; but, to +our great disappointment, not a single elephant could we catch even a +glimpse of. We counted, at one time, several dozens of peacocks--some +perched on the trees, some high in the air; we fired at them +repeatedly, but I do not believe any came within shot. Their plumage +exceeded that of our tame peacocks less in the brilliancy of the +colour than in the wonderful fineness of the gloss--a characteristic +of animals of all kinds in their native state. We scarcely saw one +small bird during our whole excursion, or heard a single note but the +hideous screams of the peacock and parrot--tones which dame Nature, in +her even-handed style of doing things, has probably bestowed upon +these dandies of the woods, to counterbalance the magnificence of +their apparel. + +While discussing this point, the collector took occasion to point out +to us the great importance of such artificial means of irrigating a +country as the ancient lake of Candelay, by the side of which we were +now encamped, must have furnished to agriculturists of former days, +when its precious waters were husbanded and drawn off to fertilise the +surrounding country. + +This stupendous monument of the wealth and industry of some former +race is placed on ground slightly elevated above the districts lying +between it and the sea, which, in a direct line, may be distant about +twelve or fourteen miles. We could not ascertain exactly what was the +precise elevation, but, from the remains of trenches, sluices, and +other contrivances for drawing off and distributing the water, it +appeared that the fall in the ground must have been sufficient to +enable the husbandmen to irrigate the fields at pleasure; though, to +our eyes, no inclination could be perceived. The lake itself is now +greatly diminished in extent, from the dilapidations in its "bund," or +retaining embankment, but still it stretches over many square miles of +area. On three sides it is confined by the swelling nature of the +ground, and it is only on the fourth that any extensive artificial +means have been resorted to for confining the water. At this place, +across a flat broad valley, there has been thrown a huge embankment, +constructed chiefly of oblong stones, many of them as big as a sofa, +extending in a zig-zag line for several miles. At some places it rises +to the height of thirty or forty feet, and the courses of stone being +laid above one another with considerable regularity, this great +retaining wall assumes the appearance of a gigantic flight of steps, +and being crowned at top by an irregular line of tall trees, it breaks +the sky-line beyond the lake in a manner extremely picturesque. Here +and there lateral gaps between the hills occur in the other sides, all +of which are filled up with similar embankments. + +Near one end of the principal wall we could distinctly trace the ruins +of a considerable tower, beneath which the great tunnel or outlet used +for tapping the lake most probably passed. It is said that some early +European settlers, a century or two ago, impressed with an idea that +treasure was hid in this building, had torn it down to get at the gold +beneath. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +GRIFFINS IN INDIA--SINBAD'S VALLEY OF DIAMONDS--A MOSQUITO-HUNT. + + +On the evening of the 18th of November, 1812, we sailed, in his +Majesty's ship Illustrious, from the magnificent harbour of +Trincomalee. In attempting to get out we were sadly baffled by light +shifting winds, which knocked us about from side to side of the +entrance, in which, unfortunately, no good anchorage is to be found, +owing to the great depth of water and the rocky nature of the ground. +This serious evil of a rocky bottom is now almost entirely obviated by +the admirable invention of iron cables, when the water is not too +deep. The links of the chain merely acquire a polish by their friction +against the coral reefs and other sharp ledges, by which the best +hempen cables of past times would be cut through in ten minutes. + +The chain-cable, however, is difficult of management in deep water, +that is to say, when the soundings are more than twenty or twenty-five +fathoms. Nothing is so easy as getting the anchor to the bottom in +such cases; it is the "facilis descensus," with a vengeance! But when +the anchor is to be pulled up again, then comes the tug. I once let +go my anchor with a chain-cable bent to it in forty-five fathoms, +without having calculated on the probable effects of the momentum. +Though the cable was bitted, all the stoppers snapped like packthread; +and the anchor, not content with shooting to the bottom with an +accelerated velocity, drew after it more than a hundred fathoms of +chain, in such fearful style that we thought the poor ship must have +been shaken to pieces. The noise was like that of rattling thunder, +and so loud that it was impossible to hear a word; indeed it was even +difficult to speak, from the excessive tremour caused by the rapid and +violent passage of the links, as the chain leaped, or rather flew, up +the hatchway, flashing round the bits, and giving out sparks like a +firework. Finally, it tore its way out at the hause-hole, till the +whole cable had probably piled itself on the anchor in a pyramid of +iron at the bottom of the sea. The inner end of the cable had of +course been securely shackled round the heel of the mainmast; but the +jerk with which it was brought up, made the ship shake from stem to +stern, as if she had bumped on a rock, and every one fully expected to +see the links fly in pieces about the deck, like chain-shot fired from +a cannon. It cost not many seconds of time for the cable to run out, +but it occupied several hours of hard labour to heave it in again. The +ordinary power of the capstan, full manned, scarcely stirred it; and +at the last, when to the weight of chain hanging from the bows there +came to be added that of the anchor, it was necessary to apply +purchase upon purchase, in order to drag the ponderous mass once more +to the bows. + +When we got fairly clear of the harbour of Trincomalee, and caught +the monsoon, we dashed along-shore briskly enough; and having rounded +the south point of Ceylon, well named Dondra Head, or thunder cape, we +paid a visit to Point de Galle, celebrated for its bread-fruit and +cocoa-nuts. We then passed on to Columbo, the capital of the island. +Ceylon, I may take occasion to mention, is not considered by our +countrymen of the East to be in India. We stared with all our eyes +when this unexpected information was first given us, and fancied our +merry friends were quizzing us. But we soon learned that, in the +technical language of that country, Ceylon does not form a part of +India; still less does Sumatra, Java, or any indeed of the islands in +the great tropical Archipelago. New-comers are, of course, a good deal +perplexed by these and sundry other local peculiarities in language +and manners, which they at first laugh at as a good joke, then +ridicule as affected, and lastly conform to as quite natural and +proper. Among Anglo-Indians the straits of Malacca, Sunda, and so on, +together with the China sea, and those magnificent groups of islands +the Philippines and Moluccas, are all included in the sweeping +term--"To the eastward." + +At almost every part of this immense range I found further local +distinctions, of greater or less peculiarity and extent according to +circumstances. At one place I was puzzled by hearing the name of a +whole country appropriated to a single spot. At Bombay, for example, I +remember it was the custom, at a certain season of the year, to talk +of going to the Deccan, which word properly includes an immense region +consisting of many provinces; whereas those who used this expression +meant, and were understood to express, only one point in it--a little +watering-place. Mere local words, in like manner, come to have a much +more expanded signification. The word Ghaut, I believe, means, in +strictness, a pass between hills; and hence, some bold etymologists +pretend, comes our word gate! The term, however, is now applied to the +whole range of mountains which fringe the western coast of India, just +as the more gigantic Cordilleras of the Andes guard the shores of the +Pacific. + +But whether Ceylon be in India or not, this island is celebrated for +its precious stones; indeed, there are writers who believe that Mount +Ophir of the Scripture is Adam's Peak of Ceylon. Be this also as it +may, our ever-enterprising and active-minded Admiral determined to +bring this reputation to the proof; and, one day at dinner at the +governor's table, actually announced his intention of having a hunt +for the sapphires, rubies, tourmalines, chrysoberyls, and corundums, +for which the island has been long celebrated. His Excellency smiled, +and the company at large scarcely knew whether to treat the proposal +as a joke or as a serious affair. Sir Samuel, however, was not a man +to be quizzed out of his purposes; he begged to have a party of +workmen sent to him next morning, and that each of the men might be +furnished with a basket, a request which naturally produced a titter; +for it was made in such a tone as led us to fancy the worthy Admiral +expected to collect the rubies and garnets in as great profusion as +his far-famed predecessor, Sinbad the sailor, found them in the Valley +of Diamonds. + +His precise plan he kept to himself till he reached the river, in +which the finest stones are said to be found, the alluvial strip of +ground bordering which was formed chiefly of fine gravel mixed with +sand, leaves, and mud. Here he desired the men to fill their baskets, +and to carry the whole mass, just as they picked it up, to one of the +ship's boats, which he had directed to meet him at the landing-place. + +Not a word more was said on the subject at Government-house, nor on +board the ship, till a couple of days after we had left Columbo, when +the Admiral ordered the bag of gravel into his cabin, along with a +great tub of water and half-a-dozen wash-deck buckets. The whole stuff +collected on shore was now thoroughly cleaned, and when only the +gravel remained, it was divided into a number of small portions, and +laid on plates and dishes on the table of the fore-cabin. As soon as +all was arranged, the Admiral, who superintended the operation, called +out, "Send all the young gentlemen in the ship, and let every one take +a plateful of gravel before him, to catch what jewels he can." + +Before the party had time to assemble, the delighted Admiral had +himself discovered in his own dish three or four small garnets, one +ruby, and several small crystals of corundum. By-and-bye, to the +astonishment of every one, a collection was made, which not only +furnished the promised ring to the governor's lady, but half-a-dozen +others of equal beauty. These precious stones were certainly not of +the largest dimensions; but, for all that, the Admiral established his +point. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +CEYLONESE CANOES--PERUVIAN BALSAS--THE FLOATING WINDLASS OF THE +COROMANDEL FISHERMEN. + + +The canoes of Ceylon, as far as I remember, are not described by any +writer, nor have I met with any professional men who are aware of +their peculiar construction, and of the advantages of the extremely +elegant principle upon which they are contrived, though capable, I am +persuaded, of being applied to various purposes of navigation. + +Among the lesser circumstances which appear to form characteristic +points of distinction between country and country may be mentioned the +head-dress of the men, and the form and rig of their boats. An +endless variety of turbans, sheep-skin caps, and conical bonnets, +distinguish the Asiatics from the "Toppee Wallas" or hat-wearers of +Europe; and a still greater variety exists amongst the boats of +different nations. My purpose, just now, however, is to speak of boats +and canoes alone; and it is really most curious to observe, that their +size, form, cut of sails, description of oar and rudder, length of +mast and so on, are not always entirely regulated by the peculiar +climate of the locality, but made to depend on a caprice which it is +difficult to account for. The boats of some countries are so extremely +unstable, and altogether without bearings, that the smallest weight on +one side more than on the other upsets them. This applies to the +canoes of the North American Indian, which require considerable +practice, even in the smoothest water, to keep them upright; and yet +the Indians cross immense lakes in them, although the surface of those +vast sheets of fresh water is often as rough as that of any salt sea. +The waves, it is true, are not so long and high; but they are very +awkward to deal with, from their abruptness, and the rapidity with +which they get up when a breeze sets in. + +On those parts of the coast of the United States where the seasons are +alternately very fine and very rough, our ingenious friends, the +Americans, have contrived a set of pilot-boats, which are the delight +of every sailor. This description of vessel, as the name implies, must +always be at sea, as it is impossible to tell when her services may be +required by ships steering in for the harbour's mouth. Accordingly, +the Baltimore clippers and the New York pilots defy the elements in a +style which it requires a long apprenticeship to the difficulties and +discomforts of a wintry navigation, in a stormy latitude, duly to +appreciate. In the fine weather, smooth water, and light winds of +summer, these pilot-boats skim over the surface with the ease and +swiftness of a swallow, apparently just touching the water with their +prettily formed hulls, which seem too small to bear the immense load +of snow-white canvas swelling above them, and shooting them along as +if by magic, when every other vessel is lost in the calm, and when +even taunt-masted ships can barely catch a breath of air to fill their +sky-sails and royal studding-sails. They are truly "water-witches;" +for, while they look so delicate and fragile that one feels at first +as if the most moderate breeze must brush them from the face of the +ocean, and scatter to the winds all their gay drapery, they can and do +defy, as a matter of habit and choice, the most furious gales with +which the rugged "sea-board" of America is visited in February and +March. + +I have seen a pilot-boat off New York, in the morning, in a calm, with +all her sails set, lying asleep on the water, which had subsided into +such perfect stillness that we could count the seam of each cloth in +the mirror beneath her, and it became difficult to tell which was the +reflected image, which the true vessel. And yet, within a few hours, I +have observed the same boat, with only her close-reefed foresail +set--no one visible on her decks--and the sea running mountains high, +threatening to swallow her up. Nevertheless, the beautiful craft rose +as buoyantly on the back of the waves as any duck, and, moreover, +glanced along their surface, and kept so good a wind, that, ere long, +she shot ahead, and weathered our ship. Before the day was done, she +could scarcely be distinguished from the mast-head to windward, though +we had been labouring in the interval under every sail we could safely +carry. + +The balsas of Peru, the catamarans and masullah boats of the +Coromandel coast, and the flying proas of the South Sea Islands, have +all been described before, and their respective merits dwelt upon, by +Cook, Vancouver, Ulloa, and others. Each in its way, and on its +proper spot, seems to possess qualities which it is difficult to +communicate to vessels similarly constructed at a distance. The boats +of each country, indeed, may be said to possess a peculiar language, +understood only by the natives of the countries to which they belong; +and truly, the manner in which the vessels of some regions behave, +under the guidance of their respective masters, seems almost to imply +that the boats themselves are gifted with animal intelligence. At all +events, their performance never fails to excite the highest +professional admiration of those whom experience has rendered familiar +with the difficulties to be overcome. + +Long acquaintance with the local tides, winds, currents, and other +circumstances of the pilotage, and the constant pressure of necessity, +enable the inhabitants of each particular spot to acquire such +masterly command over their machinery, that no new-comer, however well +provided, or however skilful generally, can expect to cope with them. +Hence it arises, that boats of a man-of-war are found almost +invariably inferior, in some respects, to those of the port at which +she touches. The effect of seeking to adapt our boats to any one +particular place would be to render them less serviceable upon the +whole. After remaining some time at a place, we might succeed in +occasionally outsailing or outrowing the natives; but what sort of a +figure would our boats cut at the next point to which the ship might +be ordered--say a thousand miles farther from, or nearer to, the +equator, where all the circumstances would be totally different. We +should have to change again and again, losing time at each place, and +probably not gaining, after all, any of the real advantages which the +natives long resident on the spot alone know the art of applying to +practice. + +The hull or body of the Ceylonese canoe is formed, like that of +Robinson Crusoe's, out of the trunk of a single tree, wrought in its +middle part into a perfectly smooth cylinder, but slightly flattened +and turned up at both ends, which are made exactly alike. It is +hollowed out in the usual way, but not cut so much open at top as we +see in other canoes, for considerably more than half of the outside +part of the cylinder or barrel is left entire, with only a narrow +slit, eight or ten inches wide, above. If such a vessel were placed in +the water, it would possess very little stability, even when not +loaded with any weight on its upper edges. But there is built upon it +a set of wooden upper works, in the shape of a long trough, extending +from end to end; and the top-heaviness of this addition to the hull +would instantly overturn the vessel, unless some device were applied +to preserve its upright position. This purpose is accomplished by +means of an out-rigger on one side, consisting of two curved poles, or +slender but tough spars, laid across the canoe at right-angles to its +length, and extending to the distance of twelve, fifteen, or even +twenty feet, where they join a small log of buoyant wood, about half +as long as the canoe, and lying parallel to it, with both its ends +turned up like the toe of a slipper, to prevent its dipping into the +waves. The inner ends of these transverse poles are securely bound by +thongs to the raised gunwales of the canoe. The out-rigger, which is +always kept to windward, acting by its weight at the end of so long a +lever, prevents the vessel from turning over by the pressure of the +sail; or, should the wind shift suddenly, so as to bring the sail +aback, the buoyancy of the floating log would prevent the canoe from +upsetting on that side by retaining the out-rigger horizontal. The +mast, which is very taunt, or lofty, supports a lug-sail of immense +size, and is stepped exactly in midships, that is, at the same +distance from both ends of the canoe. The yard, also, is slung +precisely in the middle; and while the tack of the sail is made fast +at one extremity of the hull, the opposite corner, or clew, to which +the sheet is attached, hauls aft to the other end. Shrouds extend from +the mast-head to the gunwale of the canoe; besides which, slender +backstays are carried to the extremity of the out-rigger; and these +ropes, by reason of their great spread, give such powerful support to +the mast, though loaded with a prodigious sail, that a very slender +spar is sufficient. + +The method of working the sails of these canoes is as follows. They +proceed in one direction as far as may be deemed convenient, and then, +without going about, or turning completely round as we do, they merely +change the stern of the canoe into the head, by shifting the tack of +the sail over to leeward, and so converting it into the sheet--while +the other clew, being shifted up to windward, becomes the tack. As +soon as these changes have been made, away spins the little fairy bark +on her new course, but always keeping the same side, or that on which +the out-rigger is placed to windward. It will be easily understood +that the pressure of the sail has a tendency to lift the weight at the +extremity of the out-rigger above the surface of the water. In sailing +along, therefore, the log just skims the tops of the waves, but +scarcely ever buries itself in them, so that little or no interruption +to the velocity of the canoe is caused by the out-rigger. When the +breeze freshens so much as to lift the weight higher than the natives +like, one, and sometimes two of them, walk out on the horizontal +spars, so as to add their weight to that of the out-rigger. In order +to enable them to accomplish this purpose in safety, a "man rope," +about breast high, extends over each of the spars from the mast to the +backstays. + +But of all the ingenious native contrivances for turning small means +to good account, one of the most curious, and, under certain +circumstances, perhaps the most useful, is the balsa, or raft of South +America, or, as it is called on some part of the coast, the catamaran. +The simplest form of the raft, or balsa, is that of five, seven, or +nine large beams of very light wood, from fifty to sixty feet long, +arranged side by side, with the longest spar placed in the centre. +These logs are firmly held together by cross-bars, lashings, and stout +planking near the ends. They vary from fifteen to twenty, and even +thirty feet in width. I have seen some at Guayaquil of an immense +size, formed of logs as large as a frigate's foremast. These are +intended for conveying goods to Paita, and other places along-shore. +The balsa generally carries only one large sail, which is hoisted to +what we call a pair of shears, formed by two poles crossing at the +top, where they are lashed together. It is obvious that it would be +difficult to step a mast securely to a raft in the manner it is done +in a ship. It is truly astonishing to see how fast these singular +vessels go through the water; but it is still more curious to observe +how accurately they can be steered, and how effectively they may be +handled in all respects like any ordinary vessel. + +The method by which the balsas are directed in their course is +extremely ingenious, and is that to which I should wish to call the +attention of sailors, not merely as a matter of curiosity, but from +its practical utility in seamanship. No officer can tell how soon he +may be called upon to place his crew on a raft, should his ship be +wrecked; and yet, unless he has been previously made aware of some +method of steering it, no purpose may be answered but that of +protracting the misery of the people under his charge. Nothing can be +more simple, or more easy of application, than the South American +contrivance. Near both ends of the centre spar there is cut a +perpendicular slit, about a couple of inches wide by one or two feet +in length. Into each of these holes a broad plank, called guaras by +the natives, is inserted in such a way that it may be thrust down to +the depth of ten or twelve feet, or it may be drawn up entirely. The +slits are so cut, that, when the raft is in motion, the edges of these +planks shall meet the water. It is clear, that if both the guaras be +thrust quite down, and held fast in a perpendicular direction, they +will offer a broad surface towards the side, and thus, by acting like +the leeboards of a river-barge, or the keel of a ship, prevent the +balsa from drifting sidewise or dead to leeward. But while these +guaras serve the purpose of a keel, they also perform the important +duty of a rudder, the rationale of which every sailor will understand, +upon considering the effect which must follow upon pulling either up +the guara in the bow or that in the stern. Suppose, when the wind is +on the beam, the foremost one drawn up; that end of the raft will +instantly have a tendency to drift to leeward, from the absence of +the lateral support it previously received from its guara or keel at +the bow; or, in sea language, the balsa will immediately "fall off," +and in time she will come right before the wind. On the other hand, if +the foremost guara be kept down while the sternmost one is drawn up, +the balsa's head, or bow, will gradually come up towards the wind, in +consequence of that end retaining its hold of the water by reason of +its guara, while the stern end, being relieved from its lateral +support, drifts to leeward. Thus, by judiciously raising or lowering +one or both the guaras, the raft may not only be steered with the +greatest nicety, but may be tacked or wore, or otherwise directed, +with precision. + +I never shall forget the sensation produced in a ship I commanded one +evening on the coast of Peru, as we steered towards the roadstead of +Payta. An immense balsa was dashing out before the land-wind, and +sending a snowy wreath of foam before her like that which curls up +before the bow of a frigate in chase. As long as she was kept before +the wind, we could understand this in some degree; but when she hauled +up in order to round the point, and having made a stretch along-shore, +proceeded to tack, we could scarcely believe our eyes. Had the +celebrated Flying Dutchman sailed past us, our wonder could hardly +have been more excited. + +It will generally be found well worth an officer's attention to remark +in what manner the natives of any coast, however rude they may be, +contrive to perform difficult tasks. Such things may be very simple +and easy for us to execute, when we have all the appliances and means +of our full equipment at command; but, as circumstances may often +occur to deprive us of many of those means, and thus, virtually, to +reduce us to the condition of the natives, it becomes of consequence +to ascertain how necessity, the venerable mother of invention, has +taught people so situated to do the required work. For example, it is +generally easy for a ship of war to pick up her anchor with her own +boats; but it will sometimes happen that the launch and other large +boats may be stove, and then it may prove of consequence to know how a +heavy anchor can be weighed without a boat at all. + +We happened, in his Majesty's ship Minden, to run upon the Coleroon +shoal, off the mouth of the great river of that name, about a hundred +miles south of Madras. After laying out a bower anchor, and hauling +the ship off, we set about preparing the boats to weigh it in the +usual way. But the master-attendant of Porto Novo, who had come off to +our assistance with a fleet of canoes and rafts, suggested to Sir +Samuel Hood that it might he a good opportunity to try the skill of +the natives, who were celebrated for their expertness in raising great +weights from the bottom. The proposal was one which delighted the +Admiral, who enjoyed everything that was new. He posted himself +accordingly in his barge near the spot, but he allowed the task to be +turned over entirely to the black fellows, whom he ordered to be +supplied with ropes, spars, and anything else they required from the +ship. The officers and sailors, in imitation of their chief, clustered +themselves in wondering groups in the rigging, in the chains, and in +the boats, to witness the strange spectacle of a huge bower anchor, +weighing nearly four tons, raised off the ground by a set of native +fishermen, possessed of no canoe larger than the smallest gig on +board. + +The master-attendant stood interpreter, and passed backwards and +forwards between the ship and the scene of operations--not to direct, +but merely to signify what things the natives required for their +purpose. They first begged us to have a couple of spare topmasts and +topsail-yards, with a number of smaller spars, such as top-gallant +masts and studding-sail booms. Out of these they formed, with +wonderful speed, an exceedingly neat cylindrical raft, between two and +three feet in diameter. They next bound the whole closely together by +lashings, and filled up all its inequalities with capstan-bars, +handspikes, and other small spars, so as to make it a compact, smooth, +and uniform cylinder from end to end. Nothing could be more dexterous +or seaman-like than the style in which these fellows swam about and +passed the lashings; in fact, they appeared to be as much at home in +the water as our sailors were in the boats or in the rigging. + +A stout seven-inch hawser was now sent down by the buoy-rope, and the +running clinch or noose formed on its end, placed over the fluke of +the anchor in the usual way. A couple of round turns were then taken +with the hawser at the middle part of the cylindrical raft, after it +had been drawn up as tight as possible from the anchor. A number of +slew-ropes, I think about sixty or seventy in all, were next passed +round the cylinder several times, in the opposite direction to the +round turns taken with the hawser. + +Upwards of a hundred of the natives now mounted the raft, and, after +dividing themselves into pairs, and taking hold of the slew-ropes in +their hands, pulled them up as tight as they could. By this effort +they caused the cylinder to turn round till its further revolutions +were stopped by the increasing tightness of the hawser, which was +wound on the cylinder as fast as the slew-ropes were wound off it. +When all the ropes had been drawn equally tight, and the whole party +of men had been ranged along the top in an erect posture, with their +faces all turned one way, a signal was given by one of the principal +natives. At this moment the men, one and all, still grasping their +respective slew-ropes firmly in their hands, and without bending a +joint in their whole bodies, fell simultaneously on their backs, flat +on the water! The effect of this sudden movement was to turn the +cylinder a full quadrant, or one quarter of a revolution. This, of +course, brought a considerable strain on the hawser fixed to the +anchor. On a second signal being given, every alternate pair of men +gradually crept up the spars by means of their slew-ropes, till +one-half of the number stood once more along the top of the cylinder, +while the other half of the party still lay flat on the water, and by +their weight prevented the cylinder rolling back again. + +When the next signal was given, those natives who had regained their +original position on the top of the cylinder threw themselves down +once more, while those who already lay prostrate gathered in the slack +of their slew-ropes with the utmost eagerness as the cylinder revolved +another quarter of a turn. It soon became evident that the anchor had +fairly begun to rise off the ground, for the buoy-rope, which at first +had been bowsed taught over the stern of our launch, became +quite slack. + +I forget how many successive efforts were made by the natives before +the anchor was lifted; but, in the end, it certainly was raised +completely off the ground by their exertions alone. The natives, +however, complained of the difficulty being much greater than they had +expected in consequence of the great size of our anchor. In fact, when +at length they had wound the hawser on the cylinder so far that it +carried the full weight, the whole number of the natives lay stretched +on the water in a horizontal position, apparently afraid to move, lest +the weight, if not uniformly distributed amongst them, might prove too +great, and the anchor drop again to the bottom, by the returning +revolutions of the cylinder. When this was explained to Sir Samuel +Hood, he ordered the people in the launch to bowse away at the +buoy-rope. This proved a most seasonable relief to the poor natives, +who, however, declared, that, if it were required, they would go on, +and bring up the anchor fairly to the water's edge. As the +good-natured Admiral would not permit this, the huge anchor, cylinder, +natives, launch, and all, were drawn into deep water were the ship +lay. The master-attendant now explained to the natives that they had +nothing more to do than to continue lying flat and still on the water, +till the people on board the ship, by heaving in the cable, should +bring the anchor to the bows, and thus relieve them of their burden. +The officer of the launch was also instructed not to slack the +buoy-rope till the cable had got the full weight of the anchor, and +the natives required no farther help. + +Nothing could be more distinctly given than those orders, so that I +cannot account for the panic which seized some of the natives when +close to the ship. Whatever was the cause, its effect was such that +many of them let go their slew-ropes, and thus cast a disproportionate +share of burden on the others, whose strength, or rather weight, +proving unequal to counterpoise the load, the cylinder began to turn +back again. This soon brought the whole strain, or nearly the whole, +on the stern of the launch, and had not the tackle been smartly let +go, she must have been drawn under water and swamped. The terrified +natives now lost all self-possession, as the mighty anchor shot +rapidly to the bottom. The cylinder of course whirled round with +prodigious velocity as the hawser unwound itself; and so suddenly had +the catastrophe occurred, that many of the natives, not having +presence of mind to let go their slew-ropes, held fast and were +whisked round and round several times alternately under water beneath +the cylinder and on the top of it, not unlike the spokes of a +coach-wheel wanting the rim. + +The Admiral was in the greatest alarm, lest some of these poor fellows +should get entangled with the ropes and be drowned, or be dashed +against one another, and beaten to pieces against the cylinder. It was +a great relief, therefore, to find that no one was in the least degree +hurt, though some of the natives had been soused most soundly, or, as +the Jacks said, who grinned at the whole affair, "keel-hauled in +proper style." + +In a certain sense, then, this experiment may be said to have failed; +but enough was done to show that it might be rendered exceedingly +effective on many occasions. The Admiral, one of the best practical +sailors of his day, thus explained it:-- + +"In the first place," said Sir Samuel, "you must observe, youngsters, +that this device of the natives is neither more nor less than a +floating windlass, where the buoyant power of the timber serves the +purpose of a support to the axis. The men fixed by the slew-ropes to +the cylinder, represent the handspikes or bars by which the windlass +is turned round, and the hawser takes the place of the cable. But," +continued he, "there appears to be no reason why the cylinder should +be made equally large along its whole length; and were I to repeat +this experiment, I would make the middle part, round which the hawser +was to be passed, of a single topmast, while I would swell out the +ends of my cylinder or raft to three or four feet in diameter. In this +way a great increase of power would evidently be gained by those who +worked the slew-ropes. In the next place," said the Admiral, "it is +clear that either the buoy-rope, or another hawser also fastened to +the anchor, as a 'preventer,' ought to be carried round the middle +part of the cylinder, but in the opposite direction to that of the +weighing hawser. This second hawser should be hauled tight round at +the end of each successive quarter-turn gained by the men. If this +were done, all tendency in the cylinder to turn one way more than the +other would be prevented; for each of the hawsers would bear an equal +share of the weight of the anchor, and being wound upon the raft in +opposite directions, would of course counteract each other's tendency +to slew it round. The whole party of men, instead of only one-half of +them, might then mount the spars; and thus their united strength could +be exerted at each effort, and in perfect security, against the +formidable danger of the cylinder whirling back by the anchor gaining +the mastery over them, and dropping again to the bottom. But without +using their clumsy, though certainly very ingenious, machinery of +turning men into handspikes, I think," said he, "we might construct +our floating windlass in such a way that a set of small +spars--studding-sail booms, for instance--might be inserted at right +angles to its length, like the bars of a capstan, and these, if +swifted together, could be worked from the boats, without the +necessity of any one going into the water." + +While speaking of the dexterity of the natives of India, I may mention +a feat which interested us very much. A strong party of hands from the +ship were sent one day to remove an anchor, weighing seventy-five +hundred-weight, from one part of Bombay dockyard to another, but, +from the want of some place to attach their tackle to, they could not +readily transport it along the wharf. Various devices were tried in +vain by the sailors, whose strength, if it could have been brought to +bear, would have proved much more than enough for the task. In process +of time, no doubt, they would have fallen upon some method of +accomplishing their purpose; but while they were discussing various +projects, one of the superintendents said he thought his party of +native coolies or labourers could lift the anchor and carry it to any +part of the yard. This proposal was received by our Johnnies with a +loud laugh; for the numbers of the natives did not much exceed their +own, and the least powerful of the seamen could readily, at least in +his own estimation, have demolished half-a-dozen of the strongest of +these slender Hindoos. + +To work they went, however, while Jack looked on with great +attention. Their first operation was to lay a jib-boom horizontally, +and nearly along the shank of the anchor. This being securely lashed +to the shank, and also to the stock, the whole length of the spar was +crossed at right angles by capstan bars, to the ends of which as many +handspikes as there was room for were lashed also at right angles. In +this way, every cooly of the party could obtain a good hold, and exert +his strength to the greatest purpose. I forget how many natives were +applied to this service; but in the course of a very few minutes, +their preparations being completed, the ponderous anchor was lifted a +few inches from the ground, to the wonder and admiration of the +British seamen, who cheered the black fellows, and patted them on the +back as they trotted along the wharf with their load, which appeared +to oppress them no more than if it had been the jolly boat's grapnel! + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE SURF AT MADRAS. + + +From Ceylon we proceeded after a time to Madras roads, where we soon +became well acquainted with all the outs and ins of the celebrated +surf of that place. This surf, after all, is not really higher than +many which one meets with in other countries; but certainly it is the +highest and most troublesome which exists as a permanent obstruction +in front of a great commercial city. The ingenuity and perseverance of +man, however, have gone far to surmount this difficulty; and now the +passage to and from the beach at Madras offers hardly any serious +interruption to the intercourse. Still, it is by no means an agreeable +operation to pass through the surf under any circumstances; and +occasionally, during the north-east monsoon, it is attended with some +danger. For the first two or three times, I remember thinking it very +good sport to cross the surf, and sympathised but little with the +anxious expressions of some older hands who accompanied me. The boat, +the boatmen, their curious oars, the strange noises they made, and the +attendant catamarans to pick up the passengers if the boat upsets, +being all new to my eyes, and particularly odd in themselves, so +strongly engaged my attention, that I had no leisure to think of the +danger till the boat was cast violently on the beach. The very first +time I landed, the whole party were pitched out heels over head on the +shore. I thought it a mighty odd way of landing; but supposing it to +be all regular and proper, I scrambled up the wet sand, and merely +muttered,--"What the devil will the fellows do next?" + +The surf at Madras consists of two distinct lines of breakers on the +beach, running parallel to each other and to the shore. These foaming +ridges are caused by a succession of waves curling over and breaking +upon bars or banks, formed probably by the reflux action of the sea +carrying the sand outwards. The surf itself, unquestionably, owes its +origin to the long sand of the ocean-swell coming across the Bay of +Bengal, a sweep of nearly five hundred miles, from the coasts of +Arracan, the Malay peninsula, and the island of Sumatra. This huge +swell is scarcely perceptible in the fathomless Indian sea; but when +the mighty oscillation reaches the shelving shores of Coromandel, its +vibrations are checked by the bottom. The mass of waters, which up to +this point had merely sunk and risen, that is, vibrated without any +real progressive motion, is then driven forwards to the land, where, +from the increasing shallowness, it finds less and less room for its +"wild waves' play," and finally rises above the general level of the +sea in threatening ridges. I know few things more alarming to nautical +nerves than the sudden and mysterious "lift of the swell," which +hurries a ship upwards when she has chanced to get too near the +shore, and when, in consequence of the deadness of the calm, she can +make no way to seaward, but is gradually hove nearer and nearer to the +roaring surge. + +At last, when the great ocean-wave approaches the beach, and the depth +of water is much diminished, the velocity of so vast a mass sweeping +along the bottom, though greatly accelerated, becomes inadequate to +fulfil the conditions of the oscillation, and it has no resource but +to curl into a high and toppling wave. So that this moving ridge of +waters, after careering forwards with a front high in proportion to +the impulse behind, and for a length of time regulated by the degree +of abruptness in the rise of the shore, at last dashes its monstrous +head with a noise extremely like thunder along the endless coast. + +Often, indeed, when on shore at Madras, have I lain in bed awake, with +open windows, for hours together, listening, at the distance of many a +league, to the sound of these waves, and almost fancying I could still +feel the tremour of the ground, always distinctly perceptible near the +beach. When the distance is great, and the actual moment at which the +sea breaks ceases to be distinguishable, and when a long range of +coast is within hearing, the unceasing roar of the surf in a serene +night, heard over the level plains of the Carnatic shore, is +wonderfully interesting. + +Any attempt to pass the surf in an ordinary boat is seldom thought of. +I remember hearing of a naval officer who crossed once in his +jolly-boat in safety, but on a second trial he was swamped, and both +he and his crew well-nigh drowned. The masullah boats of the country +resemble nothing to be seen elsewhere. They have flat bottoms, +perpendicular sides, and abruptly pointed ends, being twelve or +fourteen feet long by five or six broad, and four or five feet high. +Not a single nail enters into their construction, all the planks being +held together by cords or lacings. Along the planks, at a short +distance from the edge, are bored a set of holes, through which the +lacing or cord is to pass. A layer of cotton is then interposed +between the planks, and along the seam is laid a flat narrow strip of +a fibry and tough kind of wood. The cord is next rove through the +holes and passed over the strip, so that when it is pulled tight the +planks are not only drawn into as close contact as the interposed +cotton will allow of, but the long strip is pressed against the seam +so effectually as to exclude the water. The wood of which these boats +are constructed is so elastic and tough, that when they take the +ground, either by accident or in regular course of service, the part +which touches yields to the pressure without breaking, and bulges +inwards almost as readily as if it were made of shoe-leather. Under +similar circumstances, an ordinary boat, fitted with a keel, timbers, +and planks nailed together, not being pliable, would be shivered to +pieces. + +At the after or sternmost end a sort of high poop-deck passes from +side to side, on which the steersman takes his post. He holds in his +hand an oar or paddle, which consists of a pole ten or twelve feet +long, carrying at its extremity a circular disc of wood about a foot +or a foot and a-half in diameter. The oars used by the six hands who +pull the masullah boat are similar to that held by the steersman, who +is always a person of long experience and known skill, as well as +courage and coolness--qualities indispensable to the safety of the +passage when the surf is high. The rowers sit upon high thwarts and +their oars are held by grummets, or rings made of rope, to pins +inserted in the gunwale, so that they can be let go and resumed at +pleasure, without risk of being lost. The passengers, wretched +victims! seat themselves on a cross bench about a foot lower than the +seats of the rowers, and close in front of the raised poop or +steersman's deck, which is nearly on a level with the gunwale. + +The whole process of landing, from the moment of leaving the ship till +you feel yourself safe on the crown of the beach is as disagreeable as +can be; and I can only say for myself that every time I crossed the +surf it rose in my respect. At the eighth or tenth transit I began +really to feel uncomfortable; at the twentieth I felt considerable +apprehension of being well ducked; and at about the thirtieth time of +crossing, I almost fancied there was but little chance of escaping a +watery grave, with sharks for sextons, and the wild surf for a dirge! +The truth is that at each successive time of passing this formidable +barrier of surf we become better and better acquainted with the +dangers and possibilities of accidents. + +However, as all persons intending to go ashore at Madras must pass +through the surf, they step with what courage they can muster into +their boat alongside the ship, anchored in the roads a couple of miles +off, in consequence of the water being too shallow for large vessels. +The boat then shoves off, and rows to the "back of the surf," where it +is usual to let go a grapnel, or to lie on the oars till the masullah +boat comes out. The back of the surf is that part of the roadstead +lying immediately beyond the place where the first indication is given +of the tendency in the swell to rise into a wave; and no boat not +expressly fitted for the purpose ever goes nearer to the shore, but +lies off till the "bar-boat" makes her way through the surf, and lays +herself alongside the ship's boat. A scrambling kind of boarding +operation now takes place, to the last degree inconvenient to ladies +and other shore-going persons not accustomed to climbing. As the +gunwale of the masullah boat rises three or four feet above the water, +the step is a long and troublesome one to make, even by those who are +not encumbered with petticoats--those sad impediments to +locomotion--devised by the men, as I heard a Chinaman remark, +expressly to check the rambling propensities of the softer sex, always +too prone, he alleged, to yield to wandering impulses without such +encumbrances! I know to my cost, from many a broken shin, that even +gentlemen bred afloat may contrive to slip in removing from one boat +to the other, especially if the breeze be fresh, and there be what +mariners call a "bubble of a sea." In a little while, however, all the +party are tumbled, or hoisted into the masullah boat, where they seat +themselves on the cross-bench, marvellously like so many culprits on a +hurdle on their way to execution! Ahead of them roars and boils a +furious ridge of terrific breakers, while close at their ears behind, +stamps and bawls, or rather yells, the steersman, who takes this +method of communicating his wishes to his fellow-boatmen. The +steersman stands on his poop, or quarter-deck, just behind the +miserable passengers, whose heads reach not quite so high as his +knees. His oar rests in a crutch on the top of the stern-post, and not +only serves as a rudder, but gives him the power to slew or twist the +boat round with considerable rapidity, when aided by the efforts of +the rowers. It is necessary for the steersman to wait for a favourable +moment to enter the surf, otherwise the chances are that the boat will +be upset, in the manner I shall describe presently. People are +frequently kept waiting in this way for ten or twenty minutes, at the +back of the surf, before a proper opportunity presents itself. + +During all this while, the experienced eye of the veteran skipper +abaft glances backwards and forwards from the swell rolling in from +the open sea, to the surf which is breaking close to him. From time to +time he utters a half word to his crew, with that kind of faint +interrogative tone in which a commanding-officer indulges when he is +sure of acquiescence on the part of those under him, and is careless +whether they answer or not. In general, however, he remains quite +silent during this first stage of the passage, as do also the rowers, +who either rest the paddles horizontally, or allow their circular +blades to float on the surface of the water. Meanwhile the boat rolls +from side to side, or is heaved smartly upwards as the swell, just on +the eve of breaking, lifts her into the air, and then drops her again +into the hollow with the most sea-sickening velocity. I should state, +that, during this wofully unpleasant interval, the masullah boat is +placed sideways to the line of surf, parallel to the shore, and, of +course, exactly in the trough of the sea. + +I have often watched with the closest attention to discover what were +the indications by which these experienced boatmen inferred that the +true moment was arrived when it was safe to enter the surf, but I +never could make out enough to be of much professional utility. It was +clear, indeed, that the proper instant for making the grand push +occurred when one of the highest waves was about to break--for the +greater the dash, the greater the lull after it. But how these fellows +managed to discover, beforehand, that the wave, upon the back of +which they chose to ride in, was of that exact description, I could +never discover. On the approach of a swell which he knows will answer +his purpose, the steersman, suddenly changing his quiet and almost +contemplative air for a look of intense anxiety, grasps his oar with +double firmness, and exerting his utmost strength of muscle, forces +the boat's stern round, so that her head may point to the shore. At +the same time he urges his crew to exert themselves, partly by violent +stampings with his feet, partly by loud and vehement exhortations, and +partly by a succession of horrid yells, in which the sounds Yarry! +Yarry!! Yarry!!! predominate--indicating to the ears of a stranger the +very reverse of self-confidence, and filling the soul of a nervous +passenger with infinite alarm. + +Those fearful noises are loudly re-echoed by all the other men, who +strain themselves so vigorously at the oars, that the boat, flying +forwards, almost keeps way with the wave, on the back of which it is +the object of the steersman to keep her. As she is swept impetuously +towards the bar, a person seated in the boat can distinctly feel the +sea under him gradually rising under a sheer wave, and lifting the +boat up--and up--and up, in a manner exceedingly startling. At length +the ridge, near the summit of which the boat is placed, begins to +curl, and its edge just breaks into a line of white fringe along the +upper edge of the perpendicular face presented to the shore, towards +which it is advancing with vast rapidity. The grand object of the +boatmen now appears to consist in maintaining their position, not on +the very crown of the wave, but a little further to seaward, down the +slope, so as to ride upon its shoulders, as it were. The importance of +this precaution becomes apparent, when the curling surge, no longer +able to maintain its elevation, is dashed furiously forwards, and +dispersed into an immense sheet of foam, broken by innumerable eddies +and whirlpools, into a confused sea of irregular waves rushing +tumultuously together, and casting the spray high into the air by +impinging one against the other. This furious turmoil often whirls the +masullah boat round and round, in spite of the despairing outcries of +the steersman, and the redoubled exertions of his screaming crew, half +of whom back their oars, while the other half tug away in vain +endeavours to keep her head in the right direction. + +I have endeavoured to describe the correct and safe method of riding +over the surf on the outer bar upon the back of the wave, a feat in +all conscience sufficiently ticklish; but woe betide the poor masullah +boat which shall be a little too far in advance of her proper place, +so that, when the wave curls over and breaks, she may be pitched head +foremost over the brink of the watery precipice, and strikes her nose +on the sandbank. Even then, if there happen, by good luck, to be depth +of water over the bar sufficient to float her, she may still escape; +but, should the sand be left bare, or nearly so, as happens sometimes, +the boat is almost sure to strike, if, instead of keeping on the back +or shoulder of the wave, she incautiously precedes it. In that unhappy +case she is instantly tumbled forwards, heels over head, while the +crew and passengers are sent sprawling amongst the foam. + +Between the sharks and the catamaran men a race then takes place--the +one to save, the other to destroy--the very Brahmas and Shivas of the +surf! These accidents, however, are so very rare, that during all the +time I was in India I never witnessed one. + +There is still a second surf to pass, which breaks on the inner bar, +about forty or fifty yards nearer to the shore. The boatmen try to +cross this, and to approach so near the beach, that, when the next +wave breaks, they shall be so far ahead of it that it may not dash +into the boat and swamp her, and yet not so far out as to prevent +their profiting by its impulse to drive them up the steep face of sand +forming the long-wished-for shore. The rapidity with which the +masullah boat is at last cast on the beach is sometimes quite fearful, +and the moment she thumps on the ground, as the wave recedes, most +startling. I have seen persons pitched completely off their seats, and +more than once I have myself been fairly turned over with all the +party, like a parcel of fish cast out of a basket! In general, no such +untoward events take place, and the boat at length rests on the sand, +with her stern to the sea. But as yet she is by no means far enough up +the beach to enable the passengers to get out with comfort or safety. +Before the next wave breaks, the bow and sides of the boat have been +seized by numbers of the natives on the shore, who greatly assist the +impulse when the wave comes, both by keeping her in a straight course, +and likewise by preventing her upsetting. These last stages of the +process are very disagreeable, for every time the surf reaches the +boat, it raises her up and lets her fall again, with a violent jerk. +When at last she is high enough to remain beyond the wash of the surf, +you either jump out, or more frequently descend by means of a ladder, +as you would get off the top of a stage-coach; and, turning about, you +look with astonishment at what you have gone through, and thank Heaven +you are safe! + +The return passage from the shore to a ship, in a masullah boat, is +more tedious, but less dangerous, than the process of landing. This +difference will easily be understood, when it is recollected that in +one case the boat is carried impetuously forward by the waves, and +that all power of retarding her progress on the part of the boatmen +ceases after a particular moment. In going from the shore, however, +the boat is kept continually under management, and the talents and +experience of the steersman regulate the affair throughout. He +watches, just inside the surf, till a smooth moment occurs, generally +after a high sea has broken, and then he endeavours, by great +exertions, to avail himself of the moment of comparative tranquillity +which follows, to force his way across the bar before another sea +comes. If he detects, as he is supposed to have it always in his power +to do, that another sea is on the rise, which will, in all +probability, curl up and break over him before he can row over its +crest and slide down its back, his duty is, to order his men to back +their oars with their utmost speed and strength. This retrograde +movement withdraws her from the blow, or, at all events, allows the +wave to strike her with diminished violence at the safest point, and +in water of sufficient depth to prevent the boat taking the ground +injuriously, to the risk of her being turned topsy-turvy. I have, in +fact, often been in these masullah boats when they have struck +violently on the bar, and have seen their flat and elastic bottoms +bulge inwards in the most alarming manner, but I never saw any of the +planks break or the seams open so as to admit the water. + +It is very interesting to watch the progress of those honest catamaran +fellows, who live almost entirely in the surf, and who, independently +of their chief purpose of attending the masullah boats, are much +employed as messengers to the ships in the roads, even in the worst +weather. I remember one day being sent with a note for the commanding +officer of the flag-ship, which Sir Samuel Hood was very desirous +should be sent on board; but as the weather was too tempestuous to +allow even a masullah boat to pass the surf, I was obliged to give it +to a catamaran man. The poor fellow drew off his head a small +skull-cap, made apparently of some kind of skin, or oil-cloth, or +bladder, and having deposited his despatches therein, proceeded to +execute his task. + +We really thought, at first, that our messenger must have been drowned +even in crossing the inner bar, for we well-nigh lost sight of him in +the hissing yeast of waves in which he and his catamaran appeared only +at intervals, tossing about like a cork. But by far the most difficult +part of his task remained after he had reached the comparatively +smooth space between the two lines of surf, where we could observe him +paddling to and fro as if in search of an opening in the moving wall +of water raging between him and the roadstead. He was watching for a +favourable moment, when, after the dash of some high wave, he might +hope to make good his transit in safety. + +After allowing a great many seas to break before he attempted to cross +the outer bar, he at length seized the proper moment, and turning his +little bark to seaward, paddled out as fast as he could. Just as the +gallant fellow, however, reached the shallowest part of the bar, and +we fancied him safely across, a huge wave, which had risen with +unusual quickness, elevated its foaming crest right before him, +curling upwards many feet higher than his shoulders. In a moment he +cast away his paddle, and leaping on his feet, he stood erect on his +catamaran, watching with a bold front the advancing bank of water. He +kept his position, quite undaunted, till the steep face of the breaker +came within a couple of yards of him, and then leaping head foremost, +he pierced the wave in a horizontal direction with the agility and +confidence of a dolphin. We had scarcely lost sight of his feet, as he +shot through the heart of the wave, when such a dash took place as +must have crushed him to pieces had he stuck by his catamaran, which +was whisked instantly afterwards, by a kind of somerset, completely +out of the water by its rebounding off the sandbank. On casting our +eyes beyond the surf, we felt much relieved by seeing our shipwrecked +friend merrily dancing on the waves at the back of the surf, leaping +more than breast-high above the surface, and looking in all +directions, first for his paddle, and then for his catamaran. Having +recovered his oar, he next swam, as he best could, through the broken +surf to his raft, mounted it like a hero, and once more addressed +himself to his task. + +By this time, as the current always runs fast along the shore, he had +drifted several hundred yards to the northward farther from his point. +At the second attempt to penetrate the surf, he seemed to have made a +small miscalculation, for the sea broke so very nearly over him, +before he had time to quit his catamaran and dive into still water, +that we thought he must certainly have been drowned. Not a whit, +however, did he appear to have suffered, for we soon saw him again +swimming to his rude vessel. Many times in succession was he thus +washed off and sent whirling towards the beach, and as often obliged +to dive head foremost through the waves. But at last, after very +nearly an hour of incessant struggling, and the loss of more than a +mile of distance, he succeeded, for the first time, in reaching the +back of the surf, without having parted company either with his paddle +or with his catamaran. After this it became all plain sailing; he soon +paddled off to the Roads, and placed the Admiral's letter in the first +lieutenant's hands as dry as if it had been borne in a despatch-box +across the court-yard of the Admiralty. + +I remember one day, when on board the Minden, receiving a note from +the shore by a catamaran lad, whom I told to wait for an answer. Upon +this he asked for a rope, with which, as soon as it was given him, he +made his little vessel fast, and lay down to sleep in the full blaze +of a July sun. One of his arms and one of his feet hung in the water, +though a dozen sharks had been seen cruising round the ship. A tacit +contract, indeed, appears to exist between the sharks and these +people, for I never saw, nor can I remember ever having heard of any +injury done by one to the other. By the time my answer was written, +the sun had dried up the spray on the poor fellow's body, leaving such +a coating of salt, that he looked as if he had been dusted with flour. +A few fanams--a small copper coin--were all his charge, and three or +four broken biscuits in addition sent him away the happiest of +mortals. + +It is matter of considerable surprise to every one who has seen how +well the chain-pier at Brighton stands the worst weather, that no +similar work has been devised at Madras. The water is shallow, the +surf does not extend very far from the beach, and there seems really +no reason why a chain-pier should not be erected, which might answer +not only for the accommodation of passengers, but for the transit of +goods to and from the shore. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +VISIT TO THE SULTAN OF PONTIANA, IN BORNEO--SIR SAMUEL HOOD. + + +In the summer of 1814, Sir Samuel Hood made a voyage, in his Majesty's +ship Minden, to the eastern parts of his station. We called first at +Acheen, on the north end of the island of Sumatra, where we held some +very amusing intercourse with the king of that district, whose capital +the Admiral visited. From thence we steered over to Pulo Penang, or +Prince of Wales' Island, and thence down the Straits of Malacca, +entering the China Sea by the beautiful Straits of Sincapore. The +Admiral's chief object was to visit Java; but as there lay three +routes before him to choose between, viz. the Straits of Gaspar, the +Straits of Banca, and the Caramata passage, he preferred taking the +last and widest, which also led him near the western shore of the +immense island of Borneo. On reaching the equator, he steered in for +the mouth of the great river Lava, which passes the town of Pontiana. +The weather being very favourable, the ship was anchored, and the +barge got ready for an expedition. + +At four in the morning, on receiving the joyful intimation that I was +to be officer of the boat, I lost no time in getting together +everything likely to be useful--a sextant, artificial horizon, +spy-glass, chart, compass, and Nautical Almanac, besides a Malay +Dictionary. + +We had some little difficulty in finding our way in the barge, for the +mouth of the river of Pontiana lay so completely hid amongst low +cane-brakes, mangroves, and other aquatic trees and shrubs, which grow +thickly along the western shores of Borneo, that, until we came quite +close, no inlet was perceptible. The first hit we made proved wrong, +and lost us three or four miles; and it was not till nearly noon that +we reached the rush of fresh and troubled water, which indicated the +true entrance. The Admiral desired greatly to observe the sun's +meridian altitude. His Excellency, however, though he could command +many things, could not command this; for although our fellows gave way +lustily, so as to stem the current running out, and we had a full +half-hour to spare, we could not effect a landing in good time. On +reaching what had seemed the shore, no footing could be found +anywhere. Even the little boat which we carried with us in tow of the +barge, though she threaded the mangrove stems and roots, and went in +much further than the barge, could not reach anything like dry land. +As the main bank refused to afford us a resting-place, we put off, and +rowed as briskly as we could to a small island about half-a-mile from +this treacherous shore; but this, too, proved a cheat, for what we +took to be solid ground consisted merely of a mass of green shrubs, +growing on the ridge of a soft slippery mass of mud just peeping above +the water. + +As the sailors, by this time, were pretty well exhausted with rowing +so long in the hot sun, they hailed with great joy the sea-breeze +which just then set in. They soon stepped the masts, hoisted the +sails, and laid the oars in. + +"Now go to dinner, men," said the considerate chief, "this rattling +breeze will not carry us up far, and you will pull all the better for +a good bellyful." + +Just as this judicious order was given, and while we were still +laughing at the recent adventure, which reminded us of Sinbad's +mistaking a whale for a solid rock, our eyes were attracted by the +sight of another island, much smaller than the first. It seemed, +indeed, like a little grove or tuft of palm-like foliage, rising out +of the water somewhat in the fashion of our Prince of Wales' feather. +None of the party had ever seen such a tree before, and every one +tried to guess what it might be; but all were puzzled. At length, a +diminutive moving black speck showed itself at the root, or centre, +from which these fairy-like branches radiated. + +"It is a rock with a tree on it," cried one. + +"Nonsense!" said Sir Samuel, "there are no rocks hereabouts; the soil +for many a league is alluvial." + +"It skims along like a witch," exclaimed a third; "it is surely +alive!" + +"Let us sail to it whatever it be," said the Admiral, waving his hand +to the coxswain to sheer the barge further from the side of the river. + +As we drew near, we discovered our phenomenon to consist of a +fishing-canoe, gliding along merrily before the sea-breeze, with no +other sails than half-a-dozen branches of the cocoa-nut tree placed in +the bow, and spread out like the feathers of a peacock's tail. These +were held together by a slender bar of bamboo, and supported by small +strips of bark to the stern, in which sat a naked Malay. + +The Admiral proved a true prophet, for the deceitful sea-breeze +presently lulled, and it cost us a very hard row to accomplish our +purpose against the stream. The town of Pontiana stands on a low point +of land formed by the confluence of two mighty rivers. This particular +spot is always held sacred in India, and is known under the Hindoo +name of Sungum. I suspect, however, that the Malays and other +Mahometans, who inhabit the coasts of most of the Indian Islands, +acknowledge no superstitious predilections for one spot more than +another, and consider such things as mere prejudices unworthy of the +followers of Mahomet, their great military prophet. Probably the +Sungum point has some local advantages belonging to it, as I observe +it is generally appropriated by the strongest party in every country. +At all events, it has the advantage of communicating directly with +both the rivers, by whose junction the Sungum, or solid angle, is +formed. In the instance of Pontiana, the Mussulmans had taken +possession of it, though it was formerly a Dutch settlement, while the +Chinese were left to occupy the corners opposite to the Sungum, on the +right and left banks, respectively, of the river formed by the +junction of the two streams. Thus three considerable cities had been +built facing one another, and each displaying on the river a multitude +of boats and barges, canoes and proas, in crowds which would not have +disgraced the show at London Bridge, and, of course, indicating +considerable wealth and activity. + +We came upon this grand view quite abruptly, and having no +expectation of encountering anything so magnificent, were taken rather +by surprise. Two enormous Chinese junks occupied the centre of the +stream, each of them rising out of the water nearly as high as the +poop of a line-of-battle ship. Along the shore, on both sides, lay a +fleet of eight or ten sail of junks, some of them very large, and all +bearing enormous white flags, in the centre of which sprawled huge +dragons and other monsters familiar to the eyes of all fanciers of old +China jars. + +In the mean time, as there existed no dispute about the navigation of +the River Lava, we rowed up very peaceably towards the great city of +Pontiana. On our meeting a canoe with a Malay in it, the Admiral, who +had been studying Marsden's dictionary all the way, stood up in the +barge, made the men lie on their oars, and to their great +astonishment, and probably to that of the native, called out in the +Malay tongue,-- + +"Which is the way to the sultan's house?" + +To Sir Samuel's unspeakable delight, the man whom he addressed +understood him, and after offering to show us the landing-place, +paddled off ahead of us. Our fellows gave way as hard as they could, +but the Malay kept the lead; and as we shot past the Chinese towns, +one on each bank, the natives crowded to the beach, as much +astonished, no doubt, with our strange cocked hats, swords, and +oddly-shaped boat, as we could be with their long tails and +wild-looking junks, or with the creases which every Malay carries by +his side. This fierce-looking weapon is not, in form, unlike the +waving sword one sees in the pictures of the angel Michael, though it +is not above a foot and a-half in length. + +The sultan's cousin received the Admiral and his party at the gate of +the palace, and led him by the hand along a causeway of flag-stones to +the residence of the monarch. Directly in the middle of the gateway, +which was only ten feet wide and about as many in height, there stood +a twenty-four-pounder gun. On the top of the arch there was built a +small square room, from holes in which peeped out the muzzles of five +or six field-pieces, the whole affair resembling very much that part +of a child's box of toys which represents the stronghold or castle. +Within the high wall surrounding the palace we counted innumerable +large guns scattered about, apparently with no other object than to be +seen, as if the mere look of a cannon were expected to do the work of +a fight! The same number of mock barrels of gunpowder, similarly +disposed, would have answered the purpose equally well, or perhaps +better; for there appeared no way in which the guns could be fired, +without doing much more injury to the besieged than to the besiegers. + +On we went, till we were met by the sultan himself, at the inner side +of the quadrangle. He courteously conducted the Admiral to a large +room or hall of audience, and, having begged his guest to sit down at +a small table, took a chair by his side, and began a conversation as +if they had been long acquainted. Of course, in spite of the Admiral's +proficiency, this could not be accomplished without an interpreter; +and the services of a very clever Malay boy, whom we had brought with +us from the ship, were brought into requisition. The hall, in which we +were first received, might have been about fifty feet square, bleak, +unfurnished, and comfortless, with an uncovered mud floor. It was so +feebly lighted by a few windows almost hid by Venetian blinds, that we +could only discover that the roof had been left bare and unfinished. +After sitting for about ten minutes, the sultan rose and led the way +to another apartment apparently of still larger dimensions, but +literally so dark, that, had it not been for the light entering by the +door we had left, and the one ahead of us, we could not have moved +along without breaking our shins over the stones, sticks, and other +rubbish lying in the way. We had next to make rather a difficult +transit along a precarious kind of bridge, formed of a single plank +laid across an ominous-looking pool or puddle of mud, which divided +these two branches of the palace from each other. + +All at once we were ushered into a splendid room, seventy or eighty +feet square, brilliantly lighted, and not ill furnished, but strongly +contrasted with the darkness and dirtiness of the suite we had passed +through. This total want of keeping, it may be mentioned, is quite in +Oriental taste. They know tolerably well how to be magnificent on +occasions; but they never learn how to be uniformly decent. The +Asiatics, and even some other nations which might be named nearer +home, can seldom afford to be taken by surprise. Indeed, I am not sure +if more than one country can be alluded to, in which the people are at +all hours ready to receive strangers, and have no occasion to make a +fuss, or to change anything when a rap comes to the door. + +In the centre of this gorgeous room, on a dais, or a part of the floor +raised to about a foot and a-half above the level of the rest, and +laid with a rich Turkey carpet, stood a long table, at the top of +which the sultan placed the Admiral, and then made the signal for +tea. First entered an attendant, bearing a large tray, on which were +ranged several dozens of exceedingly small cups. This he placed on the +carpet, and then squatted himself down, cross-legged, beside it. +Another attendant soon followed, bearing the tea-pot, and he likewise +popped himself down. After a conjuration of some minutes, the cups +were brought round, containing weak black tea, exquisite in flavour, +but marvellously small in quantity. There appeared no milk, but plenty +of sugar-candy. Some sweet sherbet was next handed round, very +slightly acid, but so deliciously cool, that we appealed frequently to +the vase or huge jar from which it was poured, to the great delight of +the sultan, who assured us that this was the genuine sherbet described +by the Persian poets. It was mixed, he told us, by a true believer, +who had made more than one pilgrimage to Mecca. + +At the upper end of the apartment, in a deep recess, partly hid from +our view by a rich festoon of shawl drapery, we could just discover +the sultan's bed, flanked by large mirrors, beyond which, in an +adjacent chamber, was probably stowed away the sultan's most favoured +wife. But all this department of the establishment was thrown into +such deep shade, that we could see none of the ladies, nor any of his +highness's progeny, except one little boy, whom he introduced to us at +supper. He appeared to be about five or six years old, very like his +papa in miniature, rigged with turban and robes of cloth of gold. At +first, the little fellow looked somewhat startled; but he soon +recovered his dignity, and sat on our knees, without much +apprehension of being swallowed up. + +Both the upper corners of the room were screened off by white +curtains, eight or ten feet high, so as to form smaller chambers. One +of these served the purpose of a pantry, or subsidiary kitchen, at +least we observed the dishes issuing from it, and thought we could +distinguish the well-known sound of the cook's angry reproaches--a +note which, like that of muttering thunder, is nearly the same in +every climate. The other corner we soon made out to be a sort of +temporary nook, from which the ladies of the palace and the young +sultans and sultanas might spy the strangers. This we ascertained from +seeing sundry very pretty faces thrust out occasionally between the +folds of the curtain, and by the sound of many an ill-suppressed +giggle amongst the peeping damsels. + +The sultan appeared to enter into his guest's character at once, and +neither overloaded him with attentions, nor failed to treat him as a +person to whom much respect was due. I heard Sir Samuel say +afterwards, that he was particularly struck with the sultan's good +breeding, in not offering to assist him in cutting his meat. The +sultan merely remarked that few people were so expert as his guest +even with both hands; adding, neatly enough, that on this account the +distinction which his wound had gained for him was more cheaply +purchased than people supposed. While the Admiral was hunting for some +reply to this novel compliment, his host remarked, that in Borneo it +was considered fashionable to eat with the left hand. + +The supper, which soon followed the tea, consisted of about a dozen +dishes of curry, all different from one another, and a whole poultry +yard of grilled and boiled chickens, many different sorts of salt +fish, with great basins of rice at intervals, jars of pickles, piles +of sliced pine-apple, sweetmeats, and cakes. Four male attendants +stood by with goblets of cool sherbet, from which, ever and anon, they +replenished our glasses; besides whom, a number of young Malay girls +waited at a distance from the table, and ran about nimbly with the +plates and dishes. + +After a great deal of ceremonious rigmarole, in which the Admiral was +asked for his autograph, and it was wonderful how well the shrewd +little Malay interpreter expressed to the Admiral, who cheerfully +agreed to the proposal, and desired me to send for his writing-case. +As I rose, the Admiral whispered to me, "I wish you would contrive, at +the same time, to see what the boat's crew are about. Try, also, if +you can get them something to eat; the fellows must be hungry enough +by this time--but mind they don't get too much toddy." + +I found the crew seated on the mud floor of a large room close to the +beach, and open on all sides, like a tent without walls. The Johnnies +were in such high glee, that I feared they had already trespassed too +deeply on the toddy pot; but I was glad to find that their +satisfaction arose from a safer source, namely, a glorious hot supper, +which Jack was tucking in to the great delight and astonishment of the +natives, who had been ordered by the sultan to supply them with as +much curry and rice as they chose to eat. + +Very early in the morning, long before there was the least peep of +dawn, the Admiral roused us all out of bed, ordered the boat to be +manned, and declared his intention of dropping down the river while it +was yet cool, so as to reach the ship before the fierce heat of the +sun had set in. I suspect, also, that he wished to escape the salutes +for which he had seen some preparations over night. But scarcely had +we gained the distance of two or three hundred yards from the shore +when the heavy guns of the batteries began to fire a royal salute. The +night was uncommonly dark and still, and the successive flashes and +reports of the cannons were followed by a long series of echoes from +the edges of the damp forests lining the banks of the three different +branches or forks of the river. The Admiral, who had the finest +perception possible for all that was picturesque or beautiful, was +exceedingly struck with the grandeur of this nocturnal salute, and +having made the men lay their oars across the boat, while she drifted +quickly down the river, he stood up in the stern-sheets in order to +enjoy the scene more completely. + +A trifling incident occurred shortly afterwards, which recalled to our +thoughts another important service of Sir Samuel Hood's, which, +although it be familiarly known in the navy, may not be so fresh in +the recollection of persons on shore. A question arose in the boat as +to whether or not the land-wind was blowing. Some said there was a +breeze up the river, while others maintained that the wind blew down, +towards the sea. The Admiral let us go on speculating and arguing for +some time, and then said, "You are both wrong; there is not a breath +of air either up or down the river. At all events we shall soon see, +if you will strike me a light." This was done accordingly; and the +Admiral, standing on the after-thwart, held the naked candle high +over his head, while the men ceased rowing. + +"There, you see," exclaimed he, "the flame stands quite upright, which +proves, that if there be any breeze at all, it blows no faster than +the stream runs down." + +As he yet spoke, the flame bent from the land, and in the next instant +was puffed out by a slight gust from the forest. + +"Ay! that's something like!" exclaimed the commander-in-chief; adding, +in an under tone, as he resumed his seat, "I have known the time when +a flaw of wind, not greater than has just blown out this candle, has +rendered good service to his Majesty." This was the incident to which +he alluded:-- + +Early in the year 1794, when Captain Hood commanded his Majesty's ship +Juno, the port of Toulon, though in possession of the English at the +time of his departure on a short trip to Malta, had been evacuated +while the Juno was absent; and as the land was made in the night, no +suspicion of that important change of affairs arose in the mind of any +one. With his wonted decision, therefore, into the port he dashed; +for, although the Juno carried no pilot, Captain Hood's knowledge of +every port he had once visited rendered him comparatively indifferent +on that score. A couple of the sharpest-sighted midshipmen were +stationed with glasses to look out for the fleet; but no ships were +seen--for the best of all reasons--none were there! + +One vessel only, a small brig, could be detected, and the captain, +supposing the fleet had run into the inner harbour during the recent +easterly gale, resolved to push up likewise. The batteries all kept +quiet, and though the brig hailed the frigate as she passed in a +language so indistinct that no one could make it out, not the least +suspicion was excited. Supposing they wanted to know what ship it was, +I told them it was the Juno. The brig, however, was not quite so +courteous in return; for they merely replied by the word "Viva," but +made no answer to the captain's repeated inquiry as to the brig's +name, and the position of the British fleet. As the Juno passed under +the stern of this treacherous little craft, a voice called out, "Luff! +luff!" which naturally induced Captain Hood to put his helm down, from +an idea that shoal water lay close to leeward of him. Nothing could +have been more adroitly managed, for before the frigate came head to +wind, she stuck fast upon the shoal, to which the words "Luff, luff!" +had no doubt been intended to direct her. + +A boat was now observed to proceed from the brig to the town. As there +was but little wind, and the water perfectly smooth, the Juno's sails +were clewed up and handed; but before the men were all off the yards, +a gust of wind came sweeping down the harbour, and drove her off the +shoal so suddenly as to give her brisk stern-way. The anchor was +speedily let go, but when she tended, the after-part of her keel took +the ground, and the rudder could not be moved. The launch and cutter +being instantly hoisted out, the usual preparations were made to lay +out a kedge, to heave the ship off. + +At this critical moment a boat came alongside. The people appeared +anxious to get out of her, and two of them, apparently officers, came +up the side. They said it was the regulation of the port, as well as +the commanding officer's orders, that ships should go further into +the harbour, there to perform ten days' quarantine. In the despatch +relating this transaction, Captain Hood says, "I kept asking them +where Lord Hood's ship lay;" the two Frenchmen knew not what to do or +say next. In the mean time, one of the mids, who happened to be +thrusting his head forward after the investigating manner of this +enterprising class of officers, said apart to the captain,-- + +"Why, sir, they wear national cockades!" + +"I looked at one of their hats more steadfastly," says Captain Hood in +his narrative, "and by the moonlight clearly distinguished the three +colours." + +"Perceiving they were suspected," continues Sir Samuel in his +narrative, "and on my questioning them again about Lord Hood, one of +them replied, 'Soyez tranquille, les Anglais sont de braves gens, nous +les traitons bien; l'amiral anglais est sorti il y a quelque temps.'" + +In an instant, the situation of the poor Juno became known throughout +the ship. The officers crowded round their captain, while the +Frenchman, bowing to the right and left, grinned and apologised for +the disagreeable necessity of making them all prisoners! It was said +of Hood's ship, that, fore and aft, there was but one heart and one +mind, and this was an occasion to test its truth. At this moment a +flaw of wind coming down the harbour, Lieutenant Webley said to me, "I +believe, sir, we shall be able to fetch out if we can get her under +sail." I immediately perceived we should have a chance of saving the +ship; at least, if we did not, we ought not to lose her without a +struggle. Every person was ordered to their stations; but the +Frenchmen, perceiving some bustle, began to draw their sabres, but I +directed the marines to force them below, which was soon done. In an +instant every officer and man was at his duty; and within three +minutes every sail in the ship was set, and the yards braced ready for +casting. The steady and active assistance of Lieutenant Turner and the +other officers prevented any confusion. As soon as the cable was taut, +I ordered it to be cut, and had the good fortune to see the ship start +from the shore. The head sails were filled; a favourable flaw of wind +coming at the same time gave her good way. Not to be retarded by the +boats, I ordered them to be cut adrift as well as the French boat. The +moment the brig saw us begin to loose sails, we saw she was getting +her guns ready, and we also saw lights in all the batteries. When we +had shot far enough for the brig's guns to bear on us, which was not +more than three ships' lengths, she began to fire; as did a fort a +little on the starboard bow, and soon after all of them, on both +sides, as they could bring their guns to bear. As soon as the sails +were well trimmed, I beat to quarters. When abreast of the centre of +Cape Sepet, and were ready to go about, she came up two points, and +just weathered the Cape. As we passed very close along that shore, the +batteries kept up a brisk fire. When I could keep the ship a little +off the wind, I ordered some guns to be fired at a battery that had +just opened abreast of us, which quieted them a little. We now stopped +firing till we could keep her away, with the wind abaft the beam, +when, for a few minutes, we kept up a very lively fire on the last +battery we had to pass, which I believe must otherwise have done us +great damage. At half-past twelve, being out of reach of their shot, +the firing ceased. + +The whole of this admirable piece of service was performed so quickly, +and at the same time with so much coolness, that there occurred little +or no opportunity for any remarkable individual exertion. Everything, +as I have heard it described by Sir Samuel Hood himself and by the +officers, went on as if the ship had been working out of Plymouth +Sound at noon-day. One little incident, however, which caused much +amusement in the ship, will help to show the degree of regard in which +Sir Samuel was held by those immediately about him; and to disprove +the proverb of no man being a hero to his valet-de-chambre. + +Dennis M'Carty, an old and faithful servant of Captain Hood's, who was +quartered at one of the main-deck guns in the cabin, stood firm enough +till the batteries opened on the Juno. No sooner had the firing +commenced, and the shot began to come whizzing over and through all +parts of the ship, than Dennis, to the great amaze and scandal of his +companions, dropped the side tackle-fall, and fairly ran off from his +gun. Nothing in the world, however, could be further from poor Pat's +mind than fear--except fear for his master, behind whom he soon +stationed himself on the quarter-deck; and wherever Captain Hood +moved, there Dennis followed, like his shadow; totally unconscious of +any personal danger to himself, though the captain was necessarily in +the hottest of the fire. At length, Sir Samuel, turning suddenly +round, encountered the Irishman full butt. + +"Hallo! Dennis," exclaimed the captain, "what brings you here? Go down +to your gun, man!" + +"Oh, by the powers! your honour," replied Dennis, "sure I thought it +likely you might be hurt, so I wished to be near you to give you some +help." + +There was no resisting this; the captain laughed; and poor Dennis was +allowed to take his own way. + +Another remarkable instance of his courage and disinterestedness was +afforded at the battle of the Nile. Previous to entering into that +great action, Nelson hailed Captain Hood's ship, and consulted him as +to the best method of attack. + +"What think you," said the Admiral, "of engaging the enemy to-night?" + +"I don't know the soundings," was the answer, "but, with your +permission, I will lead in and try." + +The result is well known; but I believe it is not so generally known +that, in the first draft of the despatch which Nelson wrote, he gave +to Captain Hood the merit of confirming him in his determination of +attacking the French fleet that night. On showing this letter, +however, to Hood himself, he entreated that it might be altered, +saying "that they were all brothers, engaged in the cause, and that +the admiral would have received exactly the same advice from any other +captain in the fleet whom he might have consulted." The paragraph was +therefore omitted in the despatch. + +I have this anecdote of the change in the despatch from one of his +nearest connections, and one of the dearest friends to his memory. He +himself particularly wished the alteration in the despatch not to be +told at the time; but, as the story crept out somehow, it seems very +material that the facts should be well authenticated. When the +circumstance was mentioned to Sir Samuel Hood many years afterwards, +by the friend from whom I have received authority to state it, he +confessed that it was so; but exclaimed,-- + +"How the devil could all this have got wind?--I never mentioned it +before to a living soul." + +As there is hardly any professional anecdote which retains its +freshness of interest more entire than the memorable parley above +described between Nelson and Hood, on the eve of the battle of the +Nile, I venture to give another version of it, which is substantially +the same, and is calculated to confirm, in a pleasing manner, all that +is essential. The following particulars I have been favoured with by +Captain Webley Parry, then first lieutenant of the Zealous. + +When steering for the enemy's fleet, Sir Horatio Nelson hailed the +Zealous, and asked Captain Hood if he thought he might venture to bear +up round the shoals. The answer was,-- + +"I cannot say, sir; but if you will allow me the honour of leading +into action, I will keep the lead going." + +"You have my permission, and I wish you good luck," was the reply; +and, as Nelson said this, he took off his hat. Captain Hood, in his +hurry to return the courtesy of his admiral, dropped his hat +overboard. He looked after it, laughed, and exclaimed,-- + +"Never mind, Webley, there it goes for luck! Put the helm up, and make +all sail." + +Captain Foley of the Goliath, being close to the Zealous, perceiving +this manoeuvre, guessed what the orders were, and bore up likewise, so +that when the two ships had shaped their course, they were nearly +abreast of each other. The Goliath being a little in advance, which +of course was rather annoying, Captain Hood stood on for some time, in +hopes of being able to take the lead in the Zealous, but finding this +could not be without jostling and confusion, he turned round and +said-- + +"This will never do! Well, never mind; Foley is a fine, gallant, +worthy fellow. Shorten sail, and give him time to take up his berth. +We must risk nothing that will tend to the enemy's advantage." + +This was instantly done! The Goliath shot ahead, and Captain Foley +had the glory of leading the British fleet into action. By some +accident, however, he failed to place the Goliath in opposition to the +headmost ship of the enemy's line. The experienced eye of Hood +instantly saw the consequences, and while the Goliath passed on to the +second in the line, Sir Samuel placed his own ship, the Zealous, +alongside the first, exclaiming in the joy of his heart, "Thank God! +my friend Foley has left me the van ship!" + +The indifference to danger and fatigue which was habitual to this +great captain cost him, I believe, his life when travelling in the +interior of India, near Seringapatam. He reached a station at which a +fresh set of palanquin bearers were to have met him, but had been +prevented by some accident. "It matters not," he cried, "let us walk." +And sure enough he set off to perform on foot a stage which might have +been dangerous on horseback; for the sun had nearly risen to the +meridian, and there was hardly a breath of wind. Possibly no mischief +might have followed this march, but he had been spending some days in +the island of Seringapatam, the most unhealthy spot in Mysore; and it +is a curious circumstance connected with the malaria of the noxious +districts, that its effects frequently lie dormant long after it has +been breathed. Sir Samuel Hood did not escape; but he felt no +inconvenience till after he descended from, and entered the Carnatic +at Madras. The jungle fever, of which the fatal seeds had been sown at +Seringapatam, attacked him after a few days. When, unfortunately for +the profession and for his country, he fell sick at Madras, and knew +that his last moments were fast approaching, he called his faithful +friend and old follower in many ships and many actions, Lieutenant, +afterwards Captain Walcott to his bedside, and said to him,-- + +"It will be very hard, Walcott, to die in this cursed place; but +should I go off, let nothing deter you from going home and accounting +to the Admiralty for my command of the East India station." + +These were nearly the last intelligible words he uttered; and they +serve to show how strong, even in the hour of death, was his sense of +professional duty. As Lieutenant Walcott had served during the whole +of Sir Samuel's India command in the double capacity of +flag-lieutenant and secretary, and had enjoyed the Admiral's entire +confidence, he, and he alone, possessed the means of "accounting to +the Admiralty" for the measures completed, or in progress, for the +good of the service, and therefore the Admiral suggested to him the +propriety of his going home to report matters in person. + +The senior officer, who succeeded to the command in the Indian seas, +felt so desirous of following up the friendly intentions of his +lamented predecessor, that knowing the late Admiral's attachment to +Lieutenant Walcott, he offered to promote him into a death vacancy, +which had either actually taken place, or was certain to fall within a +week or two. Moreover, he assured him, that after the necessary time +had been served, he should have the first vacancy for post promotion. +These were indeed tempting offers to a young officer, devotedly +attached to his profession; but they had no influence over a man bred +in the "Sam Hood School." The Admiral's dying injunction appeared to +this right-minded officer fully as binding, or, if possible, more so, +than a written command must have been in his lifetime. + +To England Walcott went accordingly; and the difference in +professional standing which it made to him was this:--had he remained +in India, as Sir Samuel Hood's successor proposed, he would +undoubtedly have become a post-captain of 1816, instead of which, his +name stood in 1822, six years later on the list! Had it been sixty +times six, however, it would have made no difference in his conduct. + +When the army returned from Spain, after the battle of Corunna, in +1809, there were between twenty and thirty officers accommodated in +Sir Samuel's cabin. Among them was a young officer, a connection of +Lady Hood's, whose father and mother called to thank him, conceiving +that he had been indebted by this connection for the attention he had +received, but Sir Samuel did not even know of the connection or the +name. "Indeed," said he, "I hardly knew the names of half my guests. +But who," he continued, "would make any distinctions amongst such +war-worn and brave fellows." + +The fact is, such was his general kindness, that each of these +military officers, his passengers, fancied the Admiral was more civil +to him than to any one else. He suspended on this occasion all the +usual strait-laced etiquettes of the quarter-deck discipline, and +permitted the harassed soldiers to lie down and read between the guns, +or wherever they pleased. His great delight was to coddle them up, and +recompense them, as far as he could, for the severe privations they +had undergone during the retreat, and nothing entertained him so much +as seeing the relish with which these hungry campaigners partook of +his hospitality. On the day after the battle of Corunna, when these +gentlemen came on board, he ordered a cock to be driven into a +hogshead of prime old sherry; and his satisfaction was perfect, when +his steward, with a rueful countenance, communicated to him, on +arriving at Spithead, that "his very best cask of wine had been drunk +dry on the passage by the soldier officers!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +COMMISSIONING A SHIP. + + +Most people are curious to know how, from a state of total inaction, +or what is called "laid up in ordinary," a ship is brought forward +into real service. I have therefore thought it right to "begin with +the beginning," and tell how a man-of-war is first commissioned. This +leads to the fitting-out; that is, getting in the masts, putting the +rigging overhead, stowing the holds, and so on. The next obvious point +to be considered in the equipment of a ship is, the force she is to +carry, which brings us to the very curious question of naval gunnery. +Finally, if we suppose a ship equipped, armed, manned, and +disciplined. + +As soon as an officer receives official intimation that he is +appointed to the command of a ship, he proceeds either to the +Admiralty or to the dockyard at the port where the ship may happen to +be laid up in ordinary, and takes up his commission. In the first +place, however, he must wait upon the admiral commanding at the +out-port where the ship is lying, and having reported himself, he +proceeds to the admiral-superintendent of the dockyard, to whom he +communicates his commission; he has the exclusive charge and +responsibility, having the care of the ships in ordinary, of all the +moorings, and generally of all the vessels, and every description of +stores in the naval arsenal. + +The first thing to do is to get hold of one of the warrant-officers to +"hoist the pendant," which is a long slender streamer, having a St. +George's cross on a white field in the upper part next the mast, with +a fly or tail, either Red, White, and Blue, or entirely of the colour +of the particular ensign worn by the ship; which, again, is determined +by the colour of the admiral's flag under whose orders she is placed. +The pendant being hoisted shows that the ship is in commission, and +this part of the colours is never hauled down day or night. At sunset, +when the ensign is hauled down, a smaller pendant, three or four yards +in length, is substituted for the long one, which, in dandified ships, +waves far over the stern. Ships in ordinary hoist merely an ensign. +The boatswain, gunner, and carpenter, who are called the +warrant-officers, always remain on board, even when the rest of the +officers and crew are paid off, and the ship laid up in ordinary. +These valuable personages, under the general superintendence of the +captain of the ordinary, an old officer of rank, and assisted by a few +lads to row them to and from the shore, keep the ships clean, and +guard against fire and pillage, to which they might otherwise be +exposed at their moorings in the different creeks. + +The next step, after the ship is commissioned, is to open a +muster-book. The requisite blank books and other papers are supplied +to the captain by the superintendent of the dockyard, in order that +the names of the officers and men may be entered as they assemble. The +admiral being then informed that the ship is in commission, he orders +the commandant of marines to embark the proper complement of men from +the barracks. + +The master-attendant, in the mean time, is applied to for a +receiving-ship or hulk, alongside of which the ship may be placed, and +in which the crew may live while she is fitting out. The same officer +will likewise give the boatswain a "note" for one or more of what are +called harbour boats--strong affairs, but good enough to perform the +rough sort of work required in fitting out. The boatswain's demand for +scrapers, buckets, and junk for swabs, is made out and approved, that, +from the first moment to the last, the hulk may be kept clean. + +The officers of the newly-commissioned ship take possession of the +hulk assigned them, the purser gets from the victualling-office +provisions enough for present use, and draws from the same quarter a +quantity of slop clothing, as well as bedding and haversacks, for the +marines, who are generally the first men on board. They are supplied +by the boatswain with hammocks, and thus the Jollies soon feel +themselves at home. The captain's clerk having prepared what is called +an "open list," he enters the names of the officers and men as fast as +they arrive. Hammocks and bedding, as well as blankets and shoes, are +issued to those sailors who may come on board without any kit, which +is too often the case. The senior lieutenant ought, if possible, to be +one of the very first persons who joins, and the sooner he establishes +himself on board the hulk the better. The marines, being a standing +portion of the service, are always ready, and, if necessary, they may +be sent on board at a few hours' warning. On this account, as well as +many others, they are a most invaluable body of men. When there is no +particular hurry, however, they will be embarked in two or three days +at the furthest from the time they receive orders.[8] Application +should also be made for boys, who are supplied as soon as possible; a +certain number being sent from the flag-ship, while the remainder are +enlisted from the shore. A boat's crew of sailors will very soon be +picked up from the stray hands lounging about the Common Hard and +Jack's other well-known haunts. + +Thus, in a very few days, the foundation of a ship's company is laid; +and under good management, with a little patience and cheerfulness, +the superstructure will advance rapidly. A rendezvous should be opened +at a public-house in some street frequented by the seamen; and a flag, +with the ship's name on it, exposed before the door; while bills, +containing the ship and captain's name, should be stuck up and +distributed in the proper quarters. If her destination be India, South +America, the Mediterranean, or any other favourite station, that +circumstance will of course be sufficiently noticed in these cards of +invitation. The master-at-arms, the captain's coxswain, or some old +and steady hand who has an interest in getting the ship manned, will +be usefully employed at the rendezvous, to talk to the sailors as +they drop in to consider the _pros_ and _cons_ of the new enterprise +in which they are invited to engage. The captain himself, and the +first lieutenant also, will generally find it worth their while to +look in occasionally, perhaps periodically, at the rendezvous, +ostensibly to speak on some business, but chiefly to show themselves, +and by a word or two of encouragement, to decide the waverers. It is +of great consequence, on these occasions, to keep clear of anything +which, by possibility, can be construed into false pretences; for the +moral impropriety of such enticements, their impolicy very soon +betrays itself, and when the men detect the fallacy, the result shows +itself in the paucity of volunteers. The truth is, Jack, with all his +vagaries, possesses a quick discernment in such matters, and is very +seldom deceived by chaff. It will seldom, if ever, retard the proper +manning of a ship to be very fastidious in choosing amongst the +volunteers who offer. The best men will not enter for a ship where +sailors are received indiscriminately; and the lower order of mere +working hands are easily picked up to complete the crew. + +The men are always carefully examined by the surgeon before being +received; but it would not be a bad rule that no volunteer should be +finally entered until he has been seen and approved of by both captain +and first lieutenant. It is, indeed, of great consequence to the +eventual comfort of the ship, which always turns upon her good and +consistent discipline, that the first lieutenant and captain should be +cordially agreed on so material a point as the choice of the +individual seamen forming the crew. + +During the short visits which the captain pays to his ship at this +time, he will seldom find it useful to supplant his first lieutenant, +by taking upon himself the conduct of the ship's detailed operations. +The peculiar duties of the captain, when his ship is fitting out, +necessarily require him to be absent from her every day during a +considerable portion of the working hours. He has to wait on the +admiral to receive fresh instructions; he has to carry on a +correspondence with the Admiralty on the various equipments of the +ship; he has representations and applications to make to the +port-admiral, respecting officers and men, and to the +admiral-superintendent of the dockyard, respecting stores. In short, +whether at the rendezvous, at the dockyard, at the admiral's office, +or at his own lodgings, the captain will generally find ample +employment on shore for most of the best hours of his day, in really +co-operating with his first lieutenant afloat, by seeing those duties +properly executed which lie beyond that officer's reach. If these +multifarious and important obligations, out of the ship, be fully +complied with by the captain, he will seldom have more time left than +is barely necessary to go on board--- just to see what is doing--to +learn what has been done--and to give his orders, in a general way, to +the first lieutenant, for his further guidance. + +As a captain has not always the choice of his first lieutenant, it may +sometimes happen that a person unfit to fulfil the duties of that +office will be appointed. Filling this station well implies not only +knowledge and talents, but a disposition to enter cordially into the +views of the captain, as well with regard to the general system of +discipline, as to all the details of managing the ship. When an unfit +person is appointed, it is much better for the lieutenant, as well as +the captain, that they should part; and certainly this is more +conducive to the discipline of the ship, and therefore to the good of +the service, than if they went on for ever like cat and dog. This, +indeed, is so well understood, that the Admiralty throw no obstacles +in the way of officers exchanging. + +In case the unfitness of the first lieutenant arises from absolute +incompetence or negligence of his duties, it will soon appear in some +palpable instance, for which he must be accountable before a +court-martial, unless his captain permit him to quit the ship to avoid +that alternative. On the other hand, it will sometimes happen, that an +officer who is both competent and zealous, is rather too fond of +having his own way, and interpreting the rules and customs of the +service in his own particular fashion, in opposition to the views of +the captain. This pertinacity detracts from his efficiency as an +officer, and more particularly from his fitness for the arduous and +delicate situation of first lieutenant, by preventing the +establishment of a hearty co-operation with his superior. But if the +considerate line of conduct before suggested be acted upon by the +captain, unless the lieutenant be a very pig-headed person, who +mistakes opposition for zeal, he will readily see that the true way of +forwarding the service is to enter heartily, cheerfully, and +attentively, into the peculiar plans of his chief. If he does not do +this, he will only find his duties become more and more irksome to +himself, and all his zeal will often be thrown away in ineffectual +efforts. + +When a ship is fairly commissioned, the first proceedings of the +captain, in respect to her equipment, must be determined by the +particular state in which she happens to be. The ship may be in dock, +or in the basin, or riding at the moorings--masted or unmasted; she +may have only just been launched, or may have been "paid off all +standing." In any case, one of the first points to be attended to is +the stowage of the ballast. If the ship has been in commission before, +a record of her sailing qualities, and the plan of stowage which was +found to answer best, will be supplied by the superintendent of the +dockyard, together with her draught of water, forward and aft, light +as launched and in ballast; and, lastly, when completely equipped for +sea, with guns, powder, provisions, and men on board. If the ship be +new, the captain will be furnished by the Surveyor of the Navy with +every particular respecting her trim, and the manner in which he +conceives her hold should be stowed. If this very important part of +the ship's economy be one that has occupied its due share of the +commanding-officer's attention, he will carefully examine the +conformation of the ship's bottom, and be enabled to tell whether or +not the former plan of stowing the ballast agrees with his own +theoretical views, and his experience in such matters, and then +putting the ship's recorded sailing qualities by the side of these +actual observations, he will be enabled to decide how the ballast +shall be distributed. + +The Signal Books, Printed Naval Instructions, the Admiralty Statutes, +and other works of reference and guidance, are supplied by the +port-admiral, while a copy of all the Port Regulations and Orders +should be made, and so carefully perused by the captain and officers +as to be almost got by heart. A minute attention, indeed, to the +injunctions contained in these written orders, is absolutely +necessary to keep the officers of a ship out of eternal hot water with +admiral, flag-captain, secretary, and first lieutenant of the +flag-ship, all of whom are put out of their way by any neglect on the +part of an officer fitting or refitting a ship. + +I remember once a grand row which I, in common with three or four +other commanding officers, got into. A signal was made from the +flag-ship at Spithead, the Royal William, or the Royal Billy as she +was universally called. The order was, "The ships at Spithead are to +send boats to assist the vessel in distress." On looking round, we +could see nothing but a collier aground on the end of the spit. One +boat, or perhaps two, were sent from some of the ships--but not enough +to save her; so poor Jock lay on the shoal till he capsized, and there +was an end of him; for it came on to blow, and the shore, from South +Sea Castle to Blackhouse Point, was a complete beach of coal shingle. +Next morning out came a swinging reprimand to all of us, ordering a +"report in writing to be made forthwith of the reasons why the signal +made at four P.M. to send boats to the collier had not been obeyed." I +recommend folks fitting out, therefore, as they value their peace, to +trifle with anything rather than the port orders. For it is well to +consider, that a scold resembles a snow-ball--it always gathers weight +as it rolls along. Thus the Admiralty send down, by post or by +telegraph, a rap on the knuckles to the old admiral--very moderate as +naval things go, but such as, in civil life, would make a sober +citizen frantic, though it merely squeezes out a growl from the +venerable commander-in-chief. Straightway he rings for the secretary, +and issues a smartish general order, in which the wretched captain of +the offending ship catches the reprimand, with a most usurious +allowance of interest. Off goes the said skipper to his ship, in a +great fume and hurry, carrying a whole sail in the gig, though on +ordinary occasions he chooses to have a reef in. Souse comes the +wigging on the hapless first lieutenant; and he, in turn, only waits +till the captain goes below, that he may open a volcano of reproaches +on the long-suffering middies, who, though they probably now hear of +the offence for the first time, know much better than to make any +reply. + +Such is naval discipline! a strange mixture of justice and injustice, +severity and indulgence--frankness and wrong-headedness, encouragement +and unfair dealing; but still we may be sure, that talents, industry, +perseverance, and, above all, resolute cheerfulness, with an absence +of the litigious habit of self-justification, must ensure success and +happiness, or, at least, give the best chance for them. + +The first lieutenant of the ship fitting out will do well to have by +him a sheet of paper, ruled according to some tabular form, in which +he may insert the names of the men who enter, that he may form some +idea, when he comes to station them, what part of the ship each is fit +for. + +A watch bill should be commenced at once; and the men, as fast as they +come on board, appointed, as near as may be, to the stations which the +officers think they will ultimately occupy. This lets a man know at +once what duty he will be required to perform, and makes him feel at +home. Some crack sailors will not volunteer unless they can be made +reasonably sure of being placed in a station they like; and although +it would be highly injudicious to make such absolute stipulations +without some previous trial of the candidate's abilities, it may be of +great advantage to the service to enter men more or less on this +principle. For instance, it is of the utmost importance to obtain +steady petty officers, that is to say, quarter-master's, gunner's, +boatswain's, and carpenter's mates; captains of the forecastle, of the +hold, and the tops; sail-makers, armourers, caulkers, and coopers; +with others of less consequence, but all valuable in their respective +departments, and contributing to make up the singular population of a +man-of-war. The following list contains the peace establishment of the +Conway, a ship of twenty-eight guns, which I fitted out in the +beginning of 1820. The document may perhaps interest persons who like +to inquire into the details of a community and _menage_ so differently +constructed from any they are likely to meet with elsewhere. + +_A Scheme of the Establishment of His Majesty's Ship Conway, with a +Complement of 125 men._ + + Brought forward 18 +Captain 1 Schoolmaster 1 +Lieutenants 3 Master at Arms 1 +Master 1 Caulker 1 +Second Master 1 Armourer 1 +Purser 1 Sailmaker 1 +Surgeon 1 Carpenter's Mate 1 +Boatswain 1 Gunner's Mate 1 +Gunner 1 Boatswain's Mates 2 +Carpenter 1 Quarter-masters 3 +Master's Mate 1 Captain's Coxswain 1 +Midshipmen 4 Capts. of the Forecastle 2 +Assistant Surgeon 1 Cooper 1 +Clerk 1 Capts. of the Foretop 2 + --- --- + Carry forward 18 Carry forward 36 + + Brought forward 36 Brought forward 58 +Capts. of the Maintop 2 Barber 1 +------------- Afterguard 1 Purser's Steward 1 +------------- Mast 1 Captain's Steward 1 +Ship's Cook 1 Captain's Cook 1 +Volunteers, First Class 3 Gun-room Steward 1 +Gunner's Crew 5 Gun-room Cook 1 +Carpenter's Crew 4 Steward's Mate 1 +Sailmaker's crew 1 Able Seamen } +Gunner's Yeoman 1 Ordinary Seamen } 29 +Boatswain's ditto 1 Landmen } +Carpenter's ditto 1 Boys, Second Class 5 +Cook's mate 1 ----- Third Class 5 + --- Widows' Men 3 + Carry forward 58 --- + 107 +Marines:-- 1 Lieutenant; 1 Serjeant; 1 Corporal; + 1 Drummer; 14 Privates. 18 + --- + Total 125 + +The last odd entry of three widows' men was an official fiction (now +abolished) by which the pay of so many imaginary persons was +transferred to a fund for the relief of the widows of commissioned and +warrant officers. Real men are now allowed in their places. + +If any other ship be paying off at the same time, it is well worth +trying to get some of her best men to enter for the ship fitting out. +People who have been for several years together in a comfortable ship +feel unwilling to part, and the prospect of continuing still +companions, often influences them to volunteer in considerable +numbers, if other circumstances appear suitable. When this takes +place, the men generally transfer their whole kit at once, see their +names placed on the new ship's books, and obtain what is called +"long-leave" of absence to visit their friends, after depositing a +portion of their ready money in the hands of the commanding-officer +until their return. These men almost always form a valuable part of a +ship's crew, and, I am convinced, the practice will become more +general of removing direct from one man-of-war to another, whenever +the system of frequent payments shall be established in the Navy. The +sailors will then learn the proper use of money, and will acquire, in +consequence, more orderly, decent, and rational habits. + +By these and other means, if the captain and officers be at all +popular in their manners, or be known favourably in the service, or if +even without these advantages, the intended station to which the ship +is going be a favourite one, and ordinary pains be taken at the +rendezvous, the ship's company soon begins to assume a respectable and +business-like appearance. It then becomes of infinite importance, that +the first lieutenant should introduce a uniform and well-explained +system of discipline on board, especially as regards cleanliness and +neatness of appearance, which are best effected by frequent and +regular musterings, without too much fastidiousness in the first +instance, as this might only teaze the men, and prevent the effectual +establishment of those observances which it is the chief purpose of +good discipline to render habitual. Great efforts should always be +made to give to Sunday its true character of a day of repose; and in +the weekly mustering, in particular, a good deal may generally be +accomplished towards imparting to the ship and crew the appearance of +order, which in times more advanced ought to characterize them during +the whole week. The stock of clothes amongst the men will, it is true, +generally be scanty at first, but a portion of it may, with proper +management, be always kept clean, and a well-bleached shirt and +trousers, with a good scrape of the chin, and a thorough scrubbing +from top to toe, render poor Jack's toilet, if not the most refined in +the world, certainly very effectual towards its purpose. I have often +been amused to see the merry style in which they employed great lumps +of coarse soap and hard brushes, in vain endeavours to remove the +umber tints of tar from their hands, and the tanning of the sunshine +from their brawny arms. These indelible distinctions of their hard +service are rendered more striking at such moments by their contrast +with the firm and healthy whiteness of the skin round their shoulders +and chest. + +An officer must be cautious how he issues slop clothing to newly +entered men, who have no pay due; and have a sharp, but reserved +look-out kept on doubtful characters as they go over the side on +leave, for there will ever be found at the great naval stations a +certain number of regular-built swindlers, who wander from port to +port expressly to pilfer. These vagabonds enter on board +newly-commissioned ships, make a great show of activity, and remain a +certain time to lull suspicion. They then take up slops, that is, +obtain from the purser as many shirts, trousers, shoes, and other +articles, as they can persuade the commanding-officer they are in want +of; after which they desert upon the first opportunity, only to run +the same rig in some other ship. When a character of this kind is +caught in the act of making off with his own or his messmate's +blanket, it is best to let him go on shore (minus the blanket, of +course), and the chances are he will not return again. You lose the +man, but you are rid of a knave. + +It is a fatal error in an officer to court popularity by unworthy +means, or indeed by any means, except those of fair-dealing and strict +propriety, equal justice to all, and as much indulgence as the nature +of the service will admit of. But, at the same time, advantage may be +taken of accidental opportunities of putting the people into +good-humour during an outfit; and by indulging them in a +jollification, we may occasionally give them something to think of at +the moment, and to talk of for weeks afterwards. + +When I was fitting out his Majesty's sloop Lyra at Deptford, in 1815, +to accompany the embassy to China, under Lord Amherst, it occurred to +me one cold morning, the 24th of December, that it might not have a +bad effect on the good name of my pretty little craft, if I gave the +ship's company a regular blow-out the next day. I communicated this +idea to the first lieutenant, who, seeing no objection, sent for some +of the leading men, and said each mess was to have a goose and a +turkey for their Christmas dinner. My steward was then told to arrange +the details; and presently he came to report that the men had taken it +into their heads, that, as the best poultry was to be procured in +London, they should like exceedingly to be allowed to despatch an +embassy to Leadenhall Market for that purpose; the first lieutenant +agreed also to this, and two seamen and one marine were forthwith +landed at Deptford to execute the mission. A cart being hired, off +they set, returning before sunset, with as noisy a cargo as ever I saw +packed together. It so happened, that while we lay on one side of the +hulk, I forget her name, another ship was lashed on the opposite side +for some temporary purpose. The crew of our neighbour dined on +Christmas-day on soup and beef as usual, and remained contented enough +till some of our fellows, waddling under the effects of double +allowance of solids, and perhaps with a trifle too much of fluids, +came singing and capering along the deck of their hulk. In the most +good-humoured way possible, they asked their neighbours how many geese +and turkeys they had discussed that day. The meagre answer called +forth shouts of merriment, and the poor fellows belonging to the other +ship were rather unhandsomely taunted with the scantiness of their +Christmas fare. "Look at that and weep, you hungry-faced rascals!" +exclaimed one of our jolly blades, holding up the drumstick of a goose +in one hand and that of a turkey in the other. He was answered by the +practical joke of having the two bones twisted from his hands and +shyed in his face, according to the most approved tarpaulin manners. +This was the signal for a general _melee_, and the officers had enough +to do to separate the contending hosts. + +A few days before the next Christmas-day came round, when we were +lying in the River Canton, my steward came to me and said,-- + +"The people, sir, have been talking for the last two or three weeks of +hardly anything else but the 'row' at Deptford this time twelvemonth, +when you gave them a feast on Christmas-day." + +"Well, what of that?" + +"Oh, nothing, sir; I only thought you might like to know it. There are +plenty of ducks and geese at the Chinese village close to us." + +I seized the idea in a moment; and having, as before, consulted with +the first lieutenant, I bade my steward prepare a good stock +accordingly. I took no further charge of the matter; nor did I expect +to hear anything more of the dinner or its preparations. In this, +however, I was deceived; for when daylight appeared on Christmas +morning of 1816, such a racket was heard from our little vessel as +brought up all hands on board every one of the ten or a dozen huge +East India Company's ships amongst which we were anchored, at a place +called Second Bar. Our fellows had carried the whole of their +Christmas poultry aloft, and having perched themselves at the +yard-arms and on the cross-trees, gaff, and flying jib-boom ends, they +made each of the wretched birds fast with a string six or eight feet +long, in such a manner that they could flap their wings, but could not +escape. The great difficulty, as I afterwards learned, was how to keep +the ducks and geese from making a noise till the proper moment +arrived, and this was not effected without sundry bites and scratches. +As soon as broad daylight came, the word was given, and the whole +flock being dropped to the full length of their lines, they set up +such a screaming, cackling, and flapping, as could not fail, when +aided by the mingled laughter and shouts of their future demolishers, +to call the envious attention of the whole surrounding fleet! + +It is very useful to keep the people in a good humour at all times; +though, as I have already suggested, the captain must avoid even the +appearance of courting popularity at the expense of his officers. Such +an unworthy course of proceeding strikes at the root of discipline. A +truly right-minded officer, therefore, at the head of any department, +whether it be that of a ship, a fleet, an army, or a cabinet, will +seldom, if ever, take into his calculations the effect which any +measure is to produce on himself or his own interests--but will +steadily seek to discover what is best for the public service. And if +such research be made in the proper spirit of generous self-devotion +to his duty, he may essentially advance the cause of good discipline, +by transferring the credit of success, which might be his own due, to +those with whom he happens to be co-operating, and without whose +companionship and attention to details, though unseen and unknown to +the world, he might never have gained his point. It is more difficult +indeed, but also more generous, and more useful in practice, for the +chief to bear manfully the brunt of failure; and in seasons when +measures of an unpopular character become necessary, to charge himself +with a large share of that loss of favour which he is best able to +afford.[9] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[8] By the recent regulations each ship also receives her complement +of seamen gunners from one of the gunnery ships, in the proportion of +a lieutenant and thirteen gunners to a line-of-battle ship, a mate and +ten men to a frigate, and eight men to smaller vessels. These are +passed gunners, and their duties are to instruct the crew in gunnery. + +[9] The introduction of the system of registration of seamen has, of +course, been an admirable check upon desertion after receiving +advances, both in the naval and commercial marine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +FITTING OUT. + + +In the course of a week or ten days after a ship is commissioned, the +officers are collected on board their hulk, and they bestir themselves +to gather their comforts about them. In the first instance they look +after their "noble selves" by selecting, at some small salary extra, a +boy or a marine a-piece for a valet. They next find out a good +steward, and having installed him in possession of the nascent stock +of gun-room crockery, make him hunt for a cook, generally a black man, +who takes into his sable keeping the pots and pans of the growing +mess. The mates and mids, a portion of whom are appointed by the +Admiralty, and a portion by the captain, gradually make their +appearance, and settle into their dungeon of a berth under the +caterage of some old boy of a captain's clerk or a hard-a-weather mate +of the decks. A pretty large proportion of youngsters also, or +squeakers, who cannot be appointed without the previous consent of the +Admiralty, spring up like mushrooms, with rosy cheeks and tender +hands, totally unconscious, poor little fellows! of the rugged lives +they are soon to lead. + +If these boys had only sense enough to look on quietly, and pay +attention to all that is passing, with a sincere desire to understand +it, and were they to be assisted a little in their inquiries, they +might on such occasions as that of a ship fitting out, manage to learn +and store up much that would prove valuable on a future day. But these +youths are generally let loose from the Naval College, or from school, +or from mamma's apron-string; and unless they are looked after and +encouraged, they are too volatile to pay a proper degree of attention +to the duty which is going on. After all, it does not require much +ingenuity to arrange some employment for them, even at first, provided +their numbers be not so great that they stand in one another's way. +Three or four youngsters, even though absolute novices, might always +be kept well employed in a sloop-of-war, and perhaps twice that number +in a frigate or line-of-battle ship fitting. In peace time, however, +it will happen that the crowd of young gentlemen is so great, and the +disposition to learn so little diffused amongst them, that the first +lieutenant is often glad to get rid of them altogether by letting them +waste their time and money on shore. + +The state in which the ship happens to be at the time she is +commissioned, must decide, as I said before, the course to be followed +in her equipment. If she be already masted and alongside the hulk, and +the ballast in, the officer will most likely wish to make some show in +the way of rigging--for as yet the masts are naked to the girt-lines, +or single ropes rove through blocks at the mast-head, by which first +the men and then the shrouds are drawn up, and the eyes of the rigging +placed over the mast-heads. If there be only a few sailors on board, +these can be employed to get off the furniture, that is, all the +blocks, ready stropped in the rigging loft; and to draw the present +use stores from the dockyard. These can all be kept under lock and key +in the store-rooms of the hulk; and if the rigging, and everything +required in placing it aloft, be previously fitted and arranged by the +boatswain, so that he can put his hand at once on the gear as soon as +a sufficient number of the crew join, much time will be saved. Even +the lower rigging may be got off all ready fitted from the loft; while +the runners and tackles, the luffs, and other purchases, may be put in +preparation for use the moment there are hands enough to employ on +them. + +By application to the boatswain of the yard, assistance will be given +to gammon the bowsprit, preparatory to its being clothed, which is the +technical term for rigging that important spar. One of its principal +offices is to support the foremast and fore-topmast, by means of their +stays, as the slanting ropes are called which stretch forwards and +downwards from the head of every mast, great and small, in the ship. +Some of these, as the main-stay, lie at so inconsiderable an angle +with the horizon, that they possess great power of sustaining the +mast; while others, such as the fore-stay, being necessarily more +perpendicular, do not act to such good mechanical purpose. There is a +peculiar disadvantage attending the method of securing the fore-stay, +arising from the position of the mast. It is placed so near the +extremity of the ship, that the stay, which forms its only support in +the forward direction, cannot be attached to the body of the vessel, +without making so very small an angle with the mast as would divest +it of nearly all its character as a supporter. To remedy this, the +bowsprit has been devised, chiefly as an out-rigger for the fore-stay. +But in order to render the spar effective for that purpose, it +requires to be very strongly bound down. There has, therefore, been +contrived what is called the stem, or cut-water, which is a strong but +narrow projection from the bows, securely fastened by long and thick +bolts of iron and copper to the body of the ship. The chief purpose of +this stem is to furnish a point of support for the ropes securing the +bowsprit. Of these, the most important is called the gammoning, which +consists of a strong and well-stretched hawser, passed up and down +successively, in perpendicular turns, over the bowsprit and through a +hole horizontally cut in the stem. At each turn the gammoning hawser +is hove taut, while every effort is used to bring the bowsprit down +into its place. A heavy boat is sometimes suspended from the end, the +weight of which greatly assists the gammoning process. Another set of +ropes, called bob-stays, extending from about one-third from the outer +end of the bowsprit to the cut-water, nearly at the water-line, +contribute essentially to its stability. It is further secured in a +lateral direction by shrouds reaching from its extremity to the bows +of the ship. + +I need not mention, that, in order to give a finish, as it were, to +the end of the ship, and to convert that into a source of ornament +which might otherwise be deemed a deformity, the top of the stem has +been appropriated as the position of the figure-head, the +characteristic emblem of the vessel. In some ships the sailors pride +themselves especially on the beauty of their figure-head; and many a +time have I seen the captain of the forecastle employed for hours in +painting the eyes, hair, and drapery of his favourite idol. I suppose +few commanding-officers will allow of this liberty; for it must be +owned that as Jack's taste in female beauty, and in the disposition +and colours of dress, are borrowed from a very questionable model, his +labours in adorning the figure-head are apt to produce strange +monsters. I once heard of a captain who indulged his boatswain in this +whim of representing his absent love as far as the king's allowance of +paint could carry the art; and it must be owned, that, as the original +Dulcinea owed her roses to the same source, the representation "came +very close aboard of the original," as the delighted boatswain +expressed it. This very proximity in colouring, scantiness of drapery, +and so forth, which formed the boatswain's pride, perplexed the worthy +captain, who had given his sanction to the work, for he could never +cross the bows of his own ship with a party of friends, without +raising a laugh at the expense of his taste in figures. The whole +crew, however, soon fell as much in love with the damsel as the +boatswain had done before them; and it would have been cruel to have +sent the painter to daub her ladyship all over with one uniform +colour, according to the general fashion. The considerate commander +took a different line. + +"You seem proud of your head, Mr. Clearpipe, I shall gild her for +you!" + +In a few days, the sparkling eyes and blushing cheeks of Mrs. +Boatswain, like Danae, had yielded up their charms to the golden +shower. The glittering figure-head soon became the delight of the +ship's company, and on one occasion furnished the captain with rather +an odd means of calling out their energies. The ship was sailing in +company with several others of the same class, and when they all came +to reef topsails together, she was beat on the first occasion. As they +were setting about a second trial of activity, the captain called out +to the people aloft,-- + +"Now, I tell you what it is, my lads, unless you are off the yards, +and the sails are hoisted again before any other ship in the squadron, +by the Lord Harry I'll paint your figure-head black!" From that time +forward, she beat every ship in the fleet. + +As soon as a sufficient number of hands are collected on board the +ship which is fitting out, all the spars, except the spare ones, may +be got off to the hulk. These consist of topsail yards, topmasts, and +top-gallant masts and yards, jib and spanker boom, studding-sail booms, +and one or two others. The lower and topsail yards can be fitted on +the hulk's decks, ready to be swayed into their places when the masts +are in a state to receive them. If a dockyard lump, or lighter, can be +got to put all the spars in, together with the tops and other things +which are usually made into a raft and floated off, it may save a +great deal of trouble; as it frequently happens that they cannot all +be got in before night, and if bad weather comes on, they may break +adrift and be lost. + +There seems no fixed rule for rigging a ship progressively. Different +officers adopt different ways of setting about the operation, and +slight variations occur in the arrangement of the ropes; but, +generally speaking, everything is disposed according to the +long-established rules of seamanship. The grand object is to support +each mast laterally by a number of shrouds on each side, inclining +slightly abaft the perpendicular, to prevent its falling either +sideways or forwards, and also, by means of two stays, the principal +stay and the spring stay, both stretching in the line of the keel, to +hold it forwards. The width of the ship affords what is called a +spread for the rigging, which spread is augmented by the application +of broad shelves, called channels, carrying the rigging three or four +feet further out on each side, and making its angle with the masts +greater, and consequently increasing the support of the shrouds. These +channels act merely as out-riggers, for the ultimate point of fixture, +or that against which the shrouds pull, is lower down, where long +links of iron called chain-plates, are securely bolted through and +through the solid ribs of the ship, and rivetted within. The upper +ends of these chain-plates are furnished with what are called +dead-eyes, great round blocks of wood pierced with holes, through +which the lanyards are rove by which the rigging is set up, or drawn +almost as tight as bars of iron. The topmasts, rising immediately +above the lower masts, are supported chiefly by rigging spread out by +the tops, or what people on shore miscall round-tops. These, like the +channels for the lower rigging, are mere projections or out-riggers; +the true point of support for the topmast rigging is the lower +shrouds, the connection being made by what are called futtock shrouds +and catharpins. The top-gallant masts, at the next stage aloft, are +supported by shrouds passing through the ends of small spars called +cross-trees, at the head of the topmast; and so on in succession, up +to the sky-scrapers and moon-rakers in some very fly-away ships. + +As early as possible, the boats, which are duly warranted for the +ship, should be selected, and their equipment superintended by the +officers of the ship, who are the persons most interested in their +completion. The master boat-builder attends to any little extra +fittings that the first lieutenant may have a fancy for--such as the +arrangement of the kedge and steam-anchor davits, the slide for the +carronnade in the launch, and so on. The boats will be painted of any +required colour, provided that colour be consistent with the dockyard +regulations; if any other be required, the captain must purchase it +himself, but the dockyard painters will lay it on. In the same way, if +the gun carriages are to be painted of any particular or fancy colour, +the people at the gun-wharf will prime them in a manner suited to +that colour, but no more. + +I may here take occasion to remark, that in the numberless dockyards I +have drawn stores from, I never met with any real difficulty in +getting all that was reasonable from the officers in any department. I +have heard, indeed, one and all of these persons abused over and over +again, for being crusty and disobliging; for pertinacity in sticking +to the mere letter of their instructions, and forgetting its spirit; +and for throwing obstacles in the way of the service, instead of +promoting its advancement. But I can only say for myself, that I never +met with anything but a hearty zeal to furnish all that was right, and +that, too, in the pleasantest manner, provided the proper degree of +civility were used in making the application. + +People too often forget, that politeness, punctuality, and general +attention to business, are all reciprocal qualities; and that, unless +they themselves employ such means in their intercourse with official +authorities, it is hopeless to expect these authorities will put +themselves one inch out of their way to oblige persons who manifestly +hold them in contempt. At least, until we can procure angels to take +the office of master-attendant, master-shipwright, storekeeper, and so +forth, the laws and customs of human nature will continue to regulate +such influences. Your gruff and sulky letter-of-the-law man will, no +doubt, get his ship fitted, in process of time, but not half so well, +nor nearly so quickly, as he who takes matters cheerfully. + +When a sufficient number of hands have been volunteered at the +rendezvous, and stationed to the different parts of the ship's duty, +the first lieutenant should form them into separate working parties, +as carefully selected as possible for the different kinds of work +required. The gunner will take one of these gangs to the +ordnance-wharf, to fit the tackles and breechings; another party will +be sent to the sail-loft to fit the sails; a third party may be +occupied with stowing the water-tanks, and preparing the holds for the +provisions; while some hands should be sent to weave mats for covering +the different parts of the rigging. The carpenters form a most +important department of the crew, as there are many little jobs to be +attended to in every part of the ship which the dockyard pass over; +and it is useful to have one or two carpenters always ready at a call +to drive in a nail here, or fix a cleat there, or to ease or fill up +what does not fit nicely. + +When a ship is first commissioned, the captain should apply to the +builder to have the caulking of the sides, and especially of the +decks, carefully examined, and if this important operation is to be +repeated, it should be got over as soon as may be. If the caulking be +delayed, as too frequently occurs, till after the ship is equipped and +painted, and the guns mounted; off comes a noisy gang of caulkers, who +daub her all over with pitch, the removal of which is a troublesome, +and always a dirty operation. + +Old hammocks are generally supplied for the men to sleep in while the +ship is fitting, and returned when she goes out of harbour. But two +sets of new hammocks ought to be got on board the hulk, ready to be +numbered as soon as a neat-handed man of letters can be enlisted for +that purpose; and as every hammock requires to have a legible number +marked on it, this occupies some time, and should be set about as +early as possible, that all may be dry and ready against going to sea. + +If the ship be new, it will be of great advantage that the captain or +first lieutenant should point out to the dockyard officers what he +considers the best place for the bulk-heads, or partitions separating +the different holds from one another. The main hold, for example, if +fitted strictly according to rule, or if it be left to the general +guess of the superintending shipwright, may chance to be long enough +to stow a certain number of water-tanks, together with a foot or two +over and above; now this lost space, if thrown into the after-hold, +might prove sufficient to gain another entire "longer," or range of +provision-casks. In the same way, the bulkhead which is common to +the spirit-room and after-hold may, by timely adjustment, be so placed +as to gain much useful space. These things are now much better +attended to than formerly in the original fitting of the ship; but I +mention them to prevent, as far as may be, the dangerous practice of +taking that for granted which admits of further examination. Moreover, +as no two vessels are exactly alike in all their dimensions, and +correct seamanship is guided by principles, which an officer ought to +understand, it will not do to rely upon things being done properly +when they are done by rule-of-thumb. Thus the position of the +main-tack block, and those of the fore and main sheets, the main-brace +blocks, topsail sheet and brace bitts, with the number of sheeves in +each, and twenty other things relating to kevils, cleats, and belaying +pins, will be dependent for much of their eventual efficiency on the +length of the yards, the size of the sails, and other circumstances +which it is quite in vain, and quite unreasonable to expect the +dockyard workmen to take into account. + +By the time the ship, to which every one has ere this become attached, +is so far advanced as to have all her spars on end, the artificers +will have completed their hammerings, sawings, and nailings, and the +main-hold will have been stowed with water-tanks. It is then time to +draw the heavy stores from the dockyard, such as anchors, cables, +spare anchor-stocks, fishes for the lower masts, and other spars, +forming, when packed together in two lines, one on each side of the +upper deck, what are called "the booms." Great care must be taken in +stowing these clusters of spars so as to leave room enough between +them, and just room enough, for stowing the launch or largest boat. +This is managed by the carpenter taking what is called her midship +section, and making a slight framework model to guide the stowage of +the booms. + +It may be useful to remark, that, although the operations in fitting +out a ship are multifarious, and often apparently much confused, it is +of great consequence to carry into them as much routine method as +possible. For example, in spite of the frequent interruptions to which +the seamen are exposed by the arrival of dockyard and +victualling-office vessels, which must be cleared, it will be found +very advantageous to adopt a uniform plan by which one set of men +shall begin, carry on, and complete the same jobs. In this way the +several working parties will come to take an interest and pride in +executing their tasks well and quickly, which they never could feel if +the responsibility and credit were divided or dissipated by their +being sent backwards and forwards from one operation to another. For +the purpose of such arrangements, as well as to assist his memory, the +first lieutenant may find it useful to write out in the evening a +programme of the next day's intended operations, and commencing every +morning by this, adhere to it throughout the day as strictly as +circumstances will permit. A character of consistency will thus be +given to a vast crowd of operations which otherwise become confused +and desultory. The people employed to execute these tasks will soon +insensibly discover that their labours are guided by substantial +method, and they will work all the more cheerfully and effectively, +from a conviction that no time is lost, and that their services are +duly appreciated. + +The main hold being now stowed, the cables, anchors, and spare spars, +all on board, the quantity of provisions required to complete for the +service appointed may be applied for, and will be sent off in the +victualling-office lighters. The purser then gets on board coals, +candles, lanterns, and other stores in his department. The rigging has +been repeatedly set up, and is now so well stretched that it is ready +for the last pull before going out of harbour. This done, and the +dead-eyes and ratlines squared, the shroud and backstay mats are put +on, and the masts and studding-sail booms carefully scraped. The lower +masts, and the heads of the topmasts and top-gallant masts, are next +painted, the yards blacked, and the rigging and backstays fore and aft +tarred down. The whole ship ought now to be scraped within and +without, and thoroughly cleaned and dried; after which the painters +may be sent for from the dockyard, and when they have primed the ship +it will be well to give her decks another good scouring. Next black +the bends, while the painters finish the upper works with one or two +more coats; and, finally, retouch the bends with the black-brush. + +When the paint is thoroughly dry, the guns and ordnance stores are to +be got on board, and all the remaining stores drawn from the dockyard, +leaving nothing, if possible, excepting the gunpowder, to be got off. +At this stage of the equipment, the ropes forming the running rigging +may be rove and cut. At the same time, both suits of sails ought to be +got on board in a decked lighter, one for stowing away in the +sail-room, but completely fitted and ready for use; the others to be +bent to the yards. The hammock-cloths also being now fitted, are +brought off; and if the ship be "going foreign," double sets are +allowed, both of which in former times used to be painted; but the +spare cloths are now very properly supplied unpainted. + +The ship being all ready for going out of harbour, the captain makes a +report to that effect to the admiral, the working boats are returned, +and the new ones drawn, and hoisted in. At the same time all +unserviceable stores, worn out in fitting the ship, are returned to +the dockyard, including the hulk hammocks, which must be well +scrubbed, dried, and made neatly up. The new hammocks are issued and +slung, and the bedding being lashed up in them, they are stowed in the +nettings, with their numbers ranged in a straight line, in regular +order fore and aft. This arrangement not only gives symmetry, but is +useful in affording the means of getting at any particular hammock +which may be required; for instance, if a man is taken sick, or +persons are required to be sent to other ships. + +Generally speaking, indeed, it will be found that the attention +bestowed on regularity, neatness, and even dandyism, in all these +minor details, brings with it more than a correspondent degree of +practical advantage. The men soon feel a pride in what their officer +approves of and shows himself pleased with; and, when once they fall +into habits of mutual obligation in the accomplishment of a common +purpose, everything goes on smoothly and cheerfully. I need scarcely +recall to the recollection of any one who has witnessed the practice +of such things, the marvellous difference in the efficiency of a ship +where the system of discipline is to bully and reproach, and of +another where the principle is encouraging and gentleman-like. In one +case the crew work as little as may be, and even take a morbid +pleasure in crossing the views of the officers as much as they +possibly can without incurring the risk of punishment; and they never +stir a finger in works not strictly within their assigned duty. In the +other case, where good will, a temperate exercise of authority, +indulgence, when it can by possibility be granted, and, above all, +when no coarse language unworthy the lips of an officer and a +gentleman is used, the result is very different. All the subordinate +authorities, and indeed the crew at large, then become insensibly +possessed of an elasticity of obedience which exerts a two-fold +influence, by reacting on themselves even more than it operates upon +the commanding-officer whose judicious deportment has called out the +exertion. I may safely add, that in the strict discipline which is +absolutely indispensable in every efficient man-of-war, and under all +the circumstances of confinement, privation, and other inevitable +hardships to which both officers and men are exposed, such a course of +moderation and good-breeding, independently of its salutary effect on +the minds of the people, works most admirably for the public service, +and more than doubles the results, by rendering men, who otherwise +might have been disposed to retard the duty, sincerely zealous in its +advancement. + +Lord Nelson, that great master of war and discipline, and all that was +noble and good in the cause of his country, understood, better perhaps +than any other officer, the art of applying these wholesome maxims to +the practice of duty at the exact moment of need. During the long and +weary period when Lord Nelson was blockading Toulon, he was joined +from England by a line-of-battle ship, commanded by an officer who, as +the story goes, had long applied for and expected an appointment to a +cruising frigate, and who, in consequence of this disappointment, came +growling out to join the fleet, in high dudgeon with the Admiralty at +being condemned, as he called it, to the galley-slave duty of a +blockade, in a wretched old tub of a 74, instead of ranging at large +in a gay frigate over the Atlantic or the Adriatic, and nabbing up +prizes by the dozen. It appears farther, that he rather unreasonably +extended a portion of his indignation to the Admiral, who, of course, +had nothing to do with his appointment; and this sulky frame of mind +might have proved the captain's ruin, had his Admiral been any other +than Nelson. But the genius of that great officer appeared to delight +in such occasions of recalling people to a sense of their duty, and +directing their passions and motives into the channels most useful to +themselves and their country. Knowing the officer to be a clever man, +and capable of performing good service if he chose, it was Nelson's +cue to make it his choice. When, therefore, the captain came on board, +full of irritability and provocation, the Admiral took no notice, but +chatted with him during breakfast on the news from England, and other +indifferent matters, as if his guest had been in the best humour +possible. The other, who was nursing his displeasure, waited only for +an opportunity of exploding, when he could do so without a breach of +decorum. Lord Nelson soon gave him the occasion he appeared to seek +for, by begging him to step into the after-cabin, and then asking him +what he thought of the station, and how he should like cruising in +the Levant and other interesting parts of the Mediterranean. + +"Why, as to that, my lord, I am not very likely to have any choice. I +am sent here to join the blockading fleet, and here, no doubt, I am +doomed to stick. I care nothing about the Mediterranean, and it would +matter little if I did." + +"I am sorry to hear you speak in that way," said Nelson, "for I had +reckoned a good deal on your activity, personal knowledge, and +abilities, to execute a service of some consequence in the upper parts +of the station. In this view I have been cutting out a cruise for you, +which I had hoped might enable you to see everything that is +interesting, and at the same time to execute a delicate and difficult +piece of service. But if you really do not fancy it, only say so--it +is not a business that can be done well on compulsion, but must be +done cheerfully. If you have a mind to go, well and good--if not, I +must look out for some one else--but you are the man I should prefer, +if it be agreeable to you. Here is a sketch of your orders, and there +is the chart--look them over at leisure, and make your decision." + +As Lord Nelson spoke these words he went on deck, leaving the poor man +bewildered at the prospect of the very employment he most desired, and +not a little ashamed of himself for having anticipated so different a +reception. The captain gratefully accepted the Admiral's offer, sailed +on the appointed service, which he executed with such diligence and +zeal, that he actually returned to the blockading fleet long within +the period he was authorized to bestow on the cruise; and there he +remained ever afterwards, performing all the drudgery of the +blockading service, not only with zeal, but with the heartiest good +humour, springing out of an anxious desire to manifest at once his +respect and his affectionate devotion to the matchless officer who had +so judiciously taught him the true path to honour. + +The last thing to be done in fitting out, and before quitting the +harbour, is to turn all hands over to their proper ship, and then to +scrape, and scrub, and wash the hulk as effectually as possible, +preparatory to her being inspected by the dockyard. This duty is too +frequently executed in a negligent manner; and really it is not much +to be wondered at, for the hulks are such abominable ugly-looking +monsters, that one can take no pride or pleasure in treating them with +common decency. The commanding-officer, therefore, should be +particularly cautious in seeing this operation effectually performed; +for, if he does not, he will be sure to be called upon next day to +send a party of hands, probably at a great inconvenience, to repeat +the process. + +There are, as will readily be conceived, a hundred minor points to be +thought of in the equipment of a ship, to which I have not adverted, +relating to the watching, stationing, and quartering of men and +officers; the berthing and arrangement of the people into messes; the +rules respecting their having leave to go on shore, and so on. It may +be well, however, to remind officers that they should never forget +that the mere appearance of their ship is a matter of considerable +consequence; and therefore, even in the very busiest times of the +outfit, the yards should be carefully squared every evening after the +work is over, all the ropes hauled taut, and the decks swept as soon +as the artificers leave off work. Not a single person beyond the +sentries should ever be allowed to go from the hulk to the ship, +except during working hours. This rule prevents any interference with +the tools or unfinished work of the dockyard men. In a word, the crew +should never be allowed to suppose that the discipline of forms and +appearances, so to call it, is relaxed, because the usual regularity +of working is in some degree interrupted. That a ship is essentially +in good order can at once be discovered by a professional eye, in the +midst of her most bustling occupations and at any stage of the outfit. + +Last of all the pilot comes on board; the sails are loosed and +hoisted; and the lashings being cast off from the hulk, the gay ship +sails joyously out of harbour, and takes up her anchorage at the +anchoring ground. The officers and crew set to work in getting things +into their places; and being all thoroughly tired of harbour, and +anxious to get to sea, a fresh feeling of zeal and activity pervades +the whole establishment. + +The powder is now got on board; the warrant-officers "indent" or sign +the proper acknowledgments for their stores at the dockyard; and the +purser, having completed the stock of provisions, closes his accounts +at the victualling-office. The captain's wife begins to pack up her +band-boxes in order to return home, while the Jews and bum-boat folks +are pushing all the interest they can scrape together to induce the +first lieutenant to give them the priority of entrance with their +goods and chattels on the approaching pay-day. The sailors' wives +about this period besiege the captain and his lady alternately, with +petitions to be allowed to go to sea in the ship; to all, or most of +which, a deaf ear must be turned. When all things are put to rights, +the port-admiral comes on board to muster and inspect the ship's +company, and to see how the different equipments have been attended +to. + +At length, just before sailing, pay-day comes, and with it many a +disgusting scene will ever be associated until the present system be +modified. The ship is surrounded by a fleet of boats filled with gangs +of queer-looking Jew-pedlars sitting in the midst of piles of +slop-clothing, gaudy handkerchiefs, tawdry trinkets, eggs and butter, +red herrings and cheeses, tin-pots, fruit, joints of meat, and bags of +potatoes, well concealed beneath which are bottles and bladders filled +with the most horribly adulterated spirituous liquors. As many of +these dealers as can be conveniently ranged on the quarter-deck and +gangways may be admitted, that the market may be as open and fair as +possible; but it is very indiscreet to allow any of them to go on the +main-deck. + +Right happy is that hour when the ship is fairly clear of all these +annoyances--sweethearts and wives inclusive--and when, with the water +filled up to the last gallon, the bread-room chock full, and as many +quarters of beef got on board as will keep fresh, the joyful sound of +"Up Anchor!" rings throughout the ship. The capstan is manned; the +messenger brought to; round fly the bars; and as the anchor spins +buoyantly up to the bows, the jib is hoisted, the topsails sheeted +home, and off she goes, merrily before the breeze! + +FINIS. + + + + +POETRY PUBLISHED BY +MESSRS. BELL AND DALDY, +186, FLEET STREET, LONDON. + +Legends and Lyrics, by Adelaide Anne +Procter, _6th Edition_. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. Antique +or best plain morocco, 10s. 6d. + +--SECOND SERIES. _2nd Edition_. +Fcap. 8vo. 5s.; morocco, 10s. 6d. + +Teuton. By C.J. Riethmueller. Crown 8vo. 7s. 6d. + +The Legend of the Golden Prayers, and other Poems. +By C.F. Alexander, Author of "Moral songs," &c. +Fcap. 8vo. 5s.; morocco, 10s. 6d. + +Verses for Holy Seasons. By the Same Author. +Edited by the Very Rev. W.F. Hook, D.D. _4th Edition_. +Fcap. 8vo. 3s. 6d.; morocco, 8s. 6d. + +Day and Night Songs and The Music Master, a +Love Poem. By William Allingham. With Nine Illustrations. +Fcap. 8vo. 6s. 6d. + +Wild Thyme. By E.H. Mitchell. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. + +Lyrics and Idylls. By Gerda Fay. Fcap. 8vo. 4s. + +Pansies. By Fanny Susan Wyvill. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. + +Io in Egypt, and other Poems. By R. Garnett. +Fcap. 8vo. 5s. + +Poems from the German. By Richard Garnett. +Fcap. 8vo. 3s. 6d. + +Poems. By Thomas Ashe. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. + +Dryope, and other Poems. By Thomas Ashe. +Fcap. 8vo. 6s. + +NIGHTINGALE VALLEY: a Collection +of the Choicest Lyrics and Short Poems in +the English Language. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. +Morocco, 10s. 6d. + +Ballads and Songs of Yorkshire. Edited by C.J.D. +Ingledew, M.A., Ph.D. 6s. + +Percy's Reliques of Early English Poetry. 3 vols. +small 8vo. 15s. Half-bound, 18s. Antique-calf, or +morocco, 1l. 11s. 6d. + +Ellis's Specimens of Early English Poetry. 3 vols. +small 8vo. 15s. Half-bound, 18s. Antique-calf, or +morocco, 1l. 11s. 6d. + +The Book of Ancient Ballad Poetry of Great Britain, +Historical, Traditional and Romantic; with Modern +Imitations, Translations, Notes, and Glossary, &c. Edited +by J.S. Moore. _New and Improved Edition_, 8vo. Half-bound, +14s. Antique morocco, 21s. + +Poets' Wit and Humour. Selected by W.H. Wills, +with 100 Illustrations by C. Bennett, and G.H. Thomas. +Crown 4to. Ornamental cloth, 1l. 1s.; antique morocco +elegant, 1l. 11s. 6d.; morocco, Hayday, 2l. 2s. + +Shakespeare's Tempest. With Illustrations by +Birket Foster, Gustave Dore, Frederick Skill, Alfred +Slader, and Gustave Janet. Crown 4to. Ornamental +cloth, 10s. 6d. Antique morocco elegant, 1l. 1s. + +David Mallet's Poems. With Notes and Illustrations +by F. Dinsdale, LL.D., F.S.A. _New Edition_. Post +8vo. 10s. 6d. + +The Defence of Guenevere, and other Poems. By +W. Morris. Fcap. 8vo. 5s. + +Passion Week. By the Editor of "Christmas +Tyde." With 16 Illustrations from Albert Durer. 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