Illi III

LIFE 0-N THE OCEAN;

TWENTY YEARS AT SEA:

THE PERSONAL ADVENTURES OF THE AUTHOR,

GEORGE LITTLE,
For many years Captain in the Merchant Service out of tlie Port qf
Baltimore, but now entirely blind.

FOURTEENTH EDITION.

Battle with tne Spanish Lugger, p. 84.

NEW YORK:
RICHARD MARSH,
138 WILLIAM-STREET, 1856.

Entered according to the Act of Crfhgress, m the yeai 1343
By George Little,
ib the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maryland.

JOHN J. REED,
"Btkbbotyper and Tbintb^,
16 Spruce Street, N.*¥.

PREFACE

The author of the following narrative has been in
duced to submit it to the public, at the instance and
solicitation of numerous friends, who, with a full knowl
edge of his past life, and of his present condition and
circumstances, have united in the opinion, that, what
ever of advantage or disadvantage might accrue to the
author, its publication would be of essential service in
removing many erroneous and unfavorable impressions
which prevail in relation to the character and, habits of
seamen. The author is a sailor, the prime of whose life has been
spent amid the 'strife of the elements, and not amid the
endearments of the domestic circle. His past associa
tions are of a character widely different from those
which distinguish the literary taste and refinements of
the fashionable saloons of the present day ; and when
he states that he is now, and has been for years past,
entirely blind — thus disabled from pursuing his profes
sion — that, in consequence of this affliction, and even
with the aid of an -amanuensis, many difficulties must
obviously have interposed in the prosecujtion and com
pletion of the manuscript, he appeals with confidence
to the discernment of the public, and feels assured that"
any faults in elegance of composition, or otherwise,
which his peculiar situation may have rendered un
avoidable, will be overlooked.
The "twenty years at sea," the narrative of which,
so" far as it is connected with his own life, he now lays
before the reader, will ever be a memorable epoch in
the world's history. Europe was subjected to successive

4 PREFACE. (
and continued revolutions. The nations of that con
tinent-were engaged in a deadly struggle for political
existence; and while the two rival powers, France and
England, were each putting fof th /its mightiest efforts
to secure the controlling influence, our own infant
republic^ acting under the wise policy originally sanc
tioned and pursued by Washington, was reaping a rich
and abundant harvest in supplying the necessities* of
the belligerents, — thus developing her boundless re
sources, addinglo her physical strength, and laying the
foundation of that naval prowess which shone so con
spicuously in her subsequent conflict with Great Britain.
In ma,ny of the exciting incidents growing out of
these events, the author was an actor ; and a participator,
too, in the exposures and sufferings which war inevitably
occasions. He, therefore, natters himself that the in
terest whjch may be awakened in the perusal of his
book, and .the full and correct view given of nautical
life, will more 'than overbalance whatever errors in
composition, he may have inadvertently committed.
The reader will perceive that, in the narrative itself,
as well as in the dialogues introduced, the author has
preserved -the maritime technicalities, and rough, mode
of expression, peculiar to sailors ; his chief object, in fact,
has been to exhibit a true picture of " life on the ocean,"
blending with it those wholesome moral and religious
truths, .which should be inculcated upon the minds of
seamen, That it may more forcibly serve as a mirror
for his brother tars, wherein they may view their defects
as well as their excellences ; that a fresh impulse may
be given to the efforts of the Christian community in
behalf of the spiritual wants of those who " go down to
the sea in ships ; "- and that it may prove a source of
recreation and (he humbly trusts) of instruction to all
who may honor "him by classing themselves among
his readers, is the sincere desire of the author.

CONTENTS

p»g».
Preface,  . 3
Explanation of sea phrases,  .9
CHAPTER 1.
Birth and parentage — Early desire for the life of a* sailor, . . 21
CHAPTER II.
¦ Going on board — Description of ship, and character .of tlie offi
cers — Observations upon the green hands — Getting under
way — First night at sea — Gale, &c  29
CHAPTER III.
Continuance of the gale — Superstition of sailors — Sunrise at
sea — Crossing the line, &c  37
CHAPTER . IV.
Moonrise at sea — Heavy ' squalls — Rounding Cape Hom —
Excursion in search of water, &c  , . . 44
CHAPTER .V.
Object of the voyage explained to the crew — Commencement of
traffic on the' coast of Chili — Bay of Coquimbo, &c. ... 54
CHAPTER VI.
Traffic on the coast continued — Treachery of the Spaniards —
Sail for the Gmllipagos Ia.ands — Description of them, . 65
2

6 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER Vll. '
Information of the capture of a Boston ship by a Spanish
cruiser — an attempted capture of our boats defeated — Port of
Isley — News of a Spanish cruiser — Description of a hurri
cane — Severe engagement,  76
CHAPTER VIII.
fciau tor Cocos Island - Conversation with Jack Sawyer — De
scription of Chatham island — Melancholy death and funeral of
one of the seamen,  87
CHAPTER IX.
Exciting chase and escape — Superstition of seamen — Fall of
the author from the^foretop, and loss of a man overboard — Sail
foi Shelvack's Island,  99
CHAPTER X.
Sail for the Gulf of California — Friendly reception and agree
able intercourse with the Spaniards at Guinias,  109
* CHAPTER XI.
Jack Sawyer's narrative commenced — Arrival at the Sandwich
Islands — Description of Owyhee, &c. ........ i23
CHAPTER XII.
Jack Sawyer resumes his narrative — Passage to Canton, . . 139
CHAPTER XIII.
Sail from Canton homeward bound — Passage through the
China Sea, &c  151
CHAPTER XIV.
English East India fleet — The chase — Jack Sawyer's narrative
resumed,  . . -. 157
CHAPTER XV.
Saturday night at sea — Conclusion of Jack Sawyer's narrative,
&c  .170
CHAPTER XVI.
Meeting with friends at home — Last interview with Jack
Sawyer — Sail in the ship Baltic for Rio Janeiro, .... 182

CONTENTS. 7
CHAPTER XVn.
-Unfortunate circumstances inducing a return to the United
States — Arrival — Warlike preparations — Prospects of re-
-maining on shore broken up — Entered on board a privateer —
Sailed on a cruise,  ]94
CHAPTER XVIII.
Boarding in the night — Capture — Taken prisoner by Can
nibals. — Horrible treatment — Release by ransom — Sail .for
Carthagena,  200
CHAPTER XIX.
Leave the privateer and sail for the United States — Enter on
board a letter of marque — Captured by the Erlglish — Recap
tured by the Paul Jones privateer — Enter as. prize-master —
Her officers and crew,  -  210
CHAPTER XX.
Capture of prizes — Chase — Termination of cruise, &c. . . . 221
CHAPTER XXI.
Removal to Dartmoor — Description of it — Plan to effect an
escape,  -  231
CHAPTER XXII.
Loss of prize money — Voyage to London — Narrow escape
from shipwreck, &c   245
CHAPTER XXIII.
Passage from London to Baltimore — Voyage to Oporto and
St Ubes — Disaster on Oporto bar, &c.  254
CHAPTER XXIV.
Return to the United States — Voyage to the West Indies —
Supernatural appearances on board, ... . . 2G3
CHAPTER XXV
Conclusion of the West India voyage — Sail for London,
Batavia, &c  273

8 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVI. '
Arrival at Batavia — Return voyage — Sickness of 3rew — Put
in at Cape of Good Hope — Profligacy of seamen on shore,
&c  - 282
CHAPTER XXVII. *
Marriage — Takes command of the ship William — Voyage to
Lisbon — Heavy gales, ..,....'..*  291
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Voyage to Batavia — Burial at sea. . . . ,  301
CHAPTER XXIX.
India voyage concluded — Voyage to New Orleans and Liver
pool — Conduct of Capt B., &c  313
CHAPTER XXX.
Voyage to tlie Pacific — Dangerous lee shore — And providential
escape, . .  '  323
CHAPTER XXXI.
Continuation of voyage — Arrival at Cailao — Visit to Lima,
&c. ...  •....,.... 331
CHAPTER XXXn. "
Religious impressions and happy results — Sail for- Havana
ar.d southern ports — Rencontre with pirates on board — Their
capture and delivery to the authorities of New Orleans, . . .342
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Piratical chase and narrow escape — Religious scene at sea, &c. 354
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Reflections on the character and condition of seamen, . . . 369
CHAPTER XXXV..
Suggestions in regard to the moral improvement of seamen, . .385
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Conclusion . . .  393

NAUTICAL VOCABULARY.

Abaci. — Situation of the sails when their surfaces aro forced aft by
the force of the wind.
'Abaft, or Aft. — The sternmost part of the ship.
Abaft the beam. — Denotes the relative situation of any object from the
ship which inclines towards the stepi.
Aboard. — The inside of the ship.
Aboard main-tack. — To haul the corner of the mainsail down to the
chest-tree.
About. — The situation of the ship when she is tacked, or changes her
course.
Adrift. — The state of a ship broken from her moorings, a driving
about without control.
Afore. — All that part of the ship which lies forward, near the stem.
ihead. — Any tiling that is situated on that part of the compass to
which a ship's stem is directed.
-A-hull. — The situation of a ship when all her sails are furled at sea.
A-lee. — The situation of the helm when put down to the lee side.
AM in the wind. — The state of a ship's sails when they are parallel to
the direction of the wind, so as to shiver.
Allha~ids, a-hoy. — A call by which all the ship's company, are sura-
nuned on deck.
'Aloft. — Up in- the tops, or on the masts or yards.
Alongshore. — A course parallel to the ship's side.
Amidships. — The middle of a ship either with regard to her length or
breadth.
A foul anchor. — When the cable hafc got about the fluke of the an
chor.
Anchor a-peak. — That is, directly under the hawse-hole of the ship.
Anchor cock-bill. — That is, hangs_jup and down the ship's side.
An end. — Mast up and down. •
Astern. — Any distance behind a ship, as opposed to her head. '
Athwart ships. — Reaching, or in a direction, across the ship,, from
one side to the other.
Avast. — A term used for Stop, or Stay.
Away. — Is a term used when the anchor is off the bottom, as, The
anchor is away.
Awning. — A shelter or screen of canvass, to keep off the heat of the
sun. 2*

10 NAUTICAL VOCABTJLAKY.
Back the anchor. — To carry out a small anchor ahead of the large
.one, in order to support it in bad ground.
Back the sails. — To arrange them in a situation which will occasion
. the ship to move astern.
Bare poles. — When a ship has no sail set, she is under bare poles.
Batting. — A thin piece of wood to prevent the rigging fronl cha
fing.
Bear a hand. — To make haste, or despatch.
Bearing. — Signifies the point of the compass where two or more
places, or ships, bear from each other.
Bear off. — To thrust or_keep from the ship's side.
Bear away. — To keep a ship off from the wind.
Beating to windward. — Is making progress against the wind by tack
ing alternately. «
Becalmed: — To be without wind.
Before the beam. — Any object from the ship, inclining towards the
stem, is said to be before the beam.
Belay. — To make fast any rope.
Bend. — To apply to or fasten, — that is, to fasten the sails to the yard.
Between decks. — Space contained between the two decks.
Bight of a rope. — Double part of a rope when it is folded.
Buged. — To break ; — the ship is bilged when her plank are broken.
Binnacle. — A kind of box to contain the compass.
Berth. — A place ; a ship's berth, a place where she is moored ; an
officer's berth, a place or station in the ship.
Bitls. — A large piece of timber to which the cable is fastened when
the ship is at an anchor.
Board. — To board a ship, in a hostile or friendly manner ; to make a
board, is when a ship is making a stretch on any tack upon a
wind.
Boatswain. — The officer who has charge of the cordage, rigging, an-
* chor, &c.
Both sheets oft. — The situation of a ship sailing right before the
wind.
Bowlines. — Lines made fast to the sides of the sails, to haul them
forward when upon a wind.
Bowse. — To pull upon any tackle or rope.
Bowsprit. — A large mast, or piece of timber, which stands out from
the bows of the ship.
Box-lumling. — A particular method of veering a ship, when the swell
of the sea renders tacking impracticable.
Braces. — The ropes by which the yards are turned about, to accom
modate the sails' to the wind. /
Breast-fast. — A rope employed to confine a ship to a wharf, &c.
To Broach-to. — To incline suddenly to windward of the ship's course,
so as to present her side to tlie wind, and endanger her over
setting.
Broadside. — A discharge of all Jie guns on one side of a ship, both
above and below.

NAUTICAL VOCABULARY. 11
By the toind. — The course of a 3hip as near as possible to tlie direc
tion or tne winu.
Buntlines. — Ropes fastened to tho foot-rope of squaresails, to draw
them up to tlie middle of the yards for furling.
Buoy. — A conical cask attached to tlie anchor, to show where it
lies.
Cap. — A strong, thick block of wood, having two large holes through
it, the one square, the other round, used to confine the two masta
together.
Cdpstin. — Is an instrument used where a great purchase is re
quired.
Careen. — • To incline a ship l-;w down on one side, to cleanse the
bottom.
Carry away. — To break a mast, yard, or rope.
Casl:n<r. — To incline the head of a ship" either to the right hand or
lelt , S
Cat-heads. — The timber on a ship's bows, with sheaves to hoist the
anchor from the surface of the water.
Cat the anchor. — Is to hook the cat-block to the ring of the anchor,
and haul- it up close to tlie cat-head.
Cal's-prtw. — A light air of wind seen" on the surface of the waiiw
during a calm.
Chains. — A place built out on the sides of a ship, by which the rig
ging has greater power to secure the masts.
Cheerily. — A phrase implying heartily, quickly, cheerfully.
Claw off. — -To turn to windward from a lee shore, to escape shijT-
wreck.
Clewlines. — Are ropes which come down from the yards to the lower
corners of the sails, and by which the ' corners or clews of tlie
sails are hauled up. ¦ s
Clew of the sails. — Lower corners of the squaresails, and aftermost
of the fore and aft siils.
Clew up. — To haul up the clews of a sail to its yard by means of the
clewlines, &c.
Clinched. — Made fast, as the cable is to the ring of the anchor.
Close-hauled. — That trim of the ship's sails when she endeavors to
make ay progress in the nearest direction possible towards that
point of the compass from which the. wind blows..
Coasting. — The act of making a progress along the sea-coast of any
country.
Coil. — To lay a rope or cable round in a ring, one trim over an
other.
Coming lo. — Denotes the approach of a ship's head to the direction
of the wind.
Course. — The point of the compass upon which the ship sails.
Coxswain. — The person who steers tlie boat
Crank ship. — That is, when she has not sufficient cargo or ballast to
render her capable of bearing sail.
Cun-a-ship. — Is to direct lie man at helm how to steer.

12 NAUTICAL VOCABULARY.
Cut and run. — To cut the cable, and make sail instantly, w' tliout wait
ing to weigh anchor.
Deaden a ship's way. — To impede her progress through the water.
Dead lights. — A kind of window-shutter for the windows m the stern
of a ship, used in bad weather only.
Dismasted. — The state of a ship that has lost her masts.
Dog-vane. — A small vane, made of feathers and corks, to show tlie
direction of the wind. -. .
Dog-watch.— The watches from four to six, and from six to eight, in
the evening.
Doubling. — The act of sailing round, or passing beyond, a cape or
point of land.
Dowse. — To lower suddenly, or slacken.
Down-haul. — The rope by which any sail is hauled down.
To Draw.  When a sail is inflated by the wind so as to advance the
vessel on her course.
Drift.  Is when a ship drives with her side to the wind and waves,
and is not governed by the power of the helm.
Dunnage. — A quantity of loose wood laid at the bottom of a ship, to
keep the goods from being damaged.
Dunnage. — -Is a word used by seamen instead .of clothing.
Earings. — Small ropes used to fasten the upper corners of sails to
the yards.
Ease. — To slacken gradually.
Edge-a-way. — To keep a ship off from the point of tlie compass
whence she had been steering..
End-on. — When a ship drives to a shore, rock, &c, without an appa '
rent possibility of preventing her.
Even keel. — When a ship is parallel with the horizon, a ship is said to
be upon an even keel.
Fairway. — The channel of a narrow bay, river, or haven, in which
ships usually advance in their passage up and down.
Fall aboard-of. — To strike, or encounter, another ship, w hen one or
both are in motion.
Falling off. — Denotes the motion of the ship's head from the direc
tion of the wind.
Fathom. ^- A measure of six feet
Fid. — A square bar of wood or iron, with shoulders at one end, to
, support die weight of the topmast, when adjusted to its place at
the head*of a lower mast
Fill-away. — To brace the sails so as to receive the wind in them, and
advance the ship in her course, after they have been either shiver
ing or braced aback.
Fishrlu>ok. — A large hook, by which the anchor is received, and
brought to the cat-head.
Flat-aft. — The situation of the sails when their surfaces are pressed
aft against the mast by the force of the wind.
Flaw. — A sudden breeze or gust of wind.
Flowing sheet. — Is when the sheets are slackened, after a ship haa

NAUTICAL VOCABULARY. 13
been sailing upon a wind, or what is usually termed a fair wind or
flowing sheet
Fore-reach. — To shoot ahead, or go past another vessel.
Forward. — Towards the fore part of a ship.
FouL — Is used in opposition both to clear and fair.
Founder. — To sink at sea by filling with water.
Free. — Pumping is said to free the ship when it discharges more wa
ter than leaks into her. s-
Freshen. — When a gale increases, it is said to freshen.
•Fresh way. — When a ship increases her velocity, she is said to get
fresh way.
Full. — To keep full, is the situation of the sails when they are kept
distended by the wind.
Furl. — To roll a sail close up to the yard or stay to which it belongs,
and to wind a cord round it, to keep it fast
Gain the wind. — To arrive to the windward of a ship when both are
sailing as near the wind as possible.
Gammon the-bowsprit. — Secure it by turns of a strong rope" passed
round it, and into the cutwater, to prevent it from having too
much motion.
Gangway. — That part of a ship's side, both within and without, by
which persons enter and depart
Gasket. — The rope which is passed round the sail, to bind it to the'
yard when it is furled.
Girt. — The ship is girt with her cables when she is too tightly
moored.
Goose-wings of a sail. — The clew or lower corners of a ship's main
sail or foresail, when the middle part is tied or furled up to the
yard.
Grappling iron. — A species of anchor with four or six flukes to it.
Grommet. — A rope twisted into a circular form, used for various pmv
poses.
Ground tadde. — Every thing attached to anchors and cables of a
ship.
Gunwale. — The upper edge of a ship's side.
Gun-room — A place appointed for the 'gunner and his stores.
Gibing.— The act of shifting any boom-sail from one side to the
other .
Halliards. — The ropes by which the sails are hoisted.
Handing. — The same as furling.
Hard-a-weather. — Put the tiller quite up to the windward.
To Haul the wind. — To direct the ship's course nearer to the point
from which the wind blows.
Hawseholes. — The holes in the bows of a ship, through which the
cables pass.
Hawser. — A small kind of cable.
Headfast. — A rope employed to coilfine the head of a ship to a wharf,
or to some other vessel.
Head sails. — All the sails which belong to the foremast and bow
sprit

14 NAUTICAL VOCABULARY.
Head-sea. — When the waves meet at the head of a ship in her
course, they are called a head-sea.
Heave of tlie sea. — Is the power that the swell of the sea has upon a
ship in driving her out of,' or faster on, her course.
Heel. — She heels to port, — that is, inclines, or lies dowr., on either
side.
Hold". — Is the space between the lower deck and the bottom of the
ship, where her caruo, &c, is stowed. i
Horse. — A rope reaching from the middle of a yard to its arms or ex
tremities, for tlie men to stand on when' they are loosing the '
sails.
Hull down. — Is when a ship is so far off that you can only see
her masts.
To Heave in slays. — To bring a ship's head to the wind, by a man
agement of the sails and rudder, in order to get on the other
tack.
Jeer-blocks. — The blocks through which the jeers are reeved.
Jeers. — The ropes by which the lower yards are suspended.
'Jib. — The foremast sail of a ship, set upon a boom which runs-out
upon the bowsprit
Jib-boom. — The spar that runs out upon the bowsprit.
Jurymast. — A temporary or occasional mast, erected in a ship in the
place of one which has been carried away by accident.
Kedge. — A small anchor with an iron stock.
Keel. — The principal piece of timber in a ship, which is usually first
laid on the b lucks in building.
Keel-haul. — To drag a person backwards and forwards under a ship's
keel, for certain offences.
Keckled. — Any part of a cable covered with old ropes, to prevent its
surface from rubbing against tho ship's bow or forefoot
To Keep the luff. — To continue close to the wind.
Keelson. — A piece of timber forming the interior of the keel, beinc
laid on the floor-timbers immediately over the keel, and serving
to unite the former to the latter.
Kentledge. — Pigs of iron for ballast, laid upon the floor, near the keel
son, fore and aft.
Knippers. — A large kind of plaited rope, which, being twisted around
the messenger and cable, in weighing, binds them together.
Kunatage. — A bright appearance in the horizon, under the sun or
moon, arising from the reflected light of these bodies from the
small rippling waves on the surface of the water.
Laden in bidk. — Freighted with a cargo not packed.
Land fall. — The first land discovered after a sea voyage.
Land-locked. — The situation of a ship surrounded with land, so as to
exclude tlie prospect of the sea, unless over some intervening
land. s
Launch ho ! — Signifies that the object is high enough, and must be
suddenly lowered..
Leading wind. — A fair wind for a ship's course.

NAUTICAL VOCABULARY. 15
Lee. —^ That part of the hemisphere to which the wind is directed, to
distinguish it from the other part, which is called to windward.
Lee-way. — The angle which the line of a ship's way makes with a
line in the direction of her keel.
Leeches. — The borders, or edges, of a sail.
To Lie to. — To retard a ship in her course, by arranging the sails in
such a manner as to counteract each other with nearly an equal
effort, so as to render her almost stationary.
Lifts. — The ropes which lead from the end of the yards to the heads
of their respective masts.
Log and log line. — By which the ship's path is measured, and her
rate of going ascertained.
Loom. — To appear larger than the real dimensions of an object.
Luff. — The order to the steersman to put tlie helm towards the lee^
side of the ship Jn order to sail nearer to the wind. -
Make a board. — Is to run a certain distance upon one tack, in beat
ing to windward.
Man the yards. — (s placing men on the yards, in the tops, on tlie
ladder, &c, to execute any necessary duty.
Mind the service. — Put on more service.
Messenger. — A small kind of cable, which being brought to the cap
stan, and the cable by which the ship rides made fast to it, it
purchases the anchor.
To Miss stays. — A ship is said to miss stays when her head will not
fly up in the direction of the wind, in order to get her on tie
other tack. -,
Mizzenmast. — The mast which stands abaft.
Moor. — To secure a ship with two anchors.
JVarrows. — A small passage between two lands.
Near ! or, JYo Near .' — An order to the steersman not to keep" the
ship so close to the wind.
Nippers. — A certain piece of cordage used to fasten the messenger
to the cable in heaving up the anchor.
Nothing off. — A term used by the man at the cun to the steersman,
directing him not to go from the wind.*
Off and o%. — When a ship is beating to windward, so that by one
board she approaches to the shore, and by the other stands out
to sea.
Offing. — To seaward from the land.
On, ike bow. — Before the beam, inclining toward the stem of the
ship.
Ore the quarter. — Abaft the beam, toward the stern of the ship.
Orlop. — The deck on wh ch the cables are stowed.
Overhaul. — To clear away and disentangle any rope ; also, to come
up with the chase. v
Out of trim. — The state of a ship when she is not properly balanced
for the purpose of navigation.
Parcel a rope. — Is to put a quantity of old -canvass upon it befora
the service is put on.

16 • NAUTICAL VOCABULARY.
i. •
parting — Being driven from the anchors by the bieariryj of the
cable. *
Pawl. — A short bar of wood or iron, fixed close to the capstan or
.windlass of a ship, to prevent those engines from rolling back, or
giving way,, when they are charged with any great effort
To Pay away. — To slacken a cable, or other rope, so as to let it run
out for some particular purpose.
Peak, to ride a slay-peak. — Is when a cable and fore-stay form a line.
Pennant. — A long, narrow flag, worn at the mast-head by ships of
the navy.
Pitching. — The movement of a ship by which she plunges her head
and after-part, alternately, into the hollow of the sea.
Point blank. — The direction of a gun when levelled horizontally.
Poop. — The highest and aftermost deck of a ship.
Pooping. — The shock of a high and heavy sea upon the stern or
quarter of a ship, when she scuds before the wind in a tempest
Port. — A name given, on some occasions, to the larboard side of tha
ship.
Ports. — The holes, in the ship's sides, from which the guns are fired
P^-ess of sail. — All the sail that a ship can set or carry.
Preventer. — : An additional rope employed ft support any other in fc
heavy strain.
Purchase. — Any sort of mechanical power employed in raising or
moving heavy bodies. , ,
Quarters. — The respective stations of the officers and people in tims
of action.
Quafter wind. '¦ — Is when the wind blows from that part of the hori
zon situated on the quarter of tlie ship.
Rake. — That is, to cannonade a ship at the head or stern^so that the
balls scpur the whole length of the decks.
Range of cable. — A sufficient length of cable drawn upon deck be
fore the anchor is cast loose.
Ratlines. — Small ropes, fastened from shroud to shroud, forming a
ladder to go aloft.
Ready about. — Implies that all the hands are to be attentive, and at
their stations for tacking.
Beef. — Part of a sail, from one row of eyelet-holes to another.
Reefing. — The operation of reducing a sail by taking in one or more
of the reefs. , /
Ribs of a ship. — A figurative expression for timbers.
Ride at anchor. — Is when a ship is held by her anchors, and is not
driven by wind or tide.
. Righting. — Restoring a ship to an upright position.
Right the helm. — Is.to bring it into midships, after it has been pttshed
either to starboard or larboard. ,
Rigging out a boom. -- The running out a pole at the end of a
yard, to extend the foot of a sail.
Road. — A place near the land where ships may anchor, but which is
not sheltered.

NAUTICAL VOCABULARY. 17
Rounding in. - - The pulling upon any rope which passes f Jrough one
or more blocks, in a direction nearly horizontal.
Rousing. — Pulling up a cable, or rope, without the assistance of
tackles.
Rudder. — The machine by which the (ihip-is steered.
Rowlock. — The notch in a boat's gunwale, in which the oars rest ir
rowing.
Run. — The after-part of a ship, where it gets extremely narrow, near
tlie stern post
Run out a warp. — To carry the end of a rope out from a ship in a
boat, and fasten it to some distant object, so that by it the ship
may be moved, by pulling on it.
Sailing trim. — Is expressed of a ship, when in the best state for
sailing.
Scud. — To go right before the wind.
Sea-boat. — A vessel that bears the sea firmly.
Sea-room. — A sufficient distance from the coast, or any dangerous
rocks, &c.
Set sail. — To unfurl and expand the sails to the wind.
Shape a course. — To direct or appoint the track of a ship, in order to
prosecute a voyage.
Sheer off. — That is, to remove to a greater distance.
Sheers. — Are spars iashed together, and raised up, for the purpose of
getting out or in a mast
Sheet home. — To haul the corners of the sail to the blocks on the
yard-arm by means of a rope.
Ship-shape. — In a seaman-like manner.. .
Shoot ahead. — To advance forward.
Shrouds. — Large ropes extending from the mast-heads to the right
and left sides of a ship, to support the masts and enable them to
carry sail.
Slip the cable. — That is, let it run quite out, when there is not time
to weigh the anchor.
Sound. — To try the depth of water.
Splice. — -To make two ends of rope fast together by"untwisting them,
and then entwining the strands of one piece with the strands of
the other.
Spray. — The sprinkling of a sea.
Spring a mast. — Is to crack a mast, yard, &c, by means of a heavy
strain. , '
Squall. — A sudden, violent blast of wind.
Square. — Is applied to yards that are very long, as taunt is to high
masts.
Square the yards. — To brace the yards so-that they may hang at right
angles with the hull.
Starboard. -^-The right-hand side of a ship when looking forward.
To Stay a ship. — To arrange the sails, and move the rudder, so as
to bring the ship's head in tlie direction of the wind, in order to
get her on the other tacu.
3

18 NAUTICAL VOCABULARY.
Steady. — The order to the helmsman to keep the ship in the direction
she is going at that instant
Stem. — A circular piece cf timber, into which the two sides of a ship
are united at the fore-end.
Stem the tide._ — Is sailing against the tide, so as to overcome its
power.
Slernmosl. — The farthest astern.
Sternway. — The motion by which a ship falls back with her stern
foremost
Stoppers. — A large kind of rope, to secure the cable abaft the bitts.
Slumded. — When applied to a vessel, means that she is run aground,
and is lost
Stream the buoy. — To throw the buoy into the water previous to cast
ing anchor.
Strike soundings. — To touch the ground in endeavoring to find the
depth of water in a harbor, r,r road..
Sweeping. — To drag the bight of a rope on the bottom, in order to
obtain an anchor or any thing that may be lost
Tafferel. — Tlie uppermost part of a ship's stern.
Tompion. — The bung, or piece of wobtl, by which the mouth of a
cannon is filled, to keep out wet
Taut. — Improperly, though very generally, used for tight
Tier. — A row of guns, or any thing else.
Tiller. — A large piece of wood, or beam, inserted into the head of a
rudder, and by means of which the rudder is moved.
Traverse. — To go backwards and forwards.
Trice, trice up. — To haul up and fasten.
Trip the anchor. — To loosen the anchor from the ground.
Trough of the sea. — The hollow between two waves.
Truck. — A round piece of wood put on the tops of flag-staffs.
Trysail. — A small sail used in blustering weather.
Cnbend. — To take the sails off from their yards, and stays.
Unbill. — To remove the cable from off the bitts.
Under way. — When a ship is sailing, she is said to be under way.
Unfurl. — To unloose.
Unrig. — To deprive a ship of her rigging.
Veer, or w*ear, tlie ship. — To change a ship's course from one tack to
the other.
Veer away. — To let a rope, or cable, run out.
Wake. — The path, or track, impressed on the water by the ship pass
ing through it. •
Wales. — Are strong timbers that go round a ship, a' little above her
water-line.
Waist — That part of a ship contained between the quarter deck and
forecastle.
Water-line. — The line made by the water's edge when a ship has her
full proporflon of stores, &c, on board.
Water-borne. — The state of a ship when there is hardly sufficient
depth of water to float her off from the ground.

NAUTICAL VOCABULARY.. 19
<
Water-logged. — The state of a ship when heavy and inactive on the
sea, from the great quantity of water leaked into her.
Water-tight. — The state of a ship when not leaky.
Weather. — To weather any thing.- is to get to windward of it
Weather-beaten. — Shattered by a storm.
Wind a ship. — To change her position, bringing her head where her
stern was.
Wind's eye. — The point from which the wind.blows.
To work, a ship. — To direct the movements of a ship by adapting
the sails, and managing the rudder, according to the couMe she
has to make.
To work to windward. — To make a progress against the direction
of the wind. ',
Woold. — To bind round with ropes.
Yards. — The spars upon which the sails are spread.
Yawing. — The motion of a ship when she deyiatea from her course
to right or left.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

CHAPTER I. *
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE  EARLY DESIRE FOR THE LIFE OF A
SAILOR.
I was born in Roxbury, in the state of Massachusetts,
September 13th, A. D. 1791. v My father being attached
to the navy of the United States, and necessarily absent
from home during much. of his time, induced my pa
rents to relinquish the cares of housekeeping ; ani my
mother preferring to reside with a brother who lived
on the confines of Canada, it was concluded to place
an elder sister and myself with a maternal uncle in
Roxbury, for the purpose of receiving an education at
the schools in that place, which were then in the highest
repute. This family was a'ttached to the Presbyterian
congregation in that town ; and, accordingly, a strict
observance of the Sabbath, as well as a systematic read
ing of the' Scriptures, was early enjoined upon us.
They adhered blamelessly to all the outward forms
of that church, and the most perfect regularity was
•observed, not only with every thing connected with
their religious worship, but also in the management
of their household affairs. No perceptible difference
3*

22 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
was observed in' their treatment toward us and their
owu children. Habits of industry were inculcated upon
all, and the precept, " Be independent of all," was often
repeated, and became so thoroughly ingrafted, as to be a
kind of fixed principle in after life. At the age of nine
years, I was placed at the Roxbury Grammar School to
receive an English education ; an institution, as before
stated, considered to be at that period among the" best in
the state.. Here I made considerable progress in. the ele
mentary branches, ana! can even now distinctly recollect
the ambitious aspirations which actuated me, and' -by
which I was incited to diligence in the acquisition of
knowledge. This disposition was, however, in a great
degree / induced by the wholesome advice received
from my relations, and by the custom of devoting a
portion of time every day to manual labor, which was
greatly beneficial, not only in establishing habits of
industry, but also in laying the foundation of a firm and
vigorous constitution. Two years had now elapsed,
and -I had rapidly progressed in my studies, when my
mind first became agitated with reflections on my future
course in life, and schemes of worldly prosperity and
distinction suggested themselves to my imagination.
Often, when my father visited me on his return from
sea, would he "portray in glowing colors the scenes
he had witnessed in foreign lands, and then recite the
wonders of a seafaring life; but when he perceived that
enthusiasm awakened which such descriptions are so
well calculated to excite in a youthful bosom, with
parental tact, and with a master-hand, he would throw
a sombre aspect over the whole picture, and, to smother
every predilection which I might have entertained 'for
such a calling, would then recount the perils and
privations of an ocean life. But his efforts were fruit
less ; my partiality for the sea "grew with my growth,
and strengihened with my strength.*' My young im
agination was often wound up to the highest pitch of
excitement at the idea of exploring the t.-ackless ocean ;
and to me the prospect of treading the quarter deck, as

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 23
the ruling spirit of some stately craft, seemed the very
acme of all earthly felicity and ambition. The oppor
tunities which I enjoyed of boarding vessels, and con
versing with seamen, whom I regarded as the finest
fellows in the world, by no means tended to abate my
euthusiasm ; notwithstanding every species of dissuasion
was resorted to, in consequence of the repugnance of
my father to the encouragement and gratification of my
wishes. And here I cannot forbear relating a circum
stance which, in a great measure, settled the determi
nation I had formed of a sea life as a vocation.
There was living at this time in the family, in the
capacity of gardener, a superannuated sailor, a distant
relative of my uncle ; and it was to me a source of the
highest gratification, to sit, in the evenings, beside this
old man, and hear him relate, with that quaintness of
narration peculiar to his profession, the wonderful stories
of his voyages, his adventures in foreign lands, and the
many thrilling incidents which abound in the jovial life
of a sailor. After adroitly contrasting this continued"
novelty, and these varied scenes., with the dull monot
ony of a life spent on shore, in any occupation, he
, would conclude with an ejaculation which operated
as a death-blow to all the dissuasive arguments urged
by my relatives. " O, if I had twenty sons," said he,
"I would make them all seamen." Perhaps there is no
condition in life in which' old age so strongly exerts the
influence it so deservedly possesses, as that of an in
dividual whose fortunes have been- cast amid the perils
and privations of a " life on the ocean Avave ; " and
when we find it aided by that garrulity which so often
accompanies gray hairs in this profession, we are not to
marvel that the exercise of its powers on a youthful
imagination should more than suffice to, awaken its
highest enthusiasm.
The stories of this old man were my constant com
panions by day, and the unchanging subjects of my
nightly dreams. Often a single night would witness
the magical performance of an ordinary twelvemonth's

24 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
*
voyage. Cloud-capt mountains, stately spires, and gor
geous palaces, would now bound the prospect before me ;
now I would find myself wandering in the midst of
some great metropolis, lost in admiration at the greater
than Oriental splendor around me ; and again, by that
mysterious influence which all have ifelt, and none can
unravel, I would be angrily tossed in the midst of an
awful hurricane upon the heaving bosom of the deep ;
thus experiencing, in the short space of a few uncon
scious moments, the delightful emotions arising from
the most exquisite enjoyment, to be followed by that
intense and overpowering agony with which we con
template some dreadful and impending calamity. Time
glided on ; my inclination in favor of the sea was un
changed ; and, despite the opposition of my father and
uncle, my determination had become unalterably fixed
to abide its toils and dangers.
The fourth year of my schooling had expired, .and as
I was considered competent to act as a clerk, I was
placed in the store of a merchant at K>  , a relative
of the. family, and with whom my uncle was upon terms
of the closest intimacy. This was to me a source of
keen disappointment ; I saw at once that all the fairy
schemes which had so long dazzled and delighted
me, and excited such brilliant hopes of future success,
were utterly frustrated ; and it was only by the earnest
persuasion and efforts of my friends, that I at length
became partially reconciled. 'Accordingly, a day was
fixed for my departure, previously to which,, I re
ceived much admouitory counsel from my good old
relative. Time, with its ever-withering influences, has '
I not erased from my memory the solemnity of his manner,.
when, the day before my. departure, he drew me aside,
and said, " George, you are now about to enter upon
the world, and will soon be far beyond the control and
friendly advice of those who love you. You will be
thrown upon your own resources, and'it wil'l depend
much upon yourself -what your future condition in life
may be ; " and then, with great earnestness, he continued,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 25
" first read your Bible, and be obedient to. its precepts and
commandments ; it will teach you your duty towards
God, your fellow-men, and yourself; be honest and in
dustrious, respect the rights of others, study the interests
of your employer, and endeavor to become a thorough
master of your business." During this recital, I saw the
big tear stealing down the furrowed cheek of the old
man, whilst I myself wept immoderately, and promised
implicit obedience to his injunctions*
The hour for my departure at length arrived, and the
family having been assembled to exchange with me the
last adieu, the sound of "God bless you ! " rung in my
ears, and we drove rapidly* away from the old family
mansion. In two days we completed our journey, and
arrived at K  , New Hampshire. This town is situa
ted thirty leagues north-eastof Boston, about twelve miles
from the Connecticut River, and nearly the same distance
from the famous Bellows Falls. It was a place of con
siderable importance, numbering about two thousand in
habitants at that period, and the borough town of the
county, through which lay the direct route to the sea
board from the upper part of the state, as well as from
Vermoat.. Here I was kindly received by the family
of Mr. D., and immediately entered upon the duties
of my new station, as clerk of a country store. My
attention now became so much engrossed with the
business of store-keeping, that my strong propensity for
the sea in a measure wore off; nevertheless, six months
had not elapsed — such was the monotony of country
life, and such, especially, the dull uniformity of country-
store-keeping — ere I grew exceedingly weary, and again.
longed for the noise and bustle of the seaport. My old
nautical propensities were re-awakened ; I again yearned
for the opportunities I formerly enjoyed, of visiting the
shipping, and mingling in the varied amusements of a
commercial city ; and, at length, became s6 negligent in
the performance of my duties as to incur the strong dis
pleasure of Mr. D., by whom, I. feel it but justice to say,
that every indulgence was granted me, and nothing xeft

26 LIFE ON THE JOCEAN.'
undone, on the part either of his family or himself, to
render my situation agreeable. I at length plainly
acknowledged to him that my present occupation was
not at all congenial to my feelings, arid requested him to
write to my relatives in Roxbury, that a situation might
be procured for me in Boston. This was accordingly
done ; my request was complied with by my uncle; and
although I felt regret at leaving the hospitable roof and
amiable family of Mr. D., yet my contemplated residence
in Boston afforded, me great delight, and it was with
more of rejoicing .than otherwise that I bade a final
adieu to the pleasant town of K  -.
I had been fourteen months absent from my uncle's
mansion, when I again entered it with a feeling of fore
boding that my reception would not be so cordial as it
was wont to be. The result proved that my apprehen
sions were not groundless. It so happened that my
uncle was the first person I me,t, who, in rather a oaustic
m .nner, said, "George, you have-not done well; you"
have left a good business and a kind master ; and I am
Very fearful, although I have procured you a good situa
tion in Boston, that your strong inclination for a sea
faring life will lead you to th» commission of another
act similar to this." I promised him that 'I would en
deavor to subdue my inclinations in that respect, and
without delay entered upon my duties as a clerk in the
counting-house of Messrs. B. & J. W., importing mer
chants. Here, certainly, a desirable opportunity was
presented of advancing my fortunes ; and, had I re
mained contented to complete my term of service with
these gentlemen, I should, in all probability, at this
time, in common with my fellow-clerks, be engaged in
mercantile pursuits. Time glided on ; my career was
smooth and promising, and, according to the assurances
I had given my uncle, I endeavored, by sedulous at
tention, to fix my mind to the business in which I was
engaged, although possessing no very strong relish for
the incessant drudgery of an imder-clerk. About this
time, however, a circumstance .occurred which again

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 27
unsettled my mind, uprooted, the stern resolves I had
formed, and completely changed tlie whole current of
my fortunes.
The ship Dromo, Capt. W., was fitting out for an ex
pedition lo the Pacific Ocean, and eighty men were
required as her complement^ thirty of whom were to be
green hands. Several young men with whom I was
acquainted had engaged to embark in it, and every per
suasion was used to induce me to accompany them.
But little" entreaty was necessary to gain my consent
to this measure, and a pretext was soon formed to jus
tify me in leaving the employment of the Messrs. W.
The object was speedily accomplished. Although this
step met the decided disapproval of my relations, no ob
stacle now prevented me from reducing to practice my
long-cherished and ardent desire for the sea; and ac
cordingly, I visited the ship with two young friends
who had already engaged in the expedition, and was
introduced to Capt. W., to whom I immediately made
known my wishes. With great kindness of manner,
he inquired who my friends were, and whether I
had taken this step with their approbation. I frankly
apprized him of my former situation, and the strong pro
pensity I had indulged in. " Young man," he replied,
" you have chosen a life full of toil" and hazard, and as
this voyage will perhaps be one of great peril, it woul£
be well for you to reflect maturely upon the measure yoh.
are about to adopt ; consult your friends, andaf you art
still determined to go to sea, come on board to-morrow,
and I will give you an answer." This advice was im
plicitly followed ; I conferred with my friends upon the
subject ; and as they deemed it .no longer advisable tc
thwart me in my inclination. I repaired the next day' on
board the ship, stated to Capt. W. that 1 had complied
with his suggestion, and that the result was a settled
determination to go with him. He immediately con
sented to give me a berth, and I signed the ship's articles,
November 20th, 1807. The voyage, as specified in the
articles, was to the North-West Coast of America, from

28 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. c
thence to China, arid back to the United States. But
rumor, with great plausibility, represented the design
of the expedition was to force a trade, in the Spanish
ports of the western continent, then declared illegal
except for Spanish vessels; which was rather confirmed
from the fact, of the ship mounting' twenty-six. guns,
with a complement of one hundred men. As the vessel
was expected to sail in about fifteen days, the first officer,
Mr. L., eyeing me askant, remarked, "My lad, you had
better go on shore and exchange your long togs for a
sailor's rig, and come on board, that you may get used to
the ship before she goes to sea."
I was now satisfied. The brilliant hopes upon which
my imagination had so long feasted seemed at last
to be attained. A career of dazzling adventure was
before me. It was one of my own choice and seeking,
despite the anxious entreaties and untiring efforts of my
friends to change it ; and whether these sanguine expec
tations have been fulfilled, in tte twenty long years
of toil and suffering through which I have struggled, I
will leave the reader, in the seque , to judge.

29

CHAPTER II.
GOING ON BOARD  DESCRIPTION OF SHIP AND CHARACTER OF
THE «|FFICERS  OBSERVATIONS UPON GREEN HANDS  GET
TING UNDER WEIGH  FIRST NIGHT AT SEA  GALE, &C
The day appointed for sailing was the 5th of Pecem-
" ber. In the mean time, I provided myself with a sea-
chest, well stored with clothing, small stores, a quadrant,
books, &c, together with a small adventure. Whilst
getting our chests on board, we were saluted with
•the following harangue from the second officer, Mr. C. :
"What ! transmogrified, eh ! " for we had doffed our long
-clothes, and were rigged in complete sailor suits ; " you
are a couple of tight little chaps, with pretty smooth faces
for old Neptune's scraper," — and, casting a significant
glance at our chests, he said, " You have two very pretty
coffins there ; well, we shall know where to come for
plank, if our bulwarks are' stove in off ICape Horn ; but
bear-a-hand, and get your dunnage stowed away, for if
the owner should pass this way, he'll make you pay
freight on your band^boxes." Thus saying, he turjied
upon his heel and left us, while we quickly stowed
away our chests in the forecastle, and selected our
berths. As we were in the act of going on shore, we
were again accosted by Mr. C. " What, young lads," said
he, " off again ? Hark-ye ! this ship hauls in the stream
to-morrow, and mind, all hands are to be on board when
she is ready to go ; if you are among the missing at that
time, you will be very apt to have your memories
freshened during the cruise." The tone and manner
of the latter part of tips address made a very sensible
impression on my mind, and as we determined to profit
by this friendly hint, we took especial care to be on
board early the next day.
4

30 life on the ocean. r
About three o'clock in the afternoon, the greater part
of the crew being on board, preparations were made to
haul into the stream. Various orders were given in quick
succession, but as one half of them were to me unintel
ligible, it was a source of consolation to know that there
were many on board in a similar predicament. The
boats were now ordered to go ahead with the tow-line,
the fasts were cast off, a range of cable was overhauled,
and the anchor got off the bows, ready to be let go.
These last two items of duty are always performed when
a ship is about to come to an anchor. Twenty or thirty ^
fathoms of the cable, according to .the depth of water,
are generally hauled- upon deck, and the parts over
hauled round the ' -windlass, so that there may be no
impediment when the anchor is let go ; and when the
anchor is clear of -the bows, it is suspended by a single roper
so that, when the ship gets to her anchorage, and the
order is given to '• let go," all may be clear, and the ship
brought to in her proper berth. It being quite calm, we
were quickly towed from the wharf to the anchorage ;
and it was a little curious to witness the pride and
anxiety of the officers to make the ship look well. This
was done by hswUng every rope taught, and squaring
the yards with the lifts and braces, at the command
of the second officer, who went in a boat some distance
around the ship. It may here be remarked, that a good
seaman takes just as much pride in the appearance of
. his vessel as a lady does in that of her drawing-room-;
and no surer indication of an officer's nautical skill is
wanting, to the practis i eye of a sailor, than the
appearance of his ship while lying at anchor in port.
After every thing was put in " ship-shape "¦ order, as a
sailor would say, the anchor watches were set with four
men in each, to be relieved every two hours. It is not
usual, however, in merchant Vessels, to have more, than
two men in an anchor watch ; but as we had a large crew,
the number was increased. The watches were so regu
lated as to have two able seamen and two green hands
in each. By this time the crew were all on boarcl, with

life on the oceajs. 31
Jhe exception, of the captain and surgeon, and as the
ship was to go to sea the next day, we expected them
off at daylight. Eight bells were now struck, and the
first anchor watch, being called, took their stations two
aft and two forward. Being one of this number, I
heard the order, given by the pilot to the watch, to let
him know if any change of wind or weather took place
during the night, and especially to call him at 4 o'clock.
Very soon a profound silence reigned throughout the
ship, and I was left to my own reflections. The bustle
of the day had prevented me from noting the change of
life that I had voluntarily chosen ; and now that all was
hushed into repose, the contrast brought to mind, I found
that I was about to leave friends, and all the social com
forts of home, to mix with a society of men, who, as I had
heard, were of the_very worst habits and character, and
confine myself to the narrow limits of a ship's deck for
months. And then, again, the equivocal humor of the
second officer came forcibly to my recollection, which
gave me reason to believe that I should not pass a very
pleasant time with him during this cruise. But it was
now too late to think"of retreating from my position ;. and
besides, pride and ambition came to jny aid, and I re^
solved to do the best I could, and follow out the bent of
my inclination. The night was calm throughout ; and,
with the exception of my wateh on deck, I slept soundly
until roused by the shrill whistle and hoarse cry of the
boatswain, "All hands a-hoy ! " when we were soon on
deck. > But as it was entirely calm, and the captain and
surgeon were not yet on board, of course we did not get
under way. The usual routine of work then com
menced, — such as rigging the head-pump, washing down
the .decks and sides of tho ship, swabbing, &e. This
latter was a duty wholly consigned to the green hands,
and consequently I had my share of it. To make this
evolution intelligible to my readers, I may state, that it is
the same operation that a woman performs after she has
scrubbed the floor, wiping it dry with a cloth ; ther only
point of difference is, that it is done on board of a ship

32 life on the ocean.
with a bundle of rope-yarns tied snugly ^together, with
a piece of rope in the end for a handle.
The weather still remaining calm, the ship's company
- were employed in the necessary work of a ship previously
to her going to sea, such as getting studding-sail-booms
on the yards, reeving the geer, and seizing on the
chafing mats, &c. &c. About mid-day, the captain and
surgeon came on board ; and it may not be amiss, in this
place, to make the reader acquainted with the ship and
her cre\y.
The ship, then, was about six hundred tons' burden,
completely fitted out for a long voyage ; one hundred
and eight souls composed her crew, eighteen of whom
were officers'; sixty able seamen, and thirty green hands ;
mounting twenty-six guns, nine and twelve pounds'
calibre. Capt. W. was about fifty years of age, stout
and robust, moral in his deportment, with great urbanity
and mildness-of manners, and of high repute in his -pro
fession. Indeed, he appeared to be more like the father
of a family, on board of his ship, than one who has the
right to exercise supreme command. During the whole
voyage he- -was in all respects a cool and intrepid com-
rmander, as wett as an honorable and feeling man.
The chief officer, Mr. L  , was a man of some inte'lli-x
gence, master of his profession, but very passionate and
vindictive : he would make every man toe the mark, as
the sailors used to say : he acted rather as a sailing-
master, and great confidence was reposed in him by the
carjtainT The second officer, Mr. O, of whom I have
had occasion to speak, was, as we might say of a dia
mond, a salt of the first water. He was of low stature,
thick, and strongly built, had a face which looked as if
it had been pelted by many a storm, with a strong, mus
cular arm, and a fist which might strike a blow equal to:-
that of a sledge-hammer ; he was about forty-five >years
of age, with a constitution that had not yielded to the
hardships of a sailor's life, and, as the sailors used to say,
he was as good. a seaman as ever too'.c marlinspike in
hand. . The third officer, Mr. K., about twenty-six years

life on the ocean. 33
of age, had served a regular apprenticeship to (.he sea,
and was an active seaman, rather intelligent, bui exceed
ingly jealous of his authority, and used it on every occa
sion ; although he was obsequious, to the last degree, to
his superior officers. Such, then, were the officers under
whom I was destined to serve for three long years.
The first day wore away without any material change
in the weather ; consequently we had to lie still : aftei
supper all hands crowded below into the two forecas
tles, separated only by a partition-grating, having but one
entrance to both apartments from the deck. And now
1 had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with some
of the peculiar habits of seamen ; for, while some were
singing songs, others were " spinning long yarns," as
they called them : there were others sitting round a
bottle of rum, drinking healths to sweethearts and
wives ; while in one corner might be seen a group of
men, listening with profound attention to the super
stitious tales of an old salt. "Jack," said a sailor to one
of the men who sat near me, who, as I afterwards
learned, was an old man-of-war's-man, " what are .we
going to do with all them shooting-irons, on the North-
West Coast ? " Hark-ye, Bill," said Jack ; " you are a
soft tommy ; do you think them copper-colored gentle
men are going to wear them silk stockings, and all that
fine -rigging-, we hoisted in the other day ? No, no," said
he, rolling his. quid over to the other side, and looking
very knowingly at Bill, " I will bet you a week's grog,
that all them fine things are for the ladies of the Spanish
Don, yonder, and them there shooting-irons are just to
beat off the Spanish - cruisers." Just then eight bells
were struck, anchor-watch called, and the safne orders
were given as on the previous night ; and presently' I
heard a strange exclamation from the boatswain .of
" Dowse the glim there below," which .is the technical
expression for putting out the light. We were roused
at daylight next morning by tl e same shrill whistle,
and the cry of, "All hands, up anchor, a-hoy ! " The wind
had sprung up lightly from the northward, and. we
A*

34 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
commenced the work of getting under way ; not, as is
usual in merchant vessels, by heaving the alienor up
with the windlass, but by the capstan. This is per
formed by the use of a rope, which is called a messenger,
one -end of which, the standing part, is made fast to
a ring:bolt, or some other secure place ; the other end
being rove through a block which is made fast to the
cable, and then taken to the capstan, and in this way
the anchor is hove up more expeditiously. The sails
were now loosed and quickly set, the yards braced so
as to cant the ship to port; and we' were soon under
way, with top-gallantsails set, standing down Boston
Bay, and bidding adieu to my native land. I* sighed
and turned away, and at the same moment heard the
pilot call out to loose the royals. On board of merchant
vessels, loosing and furling the light sails is the duty of
the boys ; so I sprung into the mizzen rigging, and got
on the royal yard, loosed the sail, which was quickly
•set ; this was my first feat of seamanship, and I felt no
little pride after it was accomplished.
The wind continuing light, we set studding-sails
alow and aloft ; but as we approached Nantasket Roads,
the wind hauled round to the eastward, and we came
to an anchor at 3 P. M.,, and took this opportunity to
house the guns, which hieans running them in board,
and placing' them fore and aft, and securing them, as
well as the long-boat, spars, &c. &c. At 6 P. M. all
hands were summoned aft, the watches were chosen,
and the men stationed. On board of a ship,* fhe crew is
equally divided into two watches, which, by way of
distinction, are called the starboard and larboard watches ;
each watch serving four hours, excepting from 4 to 8
P. M. : this is divided into two watches, called by sailors
the dog watch. The starboard watch fell to my lot, and
nere I was again with my old friend, the second officer,
Mr. C. After this was finished, the captain addressed
the crew as follows: "Now, my men, wc are under way
for along, and perhaps a perilous voyage, and I expect
every m'an on board -will obey tlie discipline of this

LIFE ON THE CCEAN. 35
ship, by conducting himself with proper respect toward
the officers, and do his duty." Then, addressing himself
particularly to the old sailors, he said, " I cannot allow
you to take advantage, or impose upon the boys ; for they
have come on board this ship without any pretensions to
seamanship, and are as green as you were before them."
And turning to the lads, he said, " Be obedient, endeav
or to become good seamen, and if there are any who
desire to learn navigation, the gentlemen aft will instruct
you, and you have permission to come aft in your watch
below, whenever the weather will permit ; " and raising.
his voice, he said, " You are to have watch and watch,
and it will be your own fault if that regulation is altered
during the voyage."
December 7, 1 807. — Early the next morning the wind"
hauled to the west-north-west, and we got under way,
made sail, and stretched out to sea. The wind being
moderate and the sea smooth, we made but slow
progress. At meridian, Cape Cod lighthouse bore
south by east, distant 15 miles. At 4 P. M. the land
disappeared, having sunk in the distance. The»ship
having as yet but little motion, I felt nothing of the so-
much-dreaded sea-sickness ; but at 6 o'clock the wind
freshened and obliged us to take in our light sails, and
presently the sea rose, and the increased motion of the
ship put to flight all my hopes of escaping the usual lot
of a green hand ; for I now began to feel an unusual
disturbance about the region of the stomach.
At 8 P. M. the wind had increased to a moderate gale,
which caused us to take in the- top-gallantsails, and
double-reef the topsails. As before stated, I was chosen
in the starboard watch with the second officer, Mr. C. ;
and as it was our first watch on deck,, viz., from 8
o'clock to midnight, I of course "was among the num
ber. Not feeling very pleasantly, I was scarcely able
to keep my feet, from the violent motion of the ship.
An order at this" time was given to brace the yards:
hurrying aft, I had reached as far as the companion,
whens with a -sudden roll of the ship, I lost my equilib-

36 LIFE ON THE OCEAN
rium, the concussion of the fall making me discharge the
whole contents of my stomach on the weather side of'
the quarter deck. This was a mortal offence, especially
as sailors are not allowed to go to the weather side of
the quarter deck at sea. "Hallo," cried Mr. C; " lost your
sea-legs, hey ? recollect, sir, there is nothing hove on the
weather side but hot water and ashes ; away forward,
and get a swab." This being done in a bungling way,
he tpok hold of me by the arm, not in a very pleasant'
' mood, and led me to the main rigging, and, placing the
.end of the reef-tack in my hand, a two and a half inch
rope, said, " There, sir^ if you don't know the names of all
these ropes by the time the watch is up, I will g*ive you
the end of this on your back." If "his former harangue,
when I was getting my chest on board, made a sensible
impression, -this last threat made, a much deeper one, for
I not only knew the names of the ropes Jby the time
specified, but the sickness left me in about an hour, and
after that time I was never troubled. with it again.

37

CHAPTER III.
CONTINUANCE OF THE GALE  SUPERSTITION OF SAU. .'-KS - — SCN
RISE AT SEA  CROSSING THE LINE, &.C.
At midnight the larboard or chief -mate's watch was
called, and the starboard watch ordered below. The wind
continued to increase until it hlew a strong gale, which
obliged us to close-reef the topsails, the ship bounding
furiously through the water ; the sea, dashing against the
bows, made a noise like a roaring cataract ; so that, what
with the sickness of the green hands, the oaths and im
precations of the sailors, and the noise caused by the
breaking of the water forward, together with the offen
sive smell of the bilge-water, arid the confined air of a
ship's forecastle, sleep entirely forsook me during the
whole four hours, and it was a great relief when I heard
the boatswain's mate call the starboard watch. I soon
made my appearance on deck, and the scene which
presented itself to "my view was frightful, and yet
awfully grand. The ship was flow scudding before" the
wind, with close-reefed fore and main-topsails, ancf
reefed foresail, in the Gulf Stream, at the rate of eleven
miles per hour ; and the waves, to my highly-wrought
imagination, were running morntains high.
I shall hot soon forget- my ieelings when the officer
of the deck ordered the royal yards to be sent down. It ¦
was with some difficulty I reached the after part of the
ship, and attempted to get in the mizzen riggmg ; but the ,
officer, seeing my awkwardness, and fearing lest I should
tumble overboard, ordered me down. The. yards were
quickly sent down, and every thing made snug, and the
usual work of the morning, such as washing decks,
trimming sails &c. Derformed. It may not. be amiss to

«*8 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
state, in this place, that this ship differed from the gen
erality of merchant vessels : on account of her armament
and large crew, the men were all regularly stationed as
<on board of a man-of-war. There were the after-guard,
waisters, forecastle-men, and lop-men ; and never, unless
on some very extraordinary 'Occasion, were alU hands
called. This is not the case with merchantmen in
general ; for, on every occasion to reef, or take in sail, or
any other extra duty, all the ship's company must be
at work; arid I have known, on board of some ships,
all hands to be called half a dozen times in a watch.
Seven bells were now struck, the larboard watch was
called," and the boatswain_piped to breakfast. This was
not a very comfortable meal, for I had not fairly got my
sea-legs on, and did not care to risk my head in going
to the caboose, to get my tin pot of coffee.
At 8 A.,M. the sea became more regular ; consequently
"the ship- had less motion: the watch below turned in,
while the larboard watch performed the duties of the
ship. December 9. — The wind had now become more mod
erate ; but as we were in the southern edge of the Gulf
Stream, there was yet a heavy cross sea. Innumerable
porpoises were scampering away towards the north-east,
like a herd of deer with a pack of hounds on their trail ;
and I heard. some of the men say, that we should be sure
to have a blow from that quarter ; for sailors have a sign
in every thing, and no people in the world are more su-
perstitiously inclined. I once heard an old seaman say
- that he belonged to a ship in which, during the previous
voyage, a map had been murdered ; and he roundly af-
-firmed that he saw the, ghost of that man, in the shape
of-a rat, come out of the forecastle, and go up the main
stay into the*top ; and this was done, he said, every night
at 12 o'clock precisely, and although the crew supposed
they had killed it several times, yet the rat continued to
go up the mani-stay during the whole voyage. The
north-east blow, however, as predicted by the course
of the porpoises, did not come, for the wind continued to

LIFE ON 'I HE OCEAN. 39
blow from west-north-west until the 14th. The weather
now became surpassingly fine ; royal yards were sent
aloft, and all the canvass spread on the ship-.' By this
time I had become used to the motion of the ship, and,
as sailors say, " had my sea-legs on ; " and as I had pretty
well lined my ribs with salt beef, biscuits, and coffee, I
not only became stronger, but in much better spirits, and
felt determined to acquire a knowledge of seamanship as
speedily as possible. 1 therefore felt a degree of pride
when I could get aloft first, to loose or furl the light sails.
The second officer, I suppose, having observed this, got
me. promoted from the after-guard to the mizzen-top.
Nothing material transpired to interrupt the monotony
of a sea life until the 17th, when I heard a cry from
the main-topgallant yard of " Sail ho ! " This was a
source of excitement to all hands, but of great delight
to me, who had not as yet seen any other vessel in
the wide ocean but our own. We descried her from the
deck, standing across our larboard" quarter, to the west
ward, at too great a distance to speak.
December 18. — The wind hauled to the south-west,
with warm, pleasant weather. Every one belonging to
the watch on deck being variously employed, I could not
help but remark how much I had been deceived, for I
supposed that there would be no work on board of a ship,
after leaving port, until her arrival at the place" of desti
nation ; and consequently, I thought sailors must have a
fine time, with nothing to do but eat, drink, sleep, and
look out. The very reverse, however, is the fact ; for, dur
ing the three years' cruise, I never knew, except in bad
weathej, any man belonging to the watch on deck to
spend an idle moment ; and it may well be said that a
sailor's work, like a woman's, is never done ; and oh
long voyages particularly, when the crew have watch
and watch, it seems to be necessary that they should be
employed at work in their watch on deck, in order that
their heahn may be preserved.
December 21. — Nothing material occurred these last
fhree days. This morning was my watch on deck, and

40 LIFE* ON THE OCEAN.
the weather being perfectly clear, with a smooth seafg
had a delightful opportunity of beholding the sun rise
at sea. This was a sight I had long coveted, because I
had heard much about it ; and although it has been said
that the scene wants the accompanying beauties of the
landscape, singing of birds, &c, yet, to my mind, to
behold the sun rising from beneath a well-defined
horizon, in majestic splendor, when there is not a cloud
to be seen in the blue arched canopy of the heavens,
while the eye ranges over the interminable waste of
waters, not only surpasses in beauty the rising of the
sun on shore, but it also inspires the beholder with a
feeling of the most profound awe and reverence in the
contemplation of that Almighty Being who has made
and upholds all things-by the word of his power.
December 23. -r^The ship having now run far enough
to the eastward to make the north-east trade winds fair
for crossing the equinoctial line, we were in (a proper
position so that, when we took the south-east trade winds,
we might be far enough to the eastward to weather away
Cape St. Roque, and have plenty ,of sea room. Our
position then was" 30° north latitude and 38° west longi
tude, when we bore away to the southward, and in two
days, that is, on the 25th, we took the north-east trade
winds in latitude 26° 40' N. The weather had now
Decome steady, and the wind uniform ; many of the
young men oa board wrote up their journals from the
ship's log-book, and were taught navigation, as well as
the use of the quadrant, by the first officer, Mr. L.
It would have been a curious spectacle for any lands-
• man, as it was to me, to have seen the various employ
ments which were now in operation. Oa. one side of the •
deck, the carpenter and his mates were building a boat •
on the other, the boatswain and his crew were laying up
.rope ; on the leeward side of the quarter deck, the sail-
maker and his gang were repairing and making light
sails ; while the remaining part of the watch were knot
ting yarns, onaking" sinnet, wads, wad-bags, &c. Our
ship by this time lxad become completely disciplined

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 41
the crew were divided- in to messes of six each, one of
whom regularly drew every day the rations of provisions
and water for the mess ; it being the duty of the officer
of the watch to attend to the serving out of the provis
ions and water every morning, at which tirrie a large
cask, which was called a scuttle-butt, secured on deck,
was filled up.
Having now become somewhat acquainted with the
details of a ship, as well as the duty of the officers, it
may be proper to remark here that the captain, in whom
is vested supreme command and great power, stands no
watch ; he navigates the ship, and dispenses orders to
the first officer, which are executed accordingly. He
seldom gives an order to a sailor, and on board of this
ship, the captain scarcely ever tacked the ship. This,
however, is- not the case with vessels of less burden
and a smal^r crew ; for it sometimes happens that the,
captain has to stand his watch, and carry on the details
of the ship. The duty of the first officer is to write the
log-book, in which all the transactions and occurrences
of the voyage are noted ; he takes account of the cargo,
and. is accountable for boss, bad stowage, &c? The
second officer keeps the captain's watch ; stows the cargo,
in foreign ports ; and has under his charge, when there .
is no boatswain, the spare rigging, blocks, marlmspikes,
marling, ..spun-yarn, &c.
The third officer, on board of our ship, during a part
of our voyage at least, was a kind of midshipmari.
Being in the first officer's watch, -he generally passed
the word, overlooked- the men while at work, hove
the log,'&c. The log and line is that by which the
ship's run is calculated, and was hove on board of our
ship every hour, and marked on the slate, which is writ
ten off by the chief mate on the log-book each day at
meridian, when the weather permits.
We continued our run to the southward with a fine
north-east trade wind, until the 30th, when I had an
opportunity of seeing the officers take a lunar observa
tion, to determine the longitude', which was 31° west.
5

42 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
This part of navigation I had a strong desire to learn,
and determined to make myself a lunarian ere the voy
age should close.
As we were now approaching the equinoctial line,
being in -12° north latitude, the wind became lighter,
and I heard a faint'buzzing among the old salts about
the visit of old Neptmie to his children, which I then
believed was no farce, until ocular demonstration con
vinced me otherwise, as will hereafter be shown.
January 3. — The wind now had become very light
and variablev-and the weather squally. As we expect
ed to have much rain, preparations were made to fill
up our water-casks ; and in this we were not disappoint
ed,' for on the morning of the 5th January, when in lati
tude 3° north, it commenced to rain at 8 o'clock, and
did not cease, only at short intervals, the- whole day,
. during which time we caught 2000 gallons of water.
After this, the wind, on the 6th, sprung up moderately
from south-south-east, when we braced up our yards on
the larboard tack ; and as we expected to cross the line the
next night, preparations were being made for the recep
tion of old Neptune — such as dressing two of the.
oldest sailors to personate him and his wife; throwing,
over a tar barrel on fire ; and hailing the sea-god from
on board. m
All this buffoonery was performed after darJc, and so
managed as to be kept a secret from the green hands.
And here I must not omit stating, that this foolery
was sanctioned by the captain and officers, very much
to their mortification afterwards, as the'scene of confu-
sion which ensued had like to have closed "with a
mutiny. On the next morning, the 8th, the play began ;
the green hands were confined in the forecastle, one at a
time being sent up blindfolded, who was then received
by his majesty of the sea, and the operation of shaving
commenced. The lather consisted cf slush mixed with the dirty
water of the -grindstone tub; the razor was a piece of
old iron hoop : the face being well besmeared' with this

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 43
[a her, the work of shaving commenced, during which
his majesty puts some interrogatories, such as, " Do you
intend to become a member of my family, and a faithful
subject of my realm?" &c. When the mouth is opened
to give the answer, it is crammed full of odoriferous lath
er. This done, he is Avell scraped with the hoop, and
ducked with salt water, and then let off to enjoy the re
mainder of the farce. I recollect, when they were about
to cram the delicious lather into my mouth, I struck the
man who held it, and in the bustle the bandage fell
from my eyes, and I discovered the whole trick. A scene
of confusion here took place ; the green hands all sided
together, and determined not to submit to the operation,
and the old sailors attempting to force us to yield, a riot
took place, which was not, without much difficulty,
quelled by the officers. Order being at length restored,
and the crew having returned to their duty, all was
soon forgotten. This day at meridian we were in
20' south of the line, having crossed it in 29° west
longitude, making the passage in twenty-eight days
from Boston. „ "

44

3HAPTER IV.
MOON-RISE AT SEA  HEAVY SQUALLS  ROUN JING CAPE HORN
 EXCURSION IN SEARCH OF WATER, &-C. &C
January 10. — Saw this morning greaf numbers of
bonita and albacora round the ship, — not unwelcome
visitors, as many of the former, and some of the latter,
were taken, which gave all hands a fresh mess, always a
great luxury to the salted stomach of a sailor, who is
sometimes fifty or sixty days with salt beef one day and
salt pork the next. In this ship, however, there was ah
exception, flour being served out to each mess every
Sabbath day to make pudding, or, as sailors call it, " duff.'*
The trade wind being fixed at south-east, and the
' weather surpassingly fine, this favorable opportunity
was taken for getting the small arms, such as musketry,
pistols, &c, in complete order, and in making cartridges ;
and as the boatswain had completed making a great
r quantity of ratling stuff, a boarding-netting was made
" -out of the same, to go all the way round the ship. This
netting was ten feet in height, from the upper part of
the bulwarks, and triced up to stanchions fitted for that
purpose. Now, every aspirant had a fine opportunity
f»r improvement, as the officers were never backward
in communicating a knowledge of seamanship and navi
gation ; of which many of the young men took advan
tage. On one occasion, when, I was inMhe steerage,
copying from the log-book into my journal a' day's run,
the second officer, Mr. C, being present, to instruct, said
to me, " Young man, I favored you while crossing the
Gulf Stream, in that bit of a blow, for I was fearful that
your body would get the better of your flippers, and

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 45
you might tumble overboard. Since that time, the
weather has been such, that a dozen old women might
have worked the ship ; and after we cross these lati
tudes, and reach Cape Horn, we shall have work
enough, and every man on board must do his duty.
Now you have got your sea-tacks aboard, and your
jacket well lined, I hope you have a good conscience ;
for now-a-days most of the young chaps that go to sea
are sent off by their friends, or run away from their
masters, because they are so worthless and dissipated
that nothing can be done with them on shore. These
fellows never-make sailors, for they are not fit for the
land or sea, and are just such as give sailors a bad name.
I hope you will not flinch from your duty, for some
times there are fearful mishaps off that stormy cape. I
once," continued he, "was before the mast in a brig,
bound round the cape, when we were struck with one
of those south-west hail squalls, while close reefing the
main-topsail, when both topmasts went close by the
cap, and three out of the six that were oh the yard
were thrown overboard, and went to Davy Jones's locker.
They were my messmates, and never flinched in their
duty." I discovered, by the tone of his voice, that, as
we sometimes say,. his heart was in his mouth, and if
he had continued the recital, his eye-pumps would have
given way. It may be proper to observe here, that,
although Mr. C. laid aside the distinction of the officer
on these occasions when below, yet he never deviated
from the strict discipline of the ship when on deck, for
on those occasions I knew him only as Mr. O, second
officer. January 15. — I had often heard the seamen on board
speak of the uninterrupted course of the wind in these
trades, and of the unifprm good weather. I was now
convinced, for during the last seven days the wind had
not varied half a point, and the weather was uniformly
good. On the night of the 16th, having the middle
watch, while sitting ri the mizzen-top — for the topmen
were always in the tops, in good weather, during their
5*

46 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
watch — musing on the fond recollections of home, and
the associations connected with it, I was roused frorri
this reverie, to behold the moon rising with solemn
grandeur in a cloudless sky. Nothing could be more
impressive ; for now a profound silence'reigned through
out the ship, and nought was to be seen save this pale
queen of night, ascending to j>erform her rounds, (with
here and there a brilliant gem, that decked the azure
vault,) and the wide-spread ocean, which seemed almost*
boundless as infinity, and the bark, now floating o'er
the blue wave. All this brought forcibly to my recol
lection the reflections of David, as portrayed in the
inimitable psalm : " When I consider thy heav%ns, the
work of thy fingers, the moon and stars which thou hast
ordained," &c. Although surrounded^ by a numerous
crew, I could not help feeling that my situation was
lonely; yet the wholesome admonition of my good old
uncle constantly reiterated in my ears., especially that
part which admonished me to excel in my profession.
• January 19. — When in the parallel of Cape Frio, I
again heard the welcome sound of, "Sail ho!" which
proved to be a ship steering to the westward, as we
supposed bound to Rio de Janeiro. The wind con
tinued, steady at south-east, and the weather being fine,
we took this opportunity of getting our large guns below.
Nothing material occurred until the 26th, when we
passed the latitude of' Rio de la Plata, and did not,
according to our expectation, experience any of those
severe blows,. called by the Spaniards Pomperqs, so
usual at- this place. The winds now became variable,
and the weather squally, until we reached the parallel
of 40° south. On the morning of the 6th February,
the wind being light at south-east," saw heavy, dense, v
black clouds in the southwestern quarter, driving furi
ously, to the north-east. - All the light sails were imme
diately furled, the topsails close reefed, courses hauled
up and furled, and the yards braced so as to 'take the
wind on the starboard tack. For a few minutes there
was an entire calm ; suddenly the ship was struck

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 4?
•
with a most tren*endous squall of rain, hail, and wind ;
such was its violence, that the ship lay with her gun
wale in the water. I had now an opportunity of seeing'
the undaunted coolness and seamanship of Captain W.,
as well as the importance of a well-disciplined crew.
The, captain assumed entire command, which was
executed with great promptness by the officers and
crew : the mizzen-topsaii was rurled, and the lee-main-
topsail-braces were slackened, to shiver the sail ; the
helm was put to starboard, and the ship wore off before
the wind, and, like an impatient courser which had
been checked, she bounded furiously over the waves at
the rate of twelve miles per hour. The violence of the
squall lasted but one hour, when it settled into a hard
gale, and as the ship was running directly out of her
course, preparations were now made to bring her up by
the wind, and lie to. The fore-topsail was furled ; and
the ship having no other sail set but the close-reefed
main-topsail, and fore-topmast -staysail, the main-yard
was now braced up, the helm was put to leeward, 'and
the ship came up to the wind. This being the first gale
that we had experienced, I was a little surprised to find
how perfectly safe the ship appeared to ride on the sea,
and although it blew, as the sailors said, a very severe
gale, yet it could scarcely be realized when we were
below. The gale lasted about twelve< hours, and the
wind then hauled round to the south-east, and all sail
being made, we stood on our course without much in
terruption. February 17. — Sent down royal-yards, masts, and
rigging, and got in the flying-jib-boom to "prepare for
bad weather off the Cape. The wind now hauled to
the southward with strong breeze's, so that it obliged us
to take the' larboard tack, and stand to the westward,.
and on the morning of the 18th, at 10 A. M., "Land ho"! "
was soundei from the mast-head, stretching as far as
the eye could reach to the south-west. This proved to
be the cheerless coast of Terra del Fuego ; and was the •
first land we had seen since our departure from Nantas-
ket Roads. Our latitude now. was 54° 30' south ;

48 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
longitude, 64° 30' west ; having made- the passage in
seventy days.
The wind now hauled to the south-west, and in
creased to a gale, with violent hail squalls ; and at 5
P. M. saw Staten Land bearing south-west, and at 6 we
wore ship to the south-east. The frequency of these
terrible hail squalls brought to my recollection the con
versation with Mr. C. ; and as I had often been advised,
by the sailors, to give the owners one hand and use-
the other for myself, I found their caution to be abso
lutely necessary, especially in these severe squalls ; for
on that night all my strength was put to the test, while
endeavoring, with some 30 or 40 men, to furl the main
sail, which could not be accomplished in less than an
hour, such was the violence of the wind ; the rain and
hail pouring upon us in torrents, so ; that I became
entirely benumbed, and had to, lash myself with the
earring to the yard-arm, to prevent falling overboard,
having almost lost the use of my hands.
In this blow the fore-topsail blew out of the bolt-ropes,.
and several other sails were split to pieces. We had
now got our head fairly up to the curved land off Cape
Horn ; and although I had heard much about the bad
weather, yet every account failed, in its description, to
the reality which we now experienced. For several
days neither sun, moon, nor stars, were seen, and the ship
constantly under close-reefed fore and main-topsails, and
reefed fbresail, with a tremendous heavy sea running.
We continued endeavoring to get to the westward,
but made very little progress. On the 25th, observed in
latitude 57° 30' south, and not having had an opportunity
to take a lunar observation, the longitude, by computation,
from our last departure from Staten Land, was 70° 30'
west.* This, however, could not be relied upon, because
there is Constantly a strong easterly current, and in
stances have not been wanting where ships have judged-.
themselves to the westward of the Cape, and have actu
ally borne away to the northward, when at the same
time .they were to the eastward, and the first land that
they saw was about the Rio de La Plata.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 49
February 26. — The wind moderated end hauled to
south-south-west; and as we could make a good westerly
course, a heavy press, of canvass was now made upon
the ship, against a heavy head sea. Indeed, in these lati
tudes, the sea is very seldom smooth, because the cessa
tion of gales is of so short a period that the swell has
not time to subside.'
Af 6 P. M., the wind hauled again to the west-south
west, with severe hail squalls, which obliged us, at mid
night, to furl the fore and mizzen-topsails.
On the morning'of the^57th the wind increased to a
violent gale, which caused us, for the first time, to furl
the main-topsail, and lie to under the storm-staysail.
The violence of the gale, and the consequent heavy sea,
not only made it difficult for us to get about the deck,
but also prevented the cooks from boiling any meat or
coffee, — the loss of which, especially the coffee, was a
great privation.
At 9 P. M., the gale broke, and at midnight we set
close-reefed topsails. On the morning of the 28th the
wind lulled away to a moderate breeze, and the sea be
came smoother ; this day, saw a number of birds, among
which were albatrosses ; and we succeeded in taking
one, with a hook and line, which measured twelve leet
two inches, from tip to tip of the wings. The albatross-
is the largest bird in this region, except the condor. I
saw one of the latter, which measured fourteen feet across
the wings. We also caught, this day, with a small IijOk
and line, a number of cape pigeons, which, after skin
ning and parboiling, made us an excellent sea pie ; pota
toes, vinegar, and molasses, were now served out to the
crew, as preventives to the scurvy, some symptoms of
which had appeared. From these acceptable dain-
tfes, we made what the sailors call " lobscouse," con
sisting of salt beef, with potatoes cut up, with broken
biscuit, and some fat, mixed together with fresh water,
and boiled — and this is a rare mess to a- seaman, on a
long voyage. The wind continued light, until 4 P. M.,
when we saw a very black appearance on the water ,^o

50 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
the eastward, and supposed it to be the reflection from
the clouds.; but, with the aid of "the soy-glass, it was soon
discovered to, be. wind, driving furiously from the east
ward. All hands were now in motion ; we lowered away
the yards, and clewed up the sails ; the hands sprung
aloft, and furled all but the fore-topsail, which was dose-
reefed ; the ship- was now put before the wind, amid the
roaring of the elements ; preventer-lashings were, put on,
to secure every thing about deck, and preventer-braces,
on the fore and fore-topsail yards.
Night came on, and the scene was terrific ; what
with the howling of the wind, the hoarse bellowing of
the thunder, the vivid' lightning, and the tremendous
heavy, rolling sea, which broke in on either beam ; her
stern now lifted by the sea, and her head plunging in
to the vortex below ; the stately ship, nearly 600 tons'
hurden, looked comparatively like a nutshell on the
waves. It was a, fearful night, and made the stoutest hearts
on board quail. At midnight, the violence of the sea
stove in our stern boat, which was immediately cut
away from the gripes, and we also lost both swinging
booms. During the whole night, the ship was driven
with maddening impetuosity, by the violence of the
gale, twelve miles per hour. Towards daylight, March
1st, the gate became steady, and more moderate ; and
the ship was kept away a little to the northward. At
meridian, we observed in latitude 56° 58' south, and no
land being in sight, of course we were to the westward
of the westernmost land of the Cape.
Having now fairly doubled Cape Horn, I considered
myself to be a piece of a sailor, as I had endeavored to
improve every opportunity to become acquainted with
the duties of a seaman, and in this I was greatly assisted
by Mr. C, who, as I thought, appeared to take great
pleasure in getting me forward.
March 2. — The wind became steady, and hau'.ed to
the southward, with strong breezes, and clear ; aud as
we lessened our latitude, the weather became propor
tionably good.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 51
March 7. — During the last five days, we had uniform
strong breezes, and nothing occurred to interrupt the
usual routine of duty, and sameness, of a sea life. Ob
served this day at meridian in 39° 30' S., and the sun and
moon being in distance, a lunar observation was taken,
and the longitude deduced therefrom was 78° 20' W.
March 8. — Sent up royal-yards, masts, &c. ; got out
flying-jib-boom ; and by this time, the carpenters had re
paired the bulwarks, made swinging booms, and other
necessary repairs.
March 9. — Weather being exceedingly fine, and the
sea smooth, we improved the opportunity to hoist up
our large guns, and mounted them on their carriages.
In doing this, a very serious accident happened to the
carpenter, which nearly cost him his life. He unfortu
nately got between the combings of the hatch, and a
nine pouuder swinging in the tackle abreast of him, when
the man who attended the guy let it slip, and the' gun
swung, with the motion of the ship, against his breast.
He was taken up for dead ; but through the indefati
gable exertions of the surgeon, he was soon brought
to exhibit signs of life, but did not perform any duty flor
four, months, and was not the same man again during
the voyage. The guns, with all their paraphernalia, being
secured, and the wind being now moderate, all sail was
set, under the expectation of making the island of Masa-
fuero the next day.
March 10. — At 10 A. M.J land was descried from the,
mast-head, bearing north-north-west, 15 leagues distant ;
the ship was heading exactly for the land ; it proved to be,
as was expected, the island of Masafuero, situated in 33°
45' S. latitude, and 80° 38' W. longitude, having made
the passage in ninety-two days from Naritasket Roads.
The island of Masafuero is small, being about six miles
in length, and four and a half in breadth. On approach
ing this island, it every where appears to the eye of the
beholder a mass of high, shelving rocks, without verdure
or sh'rub, which we, in truth, found .to be the case after
landing ; and it is therefore incapable of affording suste-

52 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
nance, especially on the south side, for we examined it
thoroughly. We stood boldly into the south side, until within a mile
and a half of the island, it being the intention of Captain
W. to send the boats on shore to get water, if they could '
land. Acqordingly; two boats were manned and de
spatched, myself being one of the number ; each man .ta
king his hook and line, to fish. In approaching the beach,
we found it impossible to land, the surf being^so great,
the whole shore being lined with rocks. In this, we
were much disappointed; the chagrin, however, did not
last long,' for, to our great joy, when we commenced
fishing, we caught them in such numbers that, in
two hours, we loaded both boats with the finest fish 1
ever ate. This proved to be a great treat to the officers
and crew, and amply compensated us for our disappoint
ment in not being able to effect a landing. This night,
lay off and on, 'keeping the island full in view, with
the expectation that we might be able to land in the
morning. At daylight, on the 11th, sent away the same two boats
with the fishing-gear, some muskets, and ammunition.
The wind being lighter than on the preceding day, and
the surf not so high, it was therefore agreed that one
boat should endeavor to land, while the other was to
remain off, to fish. Accordingly, the boat to which
I belonged proceeded ; and with great difficulty, and at
the hazard of our lives, we succeeded in gaining the
beach. After securing the boat, we took our muskets,
and went in search of water, the prospect of success
being very unpromising, for every where the land pre
sented an exceedingly barren appearance, without shrub
bery or vegetation, consisting principally of high, shelving
rocks, and now and then might be seen some prickly
.pear bushes, as a kind of relief to this rugged scene.
After the most diligent search, our efforts proved fruit
less, and no water was to be found in any quarter.
About a mile and a half from where we landed, near to a
sand-beach,' there was a small piece of ground, which

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 53
appeared to have been cultivated, as we supposed, by
men who had been left on the island to catch seal,
which had formerly been taken here in great numbers.
There were also the remains of what probably had been
a hut in which they lived." Here, again, we renewed
our search, supposing that, as this location had been
chosen, fresh water could not be far off; but in this we
were disappointed. The day now being far spent, the
third officer, who commanded the boat, thought it best
to give over the search, and get on board as fast as we
.could* We proceeded, therefore, with all possible de
spatch, and in passing a narrow defile of rocks, started a
herd of goats, which, being exceedingly frightened, ran
up an acclivity of rocks, that seemed nearly perpendicular,
with as much apparent ease as if they had been on level
ground. Our surprise was so great at seeing them, that
we had scarcely presence of mind to fire ; and when we'
did, it was so much at random, that we killed but two.
We reached our boat at about 4 o'clock, and, with some
difficulty, the surf being high, joined our companions.
During our absence on shore, the jolly-boat was sent
for eggs, which were found, in so great abundance on
a small island detached from the main island, that the
boat was soon loaded, and towed off to the ship with
them. The birds here were so numerous and so tame,
that we found great difficulty in driving them away.
We killed and took a great many. Some were nearly
similar to the wild duck, but the most delicious were
the young boobies, which, previously to thqir going to
sea, ate quite as great a delicacy as the canvass-back-
duck. And now, having fish, fowls, and eggs, in great
abundance, we fared sumptuously. All hope's of getting
water being now at an end, it was determined to leave
the island, and to proceed to the coast of Chili. Accord
ingly, the boats were hoisted in, sail was made, and we
steered away to the westward.
6

54

CHAPTER V.
OBJECT OF THE VOYAGE EXPLAINED TO THE CKET  COM
MENCEMENT OF TRAFFIC ON THE COAST OF CHILI  BAY OF
COQUIMBO, &C &C. 1
March 12. — This day we had fine, pleasant weather, %
and the ship was hauled up so as t6 make the land near
Conception Bay. At meridian, all hands were called
aft, and addressed by Captain W.
" My men," said he, " no doubt some of you have
perceived Our destination before this time ; I will now
- explain to you the nature of our voyage. We are about
to run on to the coast of Chili, and from thence down
the coast to California. Our business is a forced trade,
and we shall be likely to meet with opposition,, and fall
in with Spanish cruisers. It is not my intention to run
the ship into any fortified port, or to eiigage> any vessel
of gfeater force than ourselves" ; there will he, however,
some risk, as there always is in a contraband trade, and
I have taken this opportunity to let you know, that, if
the ship is taken by the Spaniards, we shall not only be
made prisoners, but shall also be confined in tlie mines.
I expect, therefore, every man will do his duty, and never
strike the American flag. And as we shall necessarily
have much work to do with our boats, to transport goods
on shore, the greatest .precaution will be 'necessary, so "
that you may not be entrapped by the Spaniards. I
have no fears as to the final --result of this voyage, for
we have a ship that is quite able to take any thing ul
these seas that wears the Spanish flag, except it may be
a frigate." At the conclusion of this address the men gave three
cheers ; for all hands had the greatest respect for, and
the strongest confidence in, Captain W.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 55
Crews were chosen for the boats, the boarding-netting
was stretched round the ship, and stoppered, and every
preparation made with the armament to be ready in case
of an- attack.
March 13. — The wind continued at south-east, with
fine, clear weather. This day the men were stationed
at the guns in three divisions, after which we were em
ployed in exercising them, as well as in going through
the manoeuvre of repelling boarders.
March 14. — -At meridian, the cry of " Land ho ! " was
heard from the mast-head. Our latitude being 36° 43',
it proved to be the coast between Conception and Tal-
cahuaua. We stood boldly in, our object being, if pos
sible, to ascertain whether any Spanish cruisers were
lying in either of those ports. This, however, could not
be effected before night, for, as we approached the land,
the wind became light, and consequently we had not
sufficient daylight to make our observations. At 8 P. M.,
took in all the light sails, single-reefed the topsails, hauled
up the courses, and lay off and on during the night.
' March 15. — At daylight, stood in, and saw Concep
tion Bay, bearing west-south-west, and ran close in to
the southernmost point, and saw a few scattered huts.
Two boats were manned and armed, with an officer in
each, to reconnoitre, and to land, for the purpose of giv
ing information to those on shore that the vessel in the
offing had every description of merchandise suitable
for the Spanish market.
The boats effected a landing, yand ascertained that
there were no Spanish men-of-war in either port,' and
that the coast and country were entirely destitute of
goods. They also sounded, and discovered good an
chorage-ground under the southern point, secure from
all but the northerly winds. This information caused
much satisfaction to all on board, because there now-
appeared a prospect of commencing business. The day
being far spent when the boats returned, we stood off
and on, as on 'the preceding night,; at the same time
getting our cables and anchors in readiness to let go

56 LIFE OX THE OCEAN.
March 16. — This morning, ran in,and, at 10 o'clock,
came to, Vith the small* bower, in fourteen fathom
water, abreast of the southern point of Conception Bay.
The land on this coast is ext sedingly barren, although
in the interior it is fertile, vegetation abundant,, and the
grape is cultivated ; there being some extensive vine
yards, from which wine is made in large quantities, and
sent to every part of the coast of Chili.
While here, we had abundant reason-to speak well of
the grape, "both as to its delicacy and richness, for great
quantities were brought to us from time to time.
At 11 A. M.,sent our boats on shore, as on the pre
ceding day; they returned about 1 P. M., bringing two
swarthy-looking Spaniards; very meanly clad.
Our steward, being a Spaniard, acted as interpreter,
through whom it was ascertained that, notwithstand
ing the appearance of these men, they were, neverthe^-
less, rich, and wished to purchase goods to the amount
of $20,000, if they could be safely landed. They also
stated we had chosen a bad place to anchor, because
the ship would be seen from the city of Conception.
It was then determined to get .under way at dark,
and stand off and on, so as to keep out of sight. In
the mean time, these Spaniards we're to purchase the
goods, and we were to land them under cover of the
night. This arrangement being made, the boats were
despatched with'the Spaniards to 'bring off their specie.
At 5 P.M., they returned, bringing the money with them,
and, according to previous arrangement, we got under
way, stood off and en, and, at about midnight, they'fin-
ished their purchases, to the amount of near $20,000,
which were packed, stowed in the boats, and sent on
shore'. They were landed without accident or interrup
tion, the boats returned, and all on board wereswell
satisfied with the commencement of our trade.
March 24. — During the preceding days, nothing ma
terial occurred, except that we were constantly look
ing out for landing-places and settlements on the coast,.
between Talcahuana and Conception. We found it

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 57
almost impossible to get on shore with our boats, as the
coast between the two latter places lies entirely open to.
the Pacific Ocean,, and consequently there is at,all times
a very heavy surf running. We, however, effected a '
landing about 20 miles south of Talcahuana, but' not
without great hazard of our lives, and succeeded in the
sale of about f 6000 worth of goods. -
March 27. — Having now ascertained that nothing
more could be done on this part of the coast, it was
determined to go farther to the leeward, especially as we
were fearful that the Spanish cruisers might get infor
mation, if we remained any great length of time at one
point. Although Valparaiso was the next port to lee
ward, yet, it being strongly fortified, and at this season
of the year a rendezvous for men-of-war^ we neither
touched at nor passed near to it.
March 30. — During 'the last three days, jwe stood off,
and were employed in exercising our guns, fitting pre
venter-slings to our lower yards, and altering the paint- ,
work outside, in order to deceive those Spaniards whc
might have seen the ship to windward.
March 31. — Stood in to make the land. about Co
quimbo. This day an alteration was made in the
stations of our crew, and I began to perceive Mr. C, the
second officer, to be my friend ; for, through his influ
ence, I was transferred from the mizzen to the main-top,
and appointed to pull the bow oar in one of the cutters.
The latter was an advancement I had no reason to look
for, because none hut the most trusty and fearless were
selected for that duty. At sunset, saw a number of
spermaceti whales, which were easily distinguished from
the right whale by some of our seamen, who had for
merly been engaged in the whale fishery.
At 9 P.M., the wind became veryjight as we shot^
into a school of these monsters of the deep. While we
distinctly- heard the deep-toned breathings of some as
we lay nearly becalmed, others were plunging with
fearful rapidity under " our bottqm, appearing on the
other side close to the vessel. They continued round
the ship during a great <part of the night, to the no small
6*

58 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. '
dismay of some, but to the great delight of others, who
had frequently been eye-witnesses to scenes of a similai
character...
" April 1. — At 6 A,. M., saw the land, distant 12 leagues.
The "breeze freshening, we made all sail and .stood' in.
The coast made was between Point Bellena and Co-
quimbo. The appearance of the land was high and
exceedingly rugged ; the shore presented an unbroken
line of rocks, and seemed to defy the skill and manage
ment of any boat's crew to land ; but as our business
was to effect this, if possible, after running close in, two
boats were manned> armed, and despatched to reconnoi
tre, and effect a landing, if practicable. As before stated,
being appointed bow-man of one of the cutters, of
course I was of the number. On approaching the shore, -
Ave found it utterly impossible to land, such was the
violence of the breakers, dashing against the rocks ; and
the heavy rollers, which broke at a considerable distance
outside of them, presented an insurmountable barrier,
and left us no alternative but to return to the ship.
At 3 P. M., after the boats were hoisted in, the mast
head men, who were always aloft during the day look
ing, sung out, "Sail on the larboard bow ! " This was
the first vessel we had seen this side of Cape Horn, and,
as we were now engaged in a contraband trade, the cry
of •' Sail ho ! " created an unusual excitement. It was
so in this instance particularly, as all hands were called
to quarters, the decks cleared,, and every thing put in
readiness for action. We hauled upon the wind, on the
larboard tack, and the vessel, which proved to be a ship,
passed five or six miles to the leeward of us. Captain
W. concluded that she was a whaler, bound' into Co-
quimbo for supplies. It seemed to be necessary, how
ever, for us to ascertain her character, it being the inten
tion- of Captain W. to go into Coquimbo also, as our
supply of water was now getting short, and as we
should run little risk, there being no fortifications at
that port ; we immediately bore 'away, and before sun
set were sufficiently near to make her character to be a
merchant vessel.

LIFE ON THE ICEAN. 59
April 2. « — At daylight we were close in with the lanu.
the Bay of Coquimbo full in view, and it was soon
discovered that Captain W. was not mistaken* as to the
destination of the vessel wo had seen the preceding day;
for she was lying at anchor in the harbor, having, prob
ably, arrived the night previously, while we stood off-
and on in the offing. t
Every thing being now' in readiness to come to an
anchor, we stood into the bay with our stars and stripes
flying at the peak, and quickly perceived the ship to
hoist Spanish colors: From her appearance, however, we
could not be deceived as tq her character being that of a
merchan^ vessel ; nevertheless, every precaution was taken*
in the event of deception. We continued to run in un
til within a short distance of where the ship lay, and
then came to an anchor in ten fathom water. A boat
was despatched, to ascertain the true character of the
ship. In about an hour she* returned, bringing the
captain, who informed us that he was -from Valdivia,
bound to Callao, and had "put in here to land some of his
cargo. He also expressed much satisfaction on learn
ing the character of our ship, and the nature of our
business, stating that he had orders to purchase, in Cal
lao, mercha-«dise of the same description that we had on
board, and, therefore, he concluded to purchase and fill,
up his orders with us. It now became necessary, being
much in want ofi water, to proceed without delay in get
ting a supply before the news should reach St. Jago
of our being in this port, which if known,, landing would
be attended with much hazard, because a strong body
of soldiers would be despatched from that place to cut
us off. Accordingly, we proceeded with the greatest
despatch, armed all our boats, took a number of water-
casks in tow ; and, when near' the beach, one of the boats
was sent with the interpreter, to ascertain if water could
be procured, and to gather such information as could
be obtained with referenpe ' to the facilities of trade.
It was ascertained by the interpreter that the "few
Spaniards who were there appeared to be friendly, and

6t)

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

offered to assist us in procuring water and. supplies.
They also expressed much satisfaction, being in" want
of goods, when they understood we had such articles
on board as would suit them. As we had heard of the
faithlessness of Spaniards, Ave did not place much reli
ance on their apparent friendship ; consequently, every
precaution was taken. A few casks only were landed at
a time, and those under cover of a strong detachment
of oUr men, well armed ; and the launch having a swivel
mounted on her bow, and anchored near the beach,
to protect the party filling the water-casks, who Avere
within gun-shot, afforded ample security against all
danger. /
These arrangements being made, we proceeded Avith-
out molestation, and in about three- hours filled all the
casks which we brought with us, rolled them to the
beach, slung them, and proceeded on board. We con
tinued our labors without interruption two days, and, to
the no small satisfaction of Captain W., completed our
watering, succeeded in purchasing, at a very low rate,
three small bullocks, which were killed on shore, and
supplied the whole ship's company with fresh provisions
for several days.
April 5. — The boats were employed for several days
going to and from the shore, bringing Avith them those
who wished to trade. The captain of the Spanish ship
made large purchases. On the 12th, tKe Spaniard got ¦
under way, and proceeded to Callao, the port of his
destination, and, on/ the 14th, our land communication
was broken off in consequence of the arrival of a large
body of soldiers sent from the interior to prevent our
trade. The colonel of this detachment, hoAvever,
offered to let us trade, if a duty of 20 per cent, were
secured to the government. But Captain W., suspecting
a decoy, refused to "have any further communication
with the shore at this place.
The Bay of Coquimbo lies in "the parallel of 29° 56'
south, and 71° 16' west longitude. This is a perfectly
safe and good harbor Ai'here vessels may ride securely

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 61
against all winds, having good ancliorage-grbund in
from 10 to 15 fathoms water, and is easy of access,
having a wide entrance, and miy be known, when run
ning down the coast, by a remarkably high bluff, which
forms the southernmost point to the entrance of the bay.
The land near the seaboard is high and sterile ; but in
the interior, especially in the valleys, it is rich, pro
ducing spontaneously the grape in abundance, as well as
the peach-tree, which yields the finest peaches I have
ever eaten. In this region are mines of copper ore, and
near this place a vein has been discovered-io the extent
of twenty leagues, and, no doubt, when the art of
smelting is made knoAvn to the Spaniards, Avrll become
a source of vast revenue.
From the town of Coquimbo to St. Jagor the capital
of Chili, the distance is about fifty leagues. The com
munication is kept up by a road, or rather a path, rudely
constructed, and the travelling is attended with much
difficulty and danger, because of the narrow passes and
numerous precipices, which are frequent as you go ovei
the mountains. All travelling and transportation are
performed by mules ; these animals being so perfectly
trained, that they will go along safely over the narrow
passes, with their yawning gulfs beneath, where a man
would scarcely venture to perform this task on foot.
In the offing may be seen the first range of the per
petually snow-topped Andes, or Cordilleras, the highest
elevation of Avhich is the peak of Chimborazo. No sight
can be presented to the human eye, or mind, more
truly sublime and magnificent, than to -behold the sun
rise from behind those lofty summits, and from beneath
an apparently well-defined horizon of snow ; while a
thousand variegated hues are reflected by its rays in
the clouds which lie betAveen the top of the mountain
and its base. The intervening land, strongly contrasted
with the light and shade thrown upon the clouds, forms
at once the most magnificent and picturesque view the
imagination can conceive. I shall not forget my feel--
ings as this sight first opened to my view, in a morn-

62 LIFE ON THE OClEAN.
uig watch, when the silence and solitude of night
were dispelled by gray-eyed morning, and the rising
Seams of -the sun, scattering the mists and vapors from
the land, presented to my vision the scene just now
described. It was an hour when all the warring pas
sions of nature were lulled arid hushed into -repose,
by the deeper feelings of awe and veneration, ih con
templating the wisdom and power of the great Architect
of the universe.
April 15. -^In the, morning, at daylight, the shrill
whistle and hoarse cry was heard of " All hands, up
anchor, a-hoy ! " which was soon done, and in a few
minutes the ship Avas under a press of canvass, standing
out of the Bay of Coquimbo. After getting a good offing,
we shortened sail and stood down the coast ; it being .
the intention of Captain W. to look in at the port of,
Huasco, a distance of about ninety miles from the last
port. Being aware that information Avould be given by
the captain of the Spanish ship, on his arrival at Callao,-
of the character and object of our ship, it became abso
lutely "necessary for us to act with the greatest caution,
because the Spanish authorities, no doubt, would issue
orders to every seaport toAvn on the coast to have us
intercepted, and cut off, if possible ; and, knoAving, too,
that there were Spanish men-of-war lying in the pQrt of
Callao, it was highly probable that, as soon as informa
tion was received, they would be sent out in search of us.
April 17. — Stood in, and made the land twenty miles_
to the southward of Huasco. At 11 A. M., being close in
shore, we ran down until the port, or rather roadstead,
hove in sight. When off this roadstead, — for it can
scarcely be called a harbor, — a boat was manned to
sound, and land, if practicable. It Avas ascertained that
the anchorage-ground was in very deep Avater, and frqm
the heavy, foiling swell constantly setting in, the surf
ran exceedingly high, and broke, at a great distance from
the beach, which made it difficult for a boat to land,
without the risk of upsetting and the loss of life. No
communication with the shore was effected at this time,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. . 63
yet it was determined to run the ship in and anchor;
which was done about a mile from the shore, in twenty
fathom's water. Two boats were despatched to effect a
landing, if possible, in Avhich were put two coils of
large rope, a small kedge-anchor and buoy, and also a
small line. When sufficiently near, the anchor was let
go outside of the rollers, Avith one end of the large rope
made fast to the buoy, and the small line Avas bent on to
the other end, — so that, when the boat effected a landing,
the large rope might be hauled on shore and made fast.
Watching for a favorable opportunity, we gave way
with the oars on the top of a heavy roller, which broke
at a little distance ahead of us ; and never shall I forget
the huge, black mass -of Avater which rose up a short
distance astern of the boat, and which came rolling on
with fearful rapidity, as if eager to swallow up the boat
•and her crew^. "Give way, lads, for your lives," shouted
the officer, at the same time keenly glancing at the
monster astern, and the bow of the boat, alternately.
" Starboard your oars, there ; keep her head on ; give way,
my boys ; one length more, and we are safe ! " At that
moment a noise was heard like the falling waters of a
mighty cataract ; it broke about ten yards astern, dashing
volumes of water far ahead of our boat, and throwing a
great quantity on board, while every man exerted his
utmost strength at the oar, and at the same time the
coxswain, Avith great skill and management, kept her head
on — the surf driving her Avith the utmost velocity, and
the next minute she struck the beach. . We jumped out
immediately, and soon hauled the -boat clear of the surf.
The landing being effected without .accident, Ave
hauled the rope on shore, and made it secure ; a sig-
nal^was then made to the boat outside. .The crew got
the bight of the rope fore and afj. the boat, leading
it from the stern over the scull-hole, securing the fore
part with a stopper, to prevent its slipping over the gun
wale. .The oars Avere then laid fore and aft, -and the
;rew, seizing a favorable moment, hauled a\yay -upon
r«e rope, and brought the boat, in great style, with the

64 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
rapidity of lightning, to the beach. We were now joined
by three Spaniards, from whom we learned that our
arrival was anticipated, as there were two merchants
from the interior who had come from Coquimbo, they
having got to. the latter place on the' day of our departure ;
and thinking we might touch at Huasco, proceeded here
with all despatch, to meet us. On entering- the town,
our appearance created much curiosity and surprise ;
nevertheless, we were treated kindly, and every assur
ance was given of their friendship, as Avell as the proba
bility that we might effect large sales. It was necessary,
hoAvever, to keep a strict look-out, and despatch our
business, being aware that, in a few days at most, troops
would be sent to the different ports on the coast, to frus
trate our trade, and to cut us off. The day having worn
away, it became necessary fof the party to go on board,
and the boats were accordingly cleared of the breakers
•without accident, as before stated, bringing the two mer
chants with us. We lay here five days, making as good
use of our time as possible, being constantly engaged in ¦
bringing off specie and transporting goods to the shore.
The town of Huasco is situated in latitude 28° 26' south,
longitude 71° 15' west. There are about five and twenty
widely-scattered huts, presenting a most uncomfortable
appearance, and constructed mostly of mud and brush,
consisting of but one apartment; consequently, whole
families are thrown together; without distinction ,of
age or sex. Tropical fruits are here in abundance,
but vegetables of any description are not to be found ;
and the reason is, simply, because labor and industry
are required for their cultivation. The Spaniards on this
coast, particularly, are proverbially indolent. Nature
seems to have been lavish in her bounties towards them,
and has thus made provist on against their constitutional
defect.

65

CHAPTER VI.

TRAFFIC ON THE COAST CONTINUED  TREACHERY OF THE SPAN
IARDS  SAIL FOR THE GALLIPAGOS ISLANDS  DESCRIPTION
OF THEM.
April 22. — This day, Ave received information from
one of the Spanish merchants Avhich obliged us to
break off our communication Avith the shore. It seems,
a strong detachment of soldiers had been despatched from
Coquimbo to-this place, and Avere expected to arrive
hourly. He also stated that the inhabitants of the town,
having made all their purchases, intended to decoy our
men into the village, and seize our boats. It' being,
therefore, hazardous to venture on shore, we got -un
der way on the 23d, and stood out to sea. As Ave
expected, information was rapidly spread along the coast
in reference to the character of our ship; consequently,
the hazard and difficulty of trading became greater
everyday, and the utmost caution, with the most deter
mined, fearlessness, was necessary to effect the object of
the voyage on this coast. A consultation was now held,
between Captain W. and the officers, whether it might
not be the better plan to run far to leeward, so as to
elude the vigilance of the Spaniards, Avhich would, no
doubt, be kept up along the seaboard. It was, however,
determined to touch at oneVir two places, more, and, after
that, to proceed either to the leeward or the Cfccoss
Island, which is situated a little to the southward of the
line. The distance being small from the last port to
Copiapo, we concluded not to touch at that place, know
ing that it would be hazardous to land.
April 25. — Made the land between Copiapo and
Point Negra. Stood close in, saAV Point Negra at 1 1 A. M:,
7

66 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
and discovered a few huts on shore. This place pre
sented no shelter whatever, and appeared to be an im
penetrable iron-bound coast ; nevertheless, great as the
difficulties apparently were, two boats were despatched
to reconnoitre, and effect a landing, if practicable. The
boat duty now became exceedingly hazardous, and as
much elated as I was Avhen I received my appointment
as bow-man of the second cutter, yet, Avhat Avith the surf,
the treachery of the Spaniards, and the great distance
we had oftentimes to pull, damped my ardor, and at
times I would Avillingly have relinquished my situation
in the boat for the more secure foothold of our ship's
deck. Flinching,- however, was out of the question ;
pride revolted ! and it would have been considered great
pusillanimity ; besides, I should have been a butt for all
the seamen on board.
But to return — we pulled in shore, and for a long time
could not discover any place to land. At length we de
scried a point of rocks stretching out a httle distance
from the shore, to the southward of which an entrance
was perceived, like a small cove. We pulled in without
hesitation, and found, to our great joy, a safe and easy
landing-place. We were met on the beach by two
Spaniards, mounted on horses, and, although not in
uniform, yet they appeared like soldiers, having a brace
of pistols in their holsters. As there were fourteen of
us, and all well armed, we did not fear them, although
every precaution Avas taken by us to prevent, surprise.
From these two men we learned that they had received
information of the ship Avhen she lay at Huasco, and
seemed to be perfectly well acquainted Avith her charac
ter. They expressed a Avish to trade, and invited us up
to the village, which invitation was declined.
We returned to the ship, and Captain W. thought it
most prudent not to land unless some of the Spaniards
could be prevailed Avith to come on board. The next
day, two boats were despatched under command of Mr.
C, third officer. On approaching the shore, several
Spaniards were in waiting on the beaoh ; no indication

LITE ON THE OCEAN. 67
of treachery or hostility were manifested by them ; on
the contrary, every mark of kindness Avas shown ; and,
pointing to a large pile of fruit, they assured the inter
preter that they had brought i* down expressly for the
ship. After some consultation, Mr. C. and the inter
preter landed on the beach, and prevailed upon the tAvo
Spaniards to go on board with their specie. In return
ing to the ship, Ave sounded, and found forty fathoms of
Avater, within one and a half cables length of the beach,
so that all prospect of anchoring Avas at an end. Now,
having these two Spaniards ou board, we had less fear-
in landing, which we frequently did, and. procured a
large quantity of fresh meat, fruits, &c.
April 26. — After the Spaniards had finished pur
chasing, they were taken on shore with their merchan
dise, and safely landed, and with them our negotiations
concluded in this place.
April 28. — Made sail, and stood out 'in the offing.
From the information Ave had recently received, and
the indications of treachery at Huasco, Captain W. deter
mined to keep off from the coast for a short time, hoping
by this to allay the excitement, and elude the vigilance
of the Spanish men-of-war, Avhich would, no doubt, be
on the look-out for the ship. It Avas, therefore, concluded
to ^o to the Gallipagos Islands, which abounded in sea
turtle of the most delicious kind, as well as JandTterra-
iins, which were said to grow to an immense size. All
iii was set, and we steered away to the northward and
westward for these islands. The Pacific Ocean is very
tppropriately named, as it is remarkable for the serenity
»f the weather, and the uninterrupted course of the
vinds, from the parallel 30° south to the" line. Since we
irst made the land about Conception Bay until the pres-
nt time, we had one continued series of Jine. weather,
md perfectly smooth sea, and consequently never had
occasion to reef our topsails.
April 29. -ht- This day, being Sunday, I shall: here take
the liberty, not having done so before, to describe a Sab-
th on board of our ship. It was the constant practice, -

68 life on the ocean.
since Ave left the United States, to devote Saturday to
the repairing and Avashing of our clothes, as well as to
cleansing the forecastles thoroughly, getting up all the
chests, &?., for the purpose of ventilation. This rule
was established, so that there might be no unnecessary
work on the Sabbath day. On Sunday, every man on
board was mustered, and examined as to the cleanliness
of his person and clothing. After inspection, it Avas the
usual custom of Captain W. to give some wholesome ad
vice relative to the observance of morals, and to the
keeping of that day particularly. . Although there was
such a variety of character on board, yet eyery man
respected Captain W.^and, therefore his advice was well
received, and his orders implicitly obeyed. The monot
ony of a sea life is more deeply felt on Sunday than on
any other day, and this was strictly the case in our ship.
With a large crew, the duty restricted to watch and
watch, of course there was much spare time ; conse
quently, it was absolutely requisite that the men should
have employment, as well as new scenes of excitement,
in order that this long voyage might pass aAvay agree
ably. _ Yet on the. Sabbath day at sea, when no work
js going on, and nothing to excite one but the duL
round of ship duty,, time passes very heavily. It would
have been a curious spectacle for a landsman, to Have
seen the occupation of the crew during the Sabbath
day. On one side of the forecastle might be seen
sbme engaged in painting vessels, landscapes, &c. ; on
the other were a group writing their journals ; Avhile
a third set were learning navigation, taught by a young
shipmate who had graduated at Cambridge. There,
too, were the old salts, covering their hats, for the' pur
pose of making them Aveather-proof tarpaulins, or grafts
ing beckets for their chests; and by the serious coun
tenances of another group, who sat reading the Bible,
you might have supposed that they had received early
religious impressions. {Throughout, the utmost har
mony and good-will prevailed, and thus the day passed

life on the ocean. 69
2>ff with some pleasantry, but to many others with the
most listless apathy.
We continued on our course to the north-west, with
fine weather and fresh breezes during the passage. All
Avho Avere engaged in learning lunar observations had
the privilege of using the sextants belonging to the offi
cers, arid this was the first time I had taken a distance
between the sun and moon. After Avorking up the ob
servation, I shaped a course for Chatham Island, which
proved to be tolerably correct when Ave made the island.
May 9. — Nothing material occurred during the last
eight or nine days. We now found ourselves drawing
up with the Gallipagos Islands, our object being first to
touch at Chatham.
May 10. — rAt 8 A. M., the welcome sound of " Land
ho ! " was again sung out from the mast-head. This was
the island to which Ave had shaped our course. From
my dead reckoning, I found that my lunar observation
Avas thirty miles out of the way. The island bore north-
north-west, distant ten leagues, and is of moderate eleva
tion. As we drew nigh, we could not perceive a single
particle of shrubbery. Every thing-wore the appearance
of having undergone a volcanic eruption. At 11 A. M.,
took in the light sails, and preparations were being made
to come to in Stephen's Bay, Avhich shortly opened
at the north-east point. At meridian, came to anchor
Avith the small ho wer in ten fathoms water, Avith good
holding ground, about three -fourths of a mile from the
beach. The turtle being found more plentiful on the
beach in the morning, it was determined not to land
until the next day.
May il. — Our five boats were all hoisted out at day
light, and sixty men went on shore, with the intention
of rnaking two parties, one to take terrapin, and the other
turtle. We succeeded beyond our most sanguine expec
tations, having taken upwards of twenty fine 1 irge turtle,
and as many terrapin,, some of which were of immense
size, weighing from fifty to three Hundrecfpounds. We
found considerable difficulty in capturing the terrapin,
7* ' x

70 life on the ocean.
•not only on account of their size, but also from their
co'or, which bore exactly the same appearance as the
ground, a dark brown, and which oftentimes eluded
the vigilance of the keenest eye. We remained in this
place four days, during which time, we caught 150 turtle,
and succeeded in getting on' board 170 terrapin. Out
object in coming to these islands was not only to evade
the vigilance of the Spanish authorities, but to get a
supply of turtle and water. After the most diligent
search, no water was to be found/ on this island. As
before stated, such was "the sterility of the soil, that not
a single tree was to be seen, and it seemed a mystery
how the terrapin could subsist on this barren spot —
unless it Avas on the low prickly, pear bushes, which
were the only sign of vegetation Ave saw on the islapdTJ
As we Avere in no .hurry to return to the coast, it was
determined to go to some of the other islands to procure
wood and water.
Chatham Island is situated ih the parallel of .50' south
latitude, and 89° 20' west longitude. The- bay, or har
bor, is commodious and safe, with good anchorage ; and
as it is situated nearly under the equinoctial line, calm
weather prevails, Avith, however, occasional squalls of
Aviud" and rain, of short duration, and less severe, than
within the tropic of Cancer.
May 16. — Got under way and stood to sea, our inten
tion being to run for James Island. The1 Avind being
light, we did not make it until the 20th, at 9 A. M. Ran
close in to the leeAvard, and anchored in twenty fathoms,
the shore presenting a fine, long, sandy beach, on which
we landed with our boats without any difficulty.
James Island is situated in 12"' south latitude, and 90°
41' west longitude, and although not so large as Chat
ham, yet in it£ soil it is similar in many parts of the
island ; but on the south side, vegetation is more abun
dant. Here, again, we were doomed to disappointment ;
no Avater was to be' found, after a search of five days ;
but we caught a few fine turtle, and procured a quantity
of brushwood. Terrapin was nowhere to be found,

life on the ocean. 71
As we had been nearly a month from the coast, and
calculating that it would require from ten to fifteen days
to beat up to windward,, — our destination being for the
port of Arica, — and believing that all further efforts to
procure Avater on these islands would be fruitless,
Captain W. deemed it expedient to proceed forthwith in
the prosecution of our trade. Accordingly, on the 25th
Ave stood to sea, endeavoring as mii'.h as possible, by
keeping the best tack, to work to the southward, so that
Ave might take the fresh trade Avinds. Fortunately, the
Avind favored, so that by the 27th we reached the
parallel of 4° south, when we took the south-east trade
winds, and braced up on the larboard tack, standing to
the southward. The turtle and terrapin which we had
procured at Chatham Island proved of great value, not
only on account of their delicacy, but the consumption
of our salt provisions was .lessened, "an object of great
importance, as we expected our stay on the coast would
be prolonged, and no provisions could be salted down
in these latitudes and be preserved. The only method
practicable, when we procured a surplus supply of bul
locks, Avas to cut the meat off in long strips, put it in '
pickle for tAvo or three days, and then hang it up in the
sun to dry. This is what is called jerked beef, a good
substitute for salted provision, especially when it is
first cured ; but when it is old, it Becomes dry and
hard, and loses much of its flavor and nutriment. , This
supply of turtle was not only seasonable, but rare and
delicious, and' afforded fresh messes for the ship's com
pany for three months ; indeed', turtle soup was as com
mon as pea soup ; and terrapin pies as much so as salt
beef. The terrapin is the best fresh sea stock that can
be procured, becausethey are attended with no expense,
and Avill live for months Avithout food or water. In
proof of this, as soon as they were taken, Ave stoAved the
greater part of them down in the fore-peak, arid used
them as occasion required ; the last of which was not
killed until about seven months aftej it was taken, and
when prepared for cooking was quite as fat as any of

72 life on the ocean.
the former. We continued beating to windward, with
fresh breezes from south-east. All hands being in fine
spirits, and under a good state ©f discipline, we were pre
pared again to engage in our business on the coast, and
jdid not fear an attack from an open enemy of superior
force. June 10. — During the preceding days, nothing re
markable occurred, and every advantage of^ the change"
of Avind was taken. We found ourselves, by observation,
in latitude 18° south, and longitude 76° west, being far
to the eastward of Arica. Laid the ship on the starboard
tack, the wind being at south-east, and stood in for the
land. June 11. — The wind hauled to south-south-east,
which enabled us to make an east course good, and every.
sail was set that could draw on a wind.
June 13. — At daylight, " Land ho ! " was sung out
from the mast-head, our latitude being now, by calcula
tion, 18° 15' south, and longitude 70° 50' west. Stood
in, and saw the port of Arica. A consultation was now
held by the captain and officers' as to the best mode of
' procedure, as we had previous information that there
Avas a small fort in that place. It was determined to
run in, and anchor the ship in a position so that our
broadside could bear upon the fort, as well as to cover
our men in landing.
Entering the harbor, with the American colors fly
ing, we were saluted by the fort with the Spanish
flag. All the boats were now hoisted out, the launch
having two swivels mounted in her bow, and the pin
nace one ; the remaining boats were all well armed ;
the number of men in this expedition -was • fifty, under
the command of Mr. C, second officer, assisted by the
third officer. Orders were given by Captain W. for one
boat to land with the interpreter, and the others to
remain a small distance from the beach, so that, in the
event of an attack, the ship could play upon the fort,
while the expedition on shore was to repel any force
which might come against therh. All being now ready,

life on the ocean. 73
tho boats shoved off, cheered by those on loard, and
responded to by the crews of the boats. On approach
ing the shore, we found some difficulty in landing, on
account of the surf; although not so heavy as that to
windward,' yet it presented an obstacle to those boats
which wore ordered to lie off, the distance being too
great for the small arms to have effect. It was, however,
agreed that one boat should land, while the others
remained outside the rollers, and, if necessary, a precon
certed signal was to be given by those on shore to the
boats, when they were immediately to pull in. The
landing was effected, and we were met by several
Spaniards, some of whom wore a dirty uniform, whom we
soon ascertained to be soldiers. They appeared to re
ceive us very courteously, and inquired if this was not
the same ship that was at Huasco Iavo months since.
On the question being evaded, the commandant of the
place made his appearance, when a conversation ensued
between him and the interpreter, in which h& agreed to
let us obtain a supply of water, and carry on our trade,
under the proviso of a pretty large bribe to himself.
These arrangements being made, we returned to the'
ship — not, however, until we ascertained the strength of
the fort, and the number of men with which it was gar
risoned. This intelligence being conveyed to Captain
W., an expedition Avas prepared on the following day.
Our Avater-casks in tow, we repaired to the shore, and,
with a small line, hauled our casks to the beach. A
most arduous duty was now before us. Although we
had ascertained the fort mounted, but four guns, and was
garrisoned by only twenty men, yet we did not know
v\i{iat number might be concealed irr the village, and it
was necessary that the Avater-casKS should be rolled up
nearly to the entrance of. the town, about five hundred
yards from where we landed. The trial, however, was
to be made, even if we should fail in the attempt.
The boats were then all ordered on shore, except the
pinnace, which was to remain to haul the casks off.
These preparations being made, we immediately pro-

74 LIFE ON THE OCEAN
ceeded to rotl the casks to the watering-place, and, with
out any hinderance Avhatever, the whole number were
filled, hauled off to the -pinnace, and slung. The com
mandant expressing a desire to visit the ship, two boats
were despatched to tow off the water, and take him on
board, while the others remained-at a little distance from
the shore. In this manner Ave proceeded, until our
watering was finished. We also obtaiued here a con
siderable quantity of yams, and some tropical fruit.
Our friend the commandant, receiving his bribe, and
taking a good survey of the ship, departed with the prom
ise to assist us in the prosecution of our trade. Many
small presents were sent on shore, and distributed
among the soldiers and inhabitants, which served greatly
to secure their friendship. We remained here two
weeks, during which period some heavy sales were made;
but, as usual, when the Spaniards had effected their pur
pose, and secured all they could screw out of us, evi
dent signs 'of treachery were observed, whicfh roused
our suspicions, when no more communication was held
with the shore.
June 28. — At 8 A. M., got under way, and Avhen about
half a mile from the anchorage, we had positive proof
that our suspicions of the treachery of the Spaniards"
' were not ill founded, -for we were saluted by a shot from
the fort, which fell a little short of us. Not caring to
Avaste powder and ball upon these miscreants, Ave took
no notice of the tendered favor.
The port of Aricalies in the parallel of 18° 27' south,
79° 19' west. It affords no shelter except from the east-
north-east winds, which seldom blow. The anchorage is
from eighteen to twenty-five fathoms Avater, with sandy
bottom, where vessels may ride in safety, the Aveather
being perpetually good.. The town of Arica, as -before
stated, has a rudely-constructed fort, of but little im
portance. This town, or village, consists of about
twenty or thirty buildings, or huts, which are neither
wind-tight nor water-tight. This^o be sure, is of little
importance, because the weather is uniformly warm, and
it seldom rains in these latitudes.

LIFE ON THE C2AN. 75
Arica is the port town, to Arequipa, the capital of Inter
mediate Peru. It is situated east-north-east from \tica,
distant forty leagues, and is difficult of access, by reason
of the high mountains, and the many narrow passes
and defiles, with which it is surrounded, and over
which no animals are used for transportation or burden,
except mules. The land is exceedingly barren ; m
tlie interior it is mountainous and rocky, and, Avith
the exception of the valleys, it is altogether so poor,
that nothing can thrive.

76

CHAPTER VII.
INFORMATION OF THE CAPTURE OF A IOSTON SHIP BY A SPAN
ISH CRUISER  AN ATTEMPTED CAPTURE OF OUR BOATS DE
FEATED  PORT OF ISLAY  NEWS OF A SPANISH CRUISER 
DESCRIPTION OF A HURRICANE  SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.
We continued our course to leeward, during the night,
under short sail, calculating to be close in with the port
of Ilo at daylight. In the morning^ran in and anchored
in the roadstead, in thirty fathom water. Nothing pre
sented itself to cause alarm, as there were only about
eight or teri houses, or huts, that could be perceived ;
consequently we had nothing to fear, except it might
be a force from -Arica. Here we had no difficulty in
landing, as there was but little surf: a ledge of rocks
which lay off a short distance from the beach broke
the heavy swell. When we landed, having taken the
same precautions as usual, the inhabitants, both men and
Avomen, came down to the beach, and among them was
an Irishman, Avhose appearance indicated a person of
some distinction. From him Ave learned that the ship,
Belle Sauvage, of Boston, had been captured about three
Aveeks before by a Spanish cruiser,- and sent into Callao.
We knew that the Belle Sauvage Avas bound to the north
west coast, and it was probable she had touched here to
dispose of part of her cargo, which supposition was con
firmed by the Irishman, who informed us that she was
captured in Arica. It was no mystery to us Avhy we
were kept in ignorance of the circumstance when there,
they probably hoping we should mee't a similar fate.
This Irishman expressed a great desire to make purchas
es from us, stating that ho was a merchant, and had been
a resident of Arequipa some years. We returned to the
ship with him, when he negotiated with Captain W. for
a large amount of irierchandise, Avhich was immediate-

LIFE ON the ocean.. 77
ly made ready for delivery. Two bo;ts were sent
ashore with him, and in about two hours he returned,
bringing the amount of his purchases in specie. The
goods were landed safely, after Avhich he came off
several times ; suspicions were finally awakened^that he
was a spy. The next day, those suspicions were con
firmed ; for, while one of the boats was on shore with the
interpreter, endeavoring to make a bargain for some fresh
stock, a plan was laid to seize the boat and cut us off.
This Avas done by a party of Spaniards, in conjunction
with this Irishman. They endeavored to get between
the boat and our men, who, all but one, were on the
beach : seeing this, and not liking their movements, the
interpreter said to the officer of the boat, " We will go on
board.'-' Upon this, the Spaniards renewed their efforts.
Avhen the interpreter immediately took sand in both
hands, and threw it in the face and eyes of the Irish
man, creating considerable confusion with the Span
iards ; in the midst of Avhich Ave succeeded in gaining
our boat, where all our muskets were stowed. On seeing
the muskets presented, the Spaniards fled Avith precipita
tion ; and thus ended our adventure and the communi
cation with Ho.
July 7. — Weighed anchor, and stood out to sea. It
was now certain, that, as we approached Callao, our
situation became more critical and dangerous, in con
sequence of Avhich Captain W. was undetermined as to
our future operations. He soon, however, came to tne
conclusion to touch at the port of Islay, which lies
south-westerly twenty-five leagues distant from Ilo, and
then to run far to leeward. In accordance with this
plan, we shortened sail during the night, ran close to the
land, and at nine A. M., July 8th, made the port of Islay.
Stood in, and anchored in thirty-five fathoms water.
Islay can scarcely be called a harbor, as it affords no
shelter whatever except from the south-east Avinds,
which are broken by a high bluff of rocks, .extending
seaward about three quarters of a mile, ranging nearly
east and west. There is also another ledge of rocks
8

78 LIFE ON THE CCEAN.
about a quarter of a mile from the shore*, running north
and south, distance one mile, which effectually bre'aks
the surf, that rolls in with tremendous violence on the
other parts of the shore.
Tw» boats Avere manned, armed, and despatched, Avith
orders that no one should land except the interpreter.
On approaching the beach, we saw several Spaniards
awaiting our arrival. No appearance of treachery was
discerned among them. The interpreter went on shore,
and held a consultation, the result of Avhich was, that a
boat Avas to be sent on shore the next morning before
daylight, Avhen two Spaniards were to be in waiting
Avith specie, to repair on board the ship to make pur
chases. According to this arrangement^ Ave proceeded
on shore, and brought them off with their specie. From
these men Ave received most important information,
, namely, that an armed lugger of great force, mounting
two thirtyrtwo pounders on pivots, and eight long nines,
with a complement of two hundred and fifty men,
pierced for- sixty sweeps, had been fitted out at Callao,
and had actually sailed, in company with a Spanish sloop-
of-war, six days previous, to cruise in quest of us ; and
that they were probably then hovering near by. This'
news created universal excitement throughout the ship,
especially as a dead calmjjrevailed ; not a ripple or cat's-
paw was visible over the wide Avaste of Avaters. The
sun shone brilliantly on the broad face of the Pacific ;
the ocean presented to theeye a smowth, glassy surface;
and the slumbering deep, always portentous of a coming
storm, especially in the season and latitudes of the
tornado, — this combination of circumstances produced a
kind of secret foreboding among the creAV of a coming
evil ; it was not, however, a dread of the desolating
hurricane, so much as a fear of being attacked by the
enemy in the night, Avhile at anchor during this calm.
. At meridian, the cry pf " Sail ho ! " Avas simultaneous
ly heard from the fore and main royal-yards ; but the
stranger was at so great a distance in the offing that her ¦
character could not be ascertained with the glass. At

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 79
sunset, the distance being shortened between ui, she was
seen from tho topsail-yard. The crisis had now nearly
arrived, as no doubts remained brt that the strange sail
in the. offing Avas an enemy; consequently, the ship was
put in complete readiness for action. Ail hands were
called, with orders to remain at quarters during the
night ; the lights were extinguished, and a profound
silence reigned, Avhich was only interrupted by the
roaring surf on the beach, or the occasional scream of
a sea-gull, which iu vain sought- its nightly repose
among the rocks, by the turbulence of the dashing
foam. x
" George," said an old salt, Avho was stationed at the
gun with me, and who had served seven years on board
of an English man-of-war, " I'll miss my reck'ning, if
Ave don't have some play with these shooting-irons to
morrow." "Why?" said I.
" Because," he replied, " I never knew such a day and
night of calm as this, in all my going to sea, that was
not followed by a brush or a storm of some kind. Two
years ago, I Avas on board of a West Indiaman, out of
York, bound to St. Thomas ; and when about two days*
sail from the island, oue morning it fell dead calm — just
such a time as Ave have had to-day for all the world.
Our skipper, an old trader, did not seem to be quite
easy in his mind that, .day; so before night the hands
Avere turned up, and Ave. got all the light. spars doAvn on
deck, housed the top-gallant-mast, close-reefed the top
sails, furled the courses, jib, and trysail, got preventer-
lashings on the boats and spars, and hove overboard all
the useless-lumber from the deck.
" Throughout the night it remained calm as a clock,
and the little brig lay on the water just like that albatross
Ave* saw off Cape Horn riding over the sea, with its head
under its wing, asleep. In the morning, the sun arose
red" as a bail of fire, and very soon a blac <; cloud came
up in the north-north-east quarter. The mate had the
watch on deck, and called the old skipper up, who

80 - LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
didn't take much time to put on his knee-buciles. As
soon as he got on deck, he clapped his phiz to windward,
which looked for all the world like a hard north-wester.
Tlie cloud soon rose and passed over astern of us to the
westward; then, pile upon pile, they showed their black
, heads like mountains in the eastern board. ' Clew up
the main-topsail,' shouted-Jhe captain, ' lay aloft there,
furl the sails, clap on preventer-gaskets, hook on the
rolling tackle, bowse it taut, and secure the yard : —
cheerily, men !''
" We sprung aloft, furled the topsail, and were soon on
deck. 'Away forward,' cried he, 'clew up the fore-top
sail , and hand it ; bear-a-hand, and lay down off the
yard.' "Just as we got the bunt gasket made fast, I took
a squint to windward, and, sure enough, I saw it a-
coming ; the black clouds had nearly overspread the
heavens, and the cold, misty rain was driving along
towards us by the violence of the wind. The sea rose,
and'along came a huge mass of black Avater, which I
knew very well, if it came on board, would swamp the
little brig. ' Lie doAvn for your lives,' shouted the cap
tain, 'and came aft ; secure yourselves, every man of
you ; hard-a-port.'
" Just at that moment the violence of the Avinds struck
us a-beam, and, having nothing' on her but the fore-top
mast-staysail, she paid off before the Avind, and took
the heavy rolling sea on her quarter, and in a few
minutes she Avas scudding away before it, at the rate
of eleven knots.
" The next hour, it blew a, hurricane ; each succeeding
sea grew higher, androlled heavily after us Avith fearful
rapidity, as if driven, along by the imp of darkness,
eager to swallow us up as his prey. Just then, a loud
clap of thunder rose high above the roaring hurricane,
and a sharp flash of lightning played round the masts
and rigging, like a blaze of fire ; it came from the north
west quarter: 'Starboard yo'ur helm, haul in the lar
board head-brace ! ' roared out the old skipper, in a tone

LIFE CN THE OCEAN. 81
which was heard distinctly amid the contending ele
ments ; but it was too late : the hurricane suddenly
shifted eight points into the north-western board, and
struck her on the beam ; and at the same moment, the
heavy rolling sea from the eastward .was close aboard,
part of Avhich, as she lifted her stern, tucked her under
the counter : — aAvay Avent the fore-topmast-staysail clean
out of the bolt-ropes, and the next moment, a heavy
combing sea. fell aboard, throwing poor Jack Evans,
Avho Avas at the helm, twenty yards from the brig, and
down she went smack on her beam-ends. I rhall
never forget that scene," said the narrator mournfully ;
" as we clung to the starboard side of the little brig, we
heard -the cries of poor Jack, and saw him struggling
for life on the top of a sea. This sight set my eye-pumps
a-going, and, turning away, I saw the old skipper crawl
ing along towards the main-channels. ' Follow m<3 ! '
he shouted, ' and lend a hand to cut aAvay the lanyards
of the main-rigging.' I crept along the side after him
as Avell as I could, and we succeeded in gaining^ the
main-channels. 'Now,' said the old skipper, 'a sharp
knife and a clear conscience — cut away the lanyards,
my lads.' We both fell to ; they were soon cut away,
and the mainmast Avent by the board, carrying with it
the fore-topmast and jib-boom. /
" The little craft, now being relieved of her burden,
soon began to right, which the old man perceiving, he
sung out, ' Thank God, my lads, she rights!' and, lead
ing the way himself, shouted, 'Come on, my boys! let's
free her from these sticks, or they will make daylight
through her.'
" This was not the work of a minute, but there Avere
no skulkers there"; every man did his duty, from thex
captain down, and in an hour and a half the Avreck Avas
cleared, she Avas nearly upright on her bottom, every
thing swept clean from the decks, with only one solitary
stick standing, driving aAvay before the terrific hurricane.
with maddening fury. ' Sound the pumps there.' "
I had listened up to this moment with breathless

82 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
attention, and as Joe Green progressed in this exciting
narration, his a oice became distinctly audible.
" Silence there ! " said Mr. L., our first officer, Arho had
been sweeping round the horizon Avith his night-glass,
and then, addressing Captain W. :
i " Yonder is a sail, sir, on our larboard quarter, between
us and the land."
This Avas corroborated by the second and third offi
cers, Avho in their turn swept the horizon with the night-
glass. " Lay the ship's larboard broadside to the strange sail
with the spring," said Captain W.-
This order was instantly obeyed, and all was again
quiet, the strange sail having noAV disappeared, being
shut in Avith the land.
It Avas now midnight; the Spaniard had completed
his purchases, and two boats, under command of the ¦
third officer, were ' despatched Avith him and his mer
chandise — with orders to return to the ship as speedily
as practicable.
The night wore away ; and at the daAvn of day, on the
10th, Ave discovered that the officers were not deceived.
There she lay inside of the rocks, her hull nearly con
cealed from our deck, exhibiting to our view nothing
but a lugger's spars. We noAV began to realize Avhat we
so much dreaded; being within gun-shot of the enemy,
in a dead calm, with little probability of crippling him,
and no chance of getting out of his reach, unless a
breeze should spring up.
At half past five, A. M., the stars and stripes Avere
hoisted at the peak, and the broad pennant at the main ;
a gun was fired to leeAvard with blank cartridge, the
signal of a friend. She responded to our friendly indi
cation, by hoisting the Spanish flag, and firing a thirty-
two pound shot, which fell a short distance astern of us.
And now the action began. The order Avas given
by Captain W. to elevate the guns of the first divis
ion, so as, if possible, to cut away the enemy's spars.
Presently a broad sheet of flame issued from the lar-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 83
board side, and for a moment our ship was enveloped
in smoke ; it soon cleared away, and there the enemy
lay, uninjured by our fire. A brisk cannonading was
kept up, and Ave soon perceived that our position was
"not a very enviable one. Every shot from our oppo
nent's thirty-two pounders told well.
" I'll bet a month's grog," said the gunner's mate, as
he was looking over the side at one of thn shot which
came skipping along the water, " that that shot makes
daylight through our ship."
Sure enough, it struck the quick work, took off the
top 6t the companion way, and cut away two shrouds
of the mizzen rigging". Single shots were now dis
charged at the enemy, but without effect. The execu
tion of the enemy's shot now became fearful ; every
deck plank was shivered athwartship ; the main and
mizzen rigging, and slings of the fore-yard, were cut
away ; three men lay dead, and seven wounded ; and it
became absolutely necessary for the safety of the ship
and crew, either to get out of her reach, or to use some
stratagem to decoy her out of her place of security from
behind the rocks. Just then a light air sprung up from
off the land, and Ave ceased firing. /
" Away there aloft, topmen, and loose the sails ! man
the topsail, top-gallant, and royal sheets! see the cable
all ready to slip ! " were the orders given in quick suc
cession, and- as quickly obeyed. In ten minutes the
ship Avas under skysails, the cable was slipped, her head
.canted to starboard, and the boats had her in tow, the
two boats having just returned from the shore. The
breeze did not last more than fifteen minutes, when it
again fell calm, and from the^ heavy swell Avhich set in,
it was impossible to tow her ahead Avith the boats.
The swell, setting her in towards the rocks, obliged us
again to anchor ; the boats were ordered alongside, the
light sails clewed up, the topsails let run on the cap, and
the ship was brought up with the stream anchor, backed
by the kedge, in forty fathoms Avater. For a few minutes
the Spaniard ceased firing, and we perceived he was

84 LI^E ON THE OCEAN. I
getting under way. Captain W., addressing the crew,
said, - —
" Noav, my men, the Spaniard is under the impression
that he has silenced us, and intends to carry us by board
ing. We will not- undeceive him till he gets fairly
within short gun-shot. Recollect, the American flag
must never be struck to that Spaniard. Away then to
your quarters ; .let the larboard broadside be charged
with round and grape, and let not a shot be spent in
vain." The lugger now came from behind the rocks, pulling
boldly with her sAveeps head on.
"Are all the divisions ready?" demanded Capt. W.,
which was answered in the affirmative.' " Mind," said
he, ifthat you depress the muzzles of your guns, so as to
hull the rascal."
"Ay, ay, sir! " said an old tar, who was captain of a
gun near to that at which I was stationed, and which
he had christened Nancy Dawson. So saying, he
clapped his eye to the breech, and, pattirig the gun
most affectionately, said —
" That cut-throat rascal shall hear some of your small
talk presently."
The lugger had- now approached to within half-gun
shot, head on ; the order was now given to lay the
ship's broadside with the spring so as to give the enemy
a raking fire. The movement was quickly perceived
by the lugger, and her head was immediately pulled
round Avith the sweeps, so as to bring her starboard
broadside to bear.
" Are you ready fore and aft ? " said Captain W.
" Ay, ay ! " was the reply.
" Fire ! " '
The whole broadside was discharged, Avhich shook
the ship from the keelson" to the tru;k, and which en
veloped her in a cloud of smoke. In a few moments it
cleared away: — the lugger's mizzen-mast, main-topmast,
and bowsprit, were gone ; and, as Ave aftenvards learned,
one of her thirty-two pounders was capsized, seventeen

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. . 85
men lay dead upon her decks, and twenty-eight were
AVo>;nded. Jack Sawyer, who Avas captain of the gun
" Nancy Dawson," seeing the lugger's mizzen-mast cut
away, jumped in ecstasy of joy, and, kissing the breech
of his gun, swore that the shot from Nancy cut away
the mizzen-mast. The lugger by this time had her head
pulling in shore.
"Elevate your guns with precision, load, and fire, as
fast as you can, and sink the Spaniard! " said Capt. W.
This order Avas unnecessary, as the men had "become
exasperated to the highest pitch for the loss of our ship
mates. Our firing, however, soon proved useless ; for,
Avith the aid of her swee_ps, she Avas in a short time out
of gun-shot, pulling along shore. Three cheers Avere hoav
given, and as Ave Avere all eager for the fight, Aye asked
liberty of Capt. W. to cut her out with the boats.
" No," said he; " you have fought bravely, and blood
enough has-been spilt already; no doubt but that you
might carry the cowardly dog, but it would be at the
expense of some of your lives. We have a long cruise
before us yet, and probably shall have occasion to hse
all the ammunition 'on board ; besides, I value your
lives more than that dastardly Spaniard."
This had the desired effect with the crew. The decks
were cleared, the launch and pinnace succeeded in
weighing the anchor, Avhich had been slipped, and soon
brought it alongside, the cable was. taken in, and the
anchor hove to the bows. A light breeze now sprung
up from off the land, the boats were hoisted in and
stowed, the stream anchor was hove 'up, and in a few
minutes she was under a press of sail, standing out to
sea, to repair damages and bury the dead.
We stood off, the breeze increasing, and at sunset were
out of sight of the land. The light sails were all taken
in ; and as Captairi W. was undecided as to our future
operations, Ave steered away to the nortrnvard, during the
night, under easy sail. The folloAving day Avas set apart
for the burial of our dead.
July 11. — : This morning the sun rose in a cloudless

86

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

sky ; and now, the excitement of battle being over, a
universal sadness was1 felt throughout the ship for the
loss of our three young shipmates, and the fate of two
others, who, it was supposed, Avere .mortally Avounded.
The corpses were sewed in their hammocks, -and every
preparation was made for a burial at sea. At 10 A. M.,
the'ship was hove to, with the main-topsail at the mast.
All hands were piped on deck, and the bodies were
laid on planks in the gangway. The captain's clerk com
menced the funeral service of the Episcopal church: — ¦
" Man, that is born of a woman," &c. There stood the
old tars who had braved many a storm, and faced the
enemy at the cannon's mouthy with their hard features
and brawny limbs. The moment the service com
menced, their eye-pumps gave Avay, and the salt tears
fell in" quick succession down their Aveather-beaten
faces, Avhile the more youthful sailors, being more sus--
ceptible to the impressions of woe, wept immoderately.
Just at the moment Avhen the cleric had reaehed that
part of the service which commits the body to the deep,
I cast a glance at Captain W. and the officers, and saw
depicted in their countenances the deepest emotions of
sorrow, as well as the falling tears chasing each other
in rapid succession. The sea being perfectly smooth,
the ship lay nearly as still as if she had been at an
anchor. The solemn moment arrived, the voice of
the clerk tremulously pronounced, "We commit these
bodies to the deep;" a splash Avas heard, and the
corpses sank beneath the blue Avave, there fi rest until
"the sea shall give tip its dead."

87

CHAPTER VIII.
SAIL FCR COCOS ISLAND  CONVERSATION AVITH JACK SAWYER
 DESCRIPTION OF CHATHAM ISLAND  MELANCHOLY DEATH
AND FUNERAL OF ONE OF THE SEAMEN.
The solemn scene described in the last chapter being
ov.er, the main-topsail was filled away, all sail set, and"
we steered for Cocos Island, to replenish our water and
fuel, which were getting short. The sad occurrences
of the last few days produced a general sorrow with the
officers and creAV, and especially with Captain W., as the
relatives of the three young men who had recently fallen
had given thou,, into his particular charge, and they
were also uiriversal favorites with the crew. Seamen are
naturally supercilious, and the late events roused up
those latent feelings of credulity into active exercise.
Many of the old sailors affirmed, with great gravity, that,
as the enemy's shot passed through the ship's side, and
killed three men, then spent its force, and rebounded,
and rolled into the cabin, — in consequence of the ball
remaining on board, we should have many a brush, and
many of us Avould lose thetnumber of our mess before
our cruise was rip. Others Avere afraid to go aloft alone
in the night, especially in the mizzen-top, because the
lads who were killed had been stationed there previous-
to the action. One old salt swore that, while he Avas at
the helm in, the first night- Avatch, just before eight bells
were struck, he saw Jim Fox' (one' of the slam) passing
water aft, and actually washing the deck. Be these
things as'they may, it had a very salutary influence, for
lie Sabbath day, after this, Avas more generally respect-
id, and many of- the crew read the Bible with attention,
ivho had, perhaps, never looked into it before. All the
jr^nnded, except two, were racoverins ranidly ; the

88 , LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
damages were repaired, aud the duties of the ship were
performed with the usual promptness, and long yarns
were being continually spun in the forecastle, relative
to our late action.
While at a job of Avork in"the main-top in a forenoon
watch, with an old sailor, I Avas not a little interested in
the following conversation : —
" Youngster," said he, "that carcass of yours got the
better of your pins the other day — you. didn't flinch, but
you had a narroAv chance for your kuowledge-box when
that shot knocked doAvn Bob Wilson and Sam Clark by
your side. Well, well," continued he, " there's no fun
'in fighting when there's nothing gained by it ; I don't
mind to have a bit of a dust now and then, if there's any
prize-money in the way, or in my country's sarvice ; for,
do you see, if mayhap you get a flipper or pin knocked
off, and lay up in ordinary, — Avhy, then, you have a shot
in' the locker ; or if a chance shot happens to let day
light through you, why, then, you're among the list of"
the killed ; the jig's up, and there's an send on't. But,
I say, youngster^ you've got larnin, and I can't read a
word in the book ; just tell me, Avhere does a sailor, go
to when he slips his wind ? I've always had a notion,
till the Other day, that, when Jack parts his cable, he
drives aAvay to Fiddlers' Green, Avhere there's plenty of
grog and lots of fun.
" There was Tom Bunting, a messmate of mine, aboard
the Syren frigate ; he could»read just as Avell as the par
son, and spin a yarn as long as the main-top bowline.
'Do you think, Jack,' says he, 'after a sailor has been
knocked about like the boatswain's yeoman — now un
der a burning sun, and then off the Icy Cape, Avith hard
usage and salt grub all the days of his life, banging salt
water — that he's not'going to have' some fun and fr-olic
after he slips his Avind ? I tell you,' says Tom, ' I
don't believe a word what -our chaplain said Ihe other
day, that a sailor is going to be clapped under hatches
when he slips his moorings, just because he tosses off a
glass of grog, lets slip an oath sometimes, and has a bit
of a spree when ashore.' But I sav, vounaster." cnn-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 89
tinued Jack, " there's Bill Harris, that college-larnt chap
that belongs to ourAvatch, — he's a hearty fellow, though
he does tumble down the forescuttle, and capsizes all
the grub belonging to the mess. The other day, just
as I was going to turn in, I overheard him say to Zeke
Dowling, the boatswain's mate, ' Zeke,' says he, ' I tell
you, it's all stuff about a sailor's going to Fiddlers'
Green. Sailors, as well as landsmen, will have to heave
in stays, and stand on t'other tack, so as to get clear of
the shoals of destruction that lays near grog harbor,
and swearing rocks, and cape frolic, Avhich is sure to
pick him up if he stands on ; and then,' says Bill, 'he
must obey the orders of this book,' (clapping his flipper
on a Bible that lay on a chest ;) ' if they don't, Avhy, then,
do you see, when they slip their cables, they'll just drift
into the broad, bay of destruction.' 'Just belay that,
Bill,' says I; 'how is a fellow going to obey orders
when nobody gives them, aud he can't read a word in
the book ? ' TU read for you,' says Bill. So half a
dozen of us just -coiled ourselves round him in a ring,
and at it he went, just, for all the world, as if he had larnt
it by heart ; so, after he had read on a bit — ' Avast
there ! ' says I: — 'is that true, Bill ? ' ' Every word on't,'
says Bill. I just felt, youngster, the same as I did when
aboard of the Syren frigate, as we lay becalmed under
a French ei.ghteen-gun battery. They bored us, every
shot, and we couldn't get one of our shooting-irons to
bear upon the battery."
" Why, hoAV did you feel, Jack ? " says I.
"Why, just like hauling off on t'other tack. I'll tell
you Avhat 'tis, youngster ; I've been overhauling my
log-book, and I find I've kept a bad reck'ning of it ; JVe
carried too much sail, and now I am clean off the right
course, and I don't know how to steer to keep clekt of
the sunken rocks, and make the good port where I -can
moor head and stern. Can you tell me, youngster? "
" Yes," said I ; " take Bill Harris's advice, heave in stays'
immediately, and Avhen you get round on the other tack,
clap on every sail that will draw upon a wind, haul out
your bowlines taut, make short boards till you get an

90 LIFE ON THE OC SAN.
offing ; and when you have pler.ty of sea room, give
the rocks a wide berth, haul in' the weather-braces, set
studding-sails below and aloft, and steer away for the
broad bay of heaven."
I cast a glance at Jack, and saw that his hard features
had relaxed, and his head-pumps were going. Says I,
"Jack, would yon like to know how to read? If you
would, I'll teach you in our watch below."
" Youngster, I'll give you my grog for six months, if
you'll jist larn me to read in that book J heard Bill Harris
read. Why, there, was my old mother, God bless her !
it's many long years since, but I recollect she Avould
throw her arms around my neck, and read that same old
book, and then say the Lord's Prayer. 'Jack,' says she,
' be a good boy — remember your poor old mother's ad
vice ; obey the orders of this book, and» it Avill make a
man of you.' "
I felt an unusual interest for poor Jack, and resolved
to use my best endeavors to instruct him, at least so
far as that he might be able to read ; and, at the same
time, I felt a little curious to knoAV more about his
history. Addressing him to this effect, I s&id, " I should
like to know more about your poor old mother and
yourself." To which he replied, —
" Why, youngster, I've been boxing the compass, up
and down, fair weather and foul, twenty-seven years,
and never had a messmate before that cared for old
mother, and rattlebrain Jack Sawyer;" (for this was his
name:) "Avhy, my hearty," continued he, "it's a pretty
long yarn ; and as we have good Aveather in these lati
tudes — too good for these cut-throat rascals on this coast
¦ — I'll spin it out here in the top in outr watch at night."
At that moment eight bells were struck, the larboard
watch called, and the boatswain piped to- dinner.
July 20. — During the nine preceding days, nothing
of moment transpired to disturb" the monotony which is
usual at sea,- with a long series of fair winds and good
weather ; and as we were'^iow rapidly approaching the'
island, Jack Sawyer said he Avould clap a stopper on his
yarn, until we got our wood and water on boaad.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 91
July 22. — At midnight, took in all the light sails, and
hove to, expecting to be close up Avith th'e land in the
morning. We were pot disappointed, for at daylight the
island was close aboard, bearing north-westerly, distant
not more than one league. Got the ship in readiness to
come to an anchor; rounded into Chatham Bay,and brought
up with a small bower, in ten fathoms water. The boats
Avere hoisted out and every preparation was made to fill'
up the Avater, and replenish the stock of fuel. Vessels
may lie here in the most perfect safety in all Aviuds ;
there are, however, no gales; the trade winds are reg
ular, except at certain seasons of the year, when they
are interrupted by squalls. The bay is as smooth as
a mill-pond, aud aft'ords every facility to vessels for
supplies. The island is small— say about four miles
in circumference — Avith two lesser islands, which are
detached by a narrow channel from the main island.
The land is exceedingly fertile and loamy, abounding
in wood, Avith Avild hogs and cocoa-nuts in abundance.
The water here is perhaps the finest in the world, and
may be got without difficulty, and indeed, without roll
ing the casks on shore, as you have nothing to do but
to extend a link of hose to the top of a rock, — intoAvhich'
runs a stream of fine fresh water, — and by directing the
other end of the hose into the casks, they are filled at
once. As we were, now in a fine harbor, with a fair
opportunity to obtain supplies, and overhaul oui ship,
Captain W. made up his mind to remain here at least
three weeks or a month. The crew Avere now variously
employed in getting water, wood, shooting hogs, and
collecting cocoa-nuts. The armorer and his crew Avere
also employed in burning a coaLpit. We obtained a
plentiful supply of eggs from the small islands, which
were literally covered with them, so much so that large
quantities Avere taken every day during our stay. Sea-
fowl were here also in great numbers, especially a' spe
cies of cluck, krioAvn by the name of " shags." Young
boobies were also taken ; and they Avere so tame, that Ave
h id uo difficulty in capturing them by hand, or with a

92

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

small stick. We found them quite as great a delicacy
as a squab.
The hui.ting of hogs was found to be a dangerous
service, and proved nearly fatal to some of the crew en
gaged in that duty. On- one occasion, a party of men
penetrated some distance into the island, and separated
into pairs, supposing that they might have a better
-opportunity to start the animal. Suddenly and unex
pectedly a large boar, with immense tusks, exceedingly
fierce, started close by the side of two engaged in the
pursuit. Surprised, and momentarily thrown off their
guard, the animal approached to Avithin a few paces of
them, when a musket Avas discharged which Avounded
him, though but slightly. Roused to madness by the
wound, he sprang upon the man who had discharged
his musket, and drove his tusk nearly through his leg.
By this time the other man recovered himself, and shot
the boar through the body.

Hunting Hogs at Chatham Bay. p. 92.
While here, we took about thirty Hogs ; but such was
the heat of the climate, th it Ave were neqessarily obliged '

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. ' 93
to salt them down as fast as they Avere taken. In
flavor or SAveetness, the flesh of the Avild hog Avill beai
no comparison with the tame or domestic animal ; that
of 'the former being coarse, soft, and flabby, savoring
much of the cocoa-uuf upon Avhich they feed.
August 1. — This Avas a black day in our calendar.
Our ship was again shrouded in gloom. Joseph Davis,
one of the armorer's creAV, Avas engaged in catching
young boobies on an eminence Avhich rose eighty or
ninety feet, nearly perpendicular, from the beach, Avhich
Avas covered Avith small rocks and stones. With his left
arm" around the trunk of a tree, and the other extended
in the act of knocking a bird off its branch, the tree gave
way, and down he came to the beach below, breaking
nearly every bone in his- body, and dashing his brains
out. I shall never forget that sight, being at the time
about twenty yards' distance from where he landed,
employed in procuring Avood. I ran to him as quickly as
possible, but life. was extinct, for his spirit had fled for
ever. We conveyed him on board, where his remains
were laid out, a coffin Avas made, and the next day Avas
set apart for his interment. The solemnity throughout
the ship that night surpassed any thing I had ever wit
nessed. . The • uninterrupted silence, the noiseless step,
the sorrow depicted on the countenances of the crew,
together Avith the desolation of the island, made it a
night of Avoe.
August 2. — The next morning, the sun rose clear, the
sky Avas serene, and the face of the waters, being a dead
calm, gave an air df solemnity, which seemed in unison
with the scene about to be enacted. The colors were
hoisted half-mast, and breakfast being over, all hands
were piped to attend the funeral service on shore.
The boats were now in readiness alongside ; and the
body of the deceased, over which the Americau ensign
was thrown, was lowered into the launch. The boats
were then all manned, and proceeded in regular line,
with the launch in tow, to the shore. The funeral pro
cession was formed, and we conveyed the corpse about
three hundred yards to a sequestered spot, surrounded with

94 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. •
v.
trees not unlike the weeping-Avillow, the chosen sepulchre
for the repository of the dead. The funeral service was
read with great seriousness by the captain's clerk, who
usually peiiforrned the office of chaplain; the body was
loAvered into the grave, and Ave returned in the same
order to the boats, and from thence on board the ship.
August 5. — We had now filled all the water-casks ;
with a large supply of Avood, hogs, cocoa-nuts, &c. ;
nothing remained to detain us but coal, which Avould be
ready in two days. This last death, by its violence,
awakened again the superstitious notions of the creAV,
and it Avas currently believed that Ave should have bad
luck during the remainder of. the voyage. So deeply
was this belief impressed upon the minds of the men,
that it caused a general apathy, Avhich required all the
exertions and ingenuity of /the captain and officers -to
dispel. I recollect, about this period, while engaged in
a dog-watch beloAv, teaching Jack Sawyer his letters,
that he broke off abruptly from his study, and said, —
"Youngster, since Joe Davis tumbled off that hill
and knocked his brains out, I've bowsed my thinking
tacks close doAvn to the 'bumpkin-head. That's a lone
some graveyard yonder," continued he, mournfully ; " but
what's the odds ? Bill Harris says every word in the
Bible is true ; if it be so, Avhy then, d'ye see, Joe Davis
Avill come up from under hatches, just the same as if he
Avas decently seAved up in his hammock and tumbled
into the sea ; yes, youngster, I suppose it's no great
matter Avhether our carcasses fill the belly of a hungry
shark or make grub for the worms."
The conversation between us assumed a very serious
air, and half an hour of the dog-watch Avas spent in
reading the Bible, at the request of Jack, Avho sat resting
his chin upon his hand, listening with the most profound
attention. August 8. — Having hoav taken on board the coals,
say three hundred bushels, which was'the product of the
pit, and having filled every spare vessel on board with
Avater, and the necessary repairs and overhauling of the
ship being completed, we got under way, made all sail, and-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 95
stood out to sea Avith a fine breeze' from thenorthAvard.
bound, as we understood, to the leeward coast. 1 began
now, more seriously than ever, to reflect upon the av hole-
some advice received from my good old uncle previously
to my embarking on this voyage — especially that part
of it on Avhich he laid so much stress, viz., to read the
Bible regularly. . I confess I had already imbibed a
degree of superstition, and Avas one among the many
Avho believed that the ship Avould not return to our
native land without the loss of many of the crew. The
aAvful tragedy I had just Avitnessed, and the desolation
of that lonely spot Avhere the body Avas interred, all
conspired to make a deep impression on my mind ; and,
1 suppose, to throw a shade of melancholy over my usual
vivacity. Young as I was, being then scarcely eighteen,
reflections on the instability of human affairs Avould not
unfrequently occupy my thoughts.
August 9. — The ship iioav bounded over the sea Avith
a fine breeze, standing down tOAvards the leeward coast.
It was soon ascertained, from the alteration in the course,
that Ave should again visit the coast, but not as far to
leeward as Avas contemplated AA^hen Ave left .the island.
We hauled our wind accordingly; and, on the 10th,
made the coast in latitude 9° 30' north. Captain W.,
judging that we Avere a sufficient distance from the
rendezvous of men-of-war, determined to go into the
Bay of Moro Hermosa, Avhich lies in north latitude
9° 45', west longitude 85° 5'. Ran close in Avith the
land, and saw the bay at 2 P. M., bearing east-north-east
four leagues distant. The necessary preparations Avere
made to anchor ; we stood into the bay, and at 5 P. M.
anchored Avith the small boAver, in twenty-five fathoms
water, distant one mile from the shore. Here/, as in
almost every other port to the northward of the line, the
surf runs very high, and the landing is attended with
considerable difficulty.
August 12. — This morning hoisted out three boats,
into which were put a kedge-anchor, buoy-lines, <fcc,
and, as usual, it fell to my lot — being bow-man of the
second cutter, which was a light boat — to go on shore.

j6 LIFE ON T3E OCEAN.
In landing,, as described ir. a preceding part of this
work, we used the same means, viz., running a line
ashore, with one end made fast there, the other fastened
to a buoy, which Avas bent to the kedge-auchor out
side of the breakers. The landing being effected Avith
three boats, nothing was to be seen except two misera
ble huts; to them we proceeded, and learned from the
inmates that the village, or town, was situated in a
valley about a league distant. We despatched a mes
senger to give information as to the nature of our
business. It was not long befbre a party of about a
dozen Spaniards were seen riding towards the" place of
landing. Our conference with them was short : they,
appearing '„o have no information as to the character of
our ship, or of the affair to windward, were anxious to
go on board to make purchases, being, as they informed
us, in great Avant of wearing apparel, as Avell as linens, &c.
Consequently, a very lucrative business Avas carried on
with them during the few days Ave remained. Among
this group of Spaniards, Ave were surprised to see an
American sailor, who had arrived there a feAv days pre
vious, in a small coasting vessel, from Guayaquil. He
having been in Callao, Avhere the lugger arrived after
the.action, through him we learned her disastrous fate,
He said the captain of the lugger was an Irishman,
and had repeatedly been on board of us ; consequently
knew our strength, and prepared the lugger for a suc
cessful reribounter — that he, with more than tAventy
others, were killed, many Avere wounded, and the lug
ger was literally riddled in her hull, and her masts, bow
sprit, &rc\, cut away. This man shipped oh board of us
for the voyage.
August 20. — The prospect of disposing of any more
goods being now over, having got on board at . least .
$40,000 in specie at Moro Hermosa, and Capt. W. not
wishing to remain long at any one place, we got under
Avay, and stood to sea, keeping the coast in sight, as our
next destination was Realejo.
August 24. — Hauled into the land, and at 10 A. M. en
tered tho Bay of Realejo, and anchored in twenty fathomJ,

*"'£

31

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 97
water, a mile distant from the shore. This port, or har
bor, is formed by a deep bay, about four miles Avide at
its entrance, and the depth is about one league to the
anchoring ground. It affords no shelter whatever from
the prevailing Avinds on this coast. Realejo is situated
in the parallel of 12° 27' north latitude, and 87° 5'
west longitude. The tOAvn consists of about thirty
houses similar to those described to AvindAvard. The
customs and habits of the people were much the same,
and if we had formed art opinion from their exterior ap
pearance, which indicated extreme poverty, we should
not have remained long at this place ; but when we
3ntered their habitations, we found all their household
.itensils Avere made of silver ; and, to our great surprise,
We learned from the people, that they had never seen'
a vessel, except a Spanish galleon, which had touched
there about twenty years previous ; .consequently, they
were exceedingly anxious to visit our ship. We gave
them an opportunity to indulge their curiosity, and be
fore Ave left the place nearly all the inhabitants Of the
town had paid us a visit. They were much gratified.
We found them to be a pleasant and agreeable people,
and sold them a large amount of merchandise.
September 5. — Weighed anchor this morning, stood
out of the bay, and ran down the coast, under easy sai',
during the night. In the morning, September 6th, stood
in close to the land, and saw Point Remedios, bearing
south-east ; ran to leeward of the point, and sent two
boats ashore ; there being no surf, a landing Avas effected
without difficulty. With, the exception of two small
huts, Ayhich were a little way from the beach, we learned
that the nearest settlement was ten leagues distant.
The people, hoAvever, offered to inform the inhabitants
of that settlement of the arrival of the ship and the na
ture of our business, in all of which we acquiesced. As
there was good anchorage to the northward of the point,
the ship was run in, and anchored in fifteeri fathoms
water, two miles from the s'.iore. The next day, Sep
tember 7th, proceeded with the boats on shore, and

98 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
found the Spaniards anxiously waiting to go on board.
A number of them went off, and at this place we effected
sales to the amount of about $20,000.
September 15. — Weighed anchor, and stood out ; and
as we Avere now approaching Acapulco, the rendezvous
for Spanish galleons, it became necessary for us to' pro
ceed with great caution, especially as they are always
under strong convoy. We also received in formation f at
the last port, that tAvo sail had been seen, Avhich Avere
supposed to be a galleon, under convoy of a frigate.
From the last date until October 24th, nothing remark
able transpired. We touched at several small ports, and
at every place effected sales of our cargo.
October 25. — Weighed anchor from Puerto Veritosa,
Avhich lies in the parallel of 16° 6' north latitude, and
95° 22' west longitude. Our near proximity to Aca
pulco determined Captain W. to stand out to sea, and
make a good offing, so as to avoid the Spanish men-of-
war, if any might be there. Accordingly, all sail Avas
carried during this day and night. On the morning of
the 26th it fell dead calm, and very soon the heavens
were overspread with blackness. At 8 A. M., the rain
began to fall in torrents, attended Avith severe thunder,
and the most vivid flashes of lightning 'that I had ever
beheld, Avhich continued; Avithout intermission, until 5
P. M. .During the Avhole of this time, not a breath of air
was stirring ; and, to add to the horror of the scene, an
immense number of sharks were seen around us, as far as
the eye could extend, one of which, -although the an
nouncement may appear incredible to the reader, ex
tended from the forward part of the fore-channels to the
after part of the mizzen-channels of the ship, — and as she
was one hundred and thirty-five feet long, consequently
the shark must have been at least eighty feet in length.
At the same time, innumerable dolphins were hooked or
grained, but were torn to pieces by the ravenous sharks
before they could be got on board. ' At sunset a light
air sprang up, and we stood away to the northward.

00

CHAPTER IX.
EXCITING CHASE AND ESCAPE  SUPERSTITION OF SEAMEN -
FALL OF THE AUTHOR FROM THE FORETOP, AND LOSS OF *
MAN OVERBOARD — SAIL- FOR SHELVACK's ISLAND.
October 27. — At daylight, the exciting cry of "Sail
ho ! " was heard from the mast-head, bearing four points
abaft the weather beam, and at so short a distance that
her character was distinctly made out to be that of a
man-of-war. All hands were immediately called to be
in readiness to make sail, it being the intention of Capt.
W. to ascertain, if possible, to what nation the stranger
belonged. As we had not altered our course, every
doubt was soon removed, for the, stranger bore down
upon us under a heavy press of sail, displaying a large
Spanish ensign. By this time she was neaily within
gun-shot, and would probably gain upon us before we
could get sail upon the ship.
" Hard-a-starboard ! Uway aloft there, and loose all the
light sails ; set studding-sails, alow and aloft ; haul the
sheets close home ; sway up the yards taut ; haul in the
starboard braces ! " — were the orders given by Captain
W., in quick succession.
In fifteen minutes, every rag of canvass was spread to
the breeze, every "sail Avas trimmed in a seaman-like
manner, and the ship was going off before the Avind,
Avith a moderate breeze, at "the rate of seven knots. We
had noAV brought the enemy exactly iu our wake, and
perceived that, while making sail, she had gained a little
upon us. The utmost anxiety prevailed throughout the
ship, for it was clear that, in the last fifteen minutes, she
had neared us.
10

100 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
" Run the guns off the forecastle to the main deck,"
said Captain W.
This order was immediately obeyed ; silence! prevailed,
and every eye was directed to, the vessel in chase.- At
this point the frigate made a slight yaw ; a broad sheet of
flame issued from her boAV-chasers ; and the next instant
a shot cut away our larboard loAver studding-sail-boom.
" Secure the studding-sail, and get another boom out ;
set the spanker, and haul the boom well forward with
the guy," said Captain W.
This was the work of a few minutes; a' spar was soon
got out and rigged, and the lower studding-sail was set
in ten minutes. Purchases were noAV rigged at the
yard-arms, water was drawn up, and every sail Avas wet
fore and aft the ship. The next half hour, no percepti
ble difference could be seen in the relative distance of
the two ships. The wind had freshened, and we were
now running at the rate of ten and a half knots.
It was'now evident we held way with the chase, and
we began to entertain hopes that we might hold our
position good until night, and, under its cover, elude
the enemy — if, in the mean time, the frigate did not "cut
away some of our spars, as she Avas now within less than
gun-shot of us. Another broad yaAv, and her forward
division was sent streaming after us, but with so little
precision, that the shot fell ahead of us a considerable
distance from the starboard boAV.
" Well," said an old tar, " give us two or three more
of your broad yaws and boAv-chasers, and, my life for it,
you'll miss your prize this day."
But the enemy Avas no laggard ; she held her way,
notwithstanding the disadvantage of yawing' and firing
her bow-chasers. At 8 A. M., a large shark was seen
following in our wake, and this, to a sailor, is always
an ill omen ; and in vieAv of the circumstances under
which we were now placed, the omen, trivial as it was,
seemed to weigh with double force upon the minds of
the crew. The wind now blew strong, so that we were
obliged to take in sky-sails and royal-studding-sails.

LIFE ON THE OCCAN. 101
Again the frigate sent another message after us in the
shape of a thirty-two-] ound shot, Avhich fell ahead ; at
the same moment, having a press of sail on her main
mast, away Avent the top-gallantmast, with all the sails
and spars connected with and above it. This appeared
to throw them into great confusion. ¦ Three cheers Avere
now given by our crew.
" Run that long nine-pounder from midships aft, and
Ave Avill let the Spaniard hear from us," said Captain W.
"Ay, ay ! " said an old salt — who, by the way, was
captain of the gun called "Nancy Dawson." "Nancy
has had something to boast of in her time, and she'll
be proud to have some small talk with that cut-throat,
yonder." The gun was elevated by the old tar, who, at the same
time, held a conversation with his favorite ; and when
all was ready, the order was given to fire, and imme
diately the stars and stripes were hoisted at the peak.
In a short time, the smoke cleared away, and with
the aid of the glass, it was perceived -that her crotchet-
yard was cut away. An exchange of shots between
us was kept up for half an hour, during which Ave
had gained upon the. chase, at least a mile ; and the
next half hour, the distance was so much /increased
between the two ships — ours being about three miles
ahead — that the frigate gave up the chase, and hauled
upon a Avind.
The shark before mentioned was still in sight, follow
ing on, although the ship Avas bounding through the
water at the rate of eleven knots. Though we had got
rid of one enemy, yet a secret dread seemed to prevail
with many of the crew in reference to the vieAvs of the
other still keeping us company. It was my forenoon
watch below, and the general topic of conversation was
about the shark. One old sailor affirmed that, while he
was coming home from the East Indies, a shark followed
the ship three days, and that there were three hands
on the sick list at the same time, and that on the third
day, one of the men died, was sewn up in his hammock,

J.02 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
and thrown overboard ; and that the shark was seen fif
teen minutes before he Avas launched into the deep, but
that no man on board saw him afterwards. Another
sailor swore that, on an outward-bound voyage to the
West Indies, a shark followed the brig twenty-four hours;
at the expiration of which period, one of the crew fell
from the mast-head overboard, and that the shark seized
him as quick as he struck the water.
At 11 A. M., the Spanish frigate was out of sight, and
at meridian, the wind hauled to" the larboard quarter, -
the starboard studding-sails were taken in, and as there
were no light sails set forward, having run al] the
morning before the Avind, orders were given to loose
the fore-topgallant-sails, and set the larboard topgallant
studding-sails. The top-men in the larboard watch had
already come down from the tops ; and, as I belonged to
the fore-top at this lime, I sprang into the rigging ;
another 'top-man following me as soon as the order was
given. .While ascending the futtock shrouds, to get
into the topmast rigging, the man-rope, which had been
fitted but a few days before, parted, causing me to fall ;
in my descent, I struck my shipmate, which broke his
hold, and threw him overboard, Avhile I caught by the
lanyards - of the fore-rigging. We rounded to im
mediately, and carried away many, of our light spars ;
but the poor felloAV was never seen afterwards, and the
aAvful tragedy of his fate Avas soon manifest by the traces
of blood Avhich Avere seen upon the surface of the Avater.
The shark, however, was seen no more.
October 28.' — Our next destination was the Gulf of
.California; but, as it was -probable that the frigate would
go into Acapulco, it Avas thought most prudent by Cap
tain W. to delay the time of entering the gulf to a re
moter period ; and it was therefore- concluded to spend
a month in taking seals at Shelvack's Island.
All sail was made, and Ave steered away from the
Avest-north-west with a cracking breeze from the east-
Avard. From the circumstance of the chase, and the
loss of one among the best seamen we had on hoard,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 103
taken iu connection with our recent misfortunes, tb*)
opinion became prevalent among the creAV, that our
craft was an unlucky ship. A youthful seaman, Avho
belonged to Boston, said- that he saw the ship Avhen she
Avas on the stocks, and affirmed that. Avhile she was
being planked up, the staging broke down, and fractured
the skull of one man, and broke the ribs of another. The
same youth affirmed, furthermore, that, he had heard,
.while the ship Avas on her second voyage to Liverpool,
that a man was lost overboard in the night from off the
main-topsail-yard while reefing the sail. I perceived that
it made a very deep impression upon my old topmate,
Jack Sawyer: although he never flinched from the most
daring enterprise, or dangerous duty, yet he Avould often
remind me, Avhen aloft, of the mournful fate of Jerry
Wingate, and of my Avonderful escape from the jaAVS
of the shark. " One hand for yourself, youngster,"
said he one night, while we Avere furling the fore-top-
-gallant-sail in a heavy squall. She was running furious
ly before the wind at the time, and rolling heavily ; the
topsails being cleAved down on the cap, she was without
any canvass to steady her. It Avas a thoughtful sugges
tion, for at that moment a gust of Avind took the leech
of the sail from my grasp, and threw it over my head.
'•' Hold on ! " shouted Jack, and as quick as thought he
sprang out on the quarter of the yard, and I felt his iron
grasp around my body. Fortunately the bunt-gasket
had been made fast before the sail bleAv from my gripe,
or the A'oyage of life would probably have been up Avith
every one on the yard.
" Youngster," said Jack, after we had got doAvri into
the foretop, (for Ave had both been transferred to that sta
tion,) " I don't half like this ship ; for I have a notion Ave
shall have bad luck all the cruise, and, take my Avoid for
it, this craft Avill not die a natural death, but come to
some bad end. I don't knoAV hoAV it is, but I've had
queer -kind of feelings, especially Avhen I saAV one of your
pins tc-night, looking up to these black clouds, just for
ail the world as if it was singing out for help from the
¦10*

104 LIFE ON THE OCE \N.
other ; but I say," youngster, when 'my flipper is within
grabbing-hold of your carcass, you're safe, or we both
go to Davy Jones's together." Jack meant just Avhat.he
said, for he Avas as true-hearted a sailor as ever floated
upon the ocean.
November 4. — During the preceding seven days, the
wind continued fresh from the eastAvard, and the
weather generally good ; occasionally, however, inter
rupted Avith severe squalls of wind and rain. This
morning was cloudy, and appearances indicated that the
island was not far distant, for land birds appeared, and
pieces of wood were seen floating on the water ; and in
deed Ave expected to make the island that day, and were
not disappointed in our hopes, for, at 4 P. M., " Land
ho ! " was sung out from the mast-head, bearing west-
* north-west, distant 12 leagues. Its appearance, at first
sight, from its immense height, was like a cloud rising
from the sea ; but the practised eye of the seaman aloft
soon distinguished it to be land, from the deep blue in
dented lines and spots which marked its summit. All
the light sails Avere now taken in, and the courses, jib,
and spanker, Avere furled, and the usual preparations made
for coming to an anchor. The distance from the island
being so great that it was impossible to reach the an
chorage-ground before night shut in,- Ave ran along, under
easy sail, until midnight, and then hove to, the island
being in sight.
November 5. — At daylight, the island Avas about six
miles distant, and the anchorage was at the extreme
south-west end ; bore aAvay, and stood in. At eight
A. M., rounded the westernmost point, and anchored
Avith the small boAver in fifteen fathoms Avater, .onex
mile from the shore. At this island vessels have no
shelter whatever, and it is Avell that in these lati
tudes storms of long duration are not prevalent. The
shore, with one or two exceptions, is completely lined
with rocks, which would inevitably prove fatal to any
ship that should be so unfortunate as to be driven
on shore. The island is high, and presents a most un-

LIFE DN THE OCEAN. > 105
promising appearance of barrel ness and sterility, the
whole surface being nearly covered with rocks and
stones, except, here and there, a spot of shrubbery or
verdure is seen to relieve the eye from this wild and in
hospitable prospect. There is also a small, round island,
detached from the main one by a channel half a mile
wide, and Avhich differs in every respect from the larger
island, as it is covered with trees and verdure, and pre
sents the most striking contrast ; so that the mind can
scarcely conceive any connectiqn ever to have existed
between the two islands. We landed in our boats, and
the first object Ave had in view was to ascertain if water
could be procured. After the most diligent search, how
ever, for nearly a whole day, we were disappointed, nor
did we find any during our stay,-except one very in
considerable spring of fresh water, which undoubtedly
-must be dry many months in the year. With this ex
ception, and some rain water Avhich had lodged on the
indented rocks, this valuable support of nature was not
found on the island.
We were not ashore many hours before we saw great
numbers of seal crawling upon a sandy beach, which is
their usual custom about mid-day, for the benefit of the
sun. We threAV ourselves on the rocks, and lay perfectly
quiet for^an hour, watching their movements. It Avas a
curious sight, as they evince much sagacity in their
arrangements for a nap, which are as follows: An old
whig, the male seal, takes a station on the extreme right ;
the old clap-match, which is the female seal, is on the
extreme left.- Regular platoons of the younger seals are
formed from the edge of the water to a distance of about
fifty yards upon the beach, — and, what is more singular,
the most advantageous position is chosen by each to
back off into the water in case of attack or alarm.
The old seals before mentioned never sleep while on
duty. As there were but few of us on shore at this
time, arid not . being prepared for killing them, we re
mained quiet upon the rocks until they had finished
their nap, in the hot sun, of about two hours, and thep

106 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
saw them back quietly off into the Avater, the old seals
being the last to submerge into the waves. The next
day it was determined that va party, consisting of forty
men, should land early, for the purpose of killing seals,
and the necessary preparations were made, such as pro
curing clubs, with an iron ring at one end, stakes,
beams, &c, to dry the skins upon.
¦ November 8. — Early this morning we repaired to the
shore, making a division of our number ; one .party
taking the extreme right of the sand-beach, and the
other party the extreme left. At either end of this
beach there were rocks, upon which the parties lay, so
as to be hid from the seals. Upon a signal given, both
parties Avere to rush simultaneously between the seals and
the water, and commence the dire work of slaying _as
fast as possible. We lay on the rocks nearly four hours
before a single seal made its- appearance. At length,
about half past ten, some old whigs and clap-matches
came to the shore, followed by great numbers of younger
and smaller -seals. They proceeded to form, in the
same order as. before described, and it was not until
half past eleven that the last of them came on shore.
The sun shone exceedingly Avarm, and the seals soon
fell asleep. There were tAvo old sealers among the
crew, who said it would not. do to attack them for half
an hour. This " rookery " (Avhich is the name given
by sealers to a large number collected together) was
thought by the second officer, Mr. C, to contain twenty
thousand. The time arriving for the attack, the signal
was made ; we rushed Avith impetuosity down the rocks
on the beach, betAV-een the seals and the Avater, and with
an unsparing hand began the Avork of death. A slight
blow Avith the club on the head Avas sufficient /or the
young " pups," but it was not quite so easy a task- with
the old " whigs " and' " clap-matches ; " and the Avork of
death with them was attended with some hazard ; espe
cially if, in the rencounter; the man si ould happen to
fall ; in that case he would be torn to pieces by these
huge animals, fur their mouths are as large as that of a

LIFE ON THE OCEA^. 107
lion. This battle caused me considerable .terror, it be
ing the first in Avhich 1 made one of the party, or had
ever witnessed. What Avith the roaring of the old "seals,
maddened to desperation, and the yelping of the young
pups, together Avith the shouts of the' crew, formed, to
my mind, a kind of Pandemonium sacue, from which I
should have been exceedingly glad to have escaped.
The work of death Avas soon o\rer, the great majority of
the seals having made their escape to the water j never
theless, Ave had obtained a great victory, the trophies of
which Avere tAvo thousand five hundred seal. They
were of .the very best kind of fur seal, and the work of
skinning and beaming now commenced; but night
coming on before it Avas half finished, Ave returned to
the ship.
Early the next morning Ave renewed our labor with
the seal, and before (the dinner hour arrived, we had
them all finished and spread out to dry. A party of men
straggled away to another part of the island, where
they saw a number of skeletons qf the sea-elephant ; but
they were destined in this ramble to fall in with a sight
Avhich petrified them Avith horror ; it was no less than
the skeletons of seven human beings, who, no doubt,
had been left on the island for the purpose of getting
elephant oil and seal ; and probably the vessel to AvMch
they belonged was lost, and these poor fellows perished,
-for want of provisions and water. This idea was cor
roborated, as the party fell jn Avith the remains of a
hut, and many places Avhere fires had been made.
The bones were collected together, and put under ground.
It Avas necessary that the seal-skins should remain on
the stake five or six days, before they would be suffi
ciently dry to pack away without injury, and a tent
was erected on shore, and a party left to guard them
against — Ave knew not Avhat, except it might be some
deer, Avhich were seen on the hills, and they, it was
presumed, would neither carry them off nor eat them.
During our stay here, Ave killed about seven hundred, in
addition to our former number, which made a comple-

108 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
ment of about three thousand tAvo hundred skins— a
valuable acquisition for the Canton market.
November 11. — As we had seen a number of deer
upon the small island, a party-Avas- sent ashore in three
boats, to endeavor, if possible, to kill some of them.
Twenty men landed, and ascended in a body to the
most elevated part. Separating, and spreading them
selves, they descended at the same time, shouting at the
top of their voices, which frightened the deer, and, as is
usual with them Avhen hotly chased, they took to the
water. The boat's crew, being in readiness, shot seven,
and caught two alive, one of which became so tame,
that he would, feed like a puppy about the decks, and
we carried him the voyage round.
November 15. — During the preceding days, a part of
the crew were employed in the usual duties of the ship,
while others Avere engaged in exploring the island.
Nothing new or rare, however, was obtained from this
inhospitable spot. We caught fish in great numbers;
and, if fresh water could have been obtained, our sojourn
there would have been exceedingly advantageous.
November 16. — -The skins, being now completely
dry, were packed in boxes, and taken off to the ship,
and the remainder of this day, as well as* the 17th, we
were engaged in killing sea-eiephants, two of which Ave
captured with much difficulty, having fired about a
dozen musket-balls into their bodies, and lanced them
until they were literally cut to pieces. Incredible as it
may appear, one of them yielded seven barrels of oil.

109

CHAPTER X.
SAIL FOR THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA  FRIENDLY RECEPTION AND
AGREEABLE INTERCOURSE AVITH THE SPANIARDS AT GUIMAS.
November 18. — We had now completed the object
for which we had come to the island ; and having
remained here twenty-one days, it Avas the opinion of
Captain W. that we should incur no risk in proceeding
immediately to the Gulf of California. Weighed anchor
at 8 A. M., made all sail, with the wind from the north-
Avard, and steered away from the island to the eastward,
the weather becoming cloudy, with occasional squalls
and variable Avinds, The gloom had now in some de
gree worn away, and all appeared in good spirits, espe
cially as it was thought Ave should finish the sales of our
cargo on the coast of California j and although we had
a long cruise before us, when we should leave this coast.
yet, even in prospect, it Avas hailed by every man on
board, as being homeward-bound.
November 21. — The last three days, nothing worthy
of note or comment transpired : every advantage of the
shifts of wind was taken, arid this day Ave entered the
Gulf of California. It may be Avell here to remark, that
Capt. W. Avas an old north- Avest trader, and, consequent
ly, was Avell acquainted on this coast ; and he was san
guine in the belief that two ports in California; would
terminate the business of the ship on the Spanish coast ;
after which we were to proceed northward, to dispose
of some articles adapted to the Indians of that coast,-
and, if possible, to procure otter-skins in exchange.
November 22. — At 6 A. M., prepared to anchor in the
Bay of Guimas, Avhich lies twenty leagues eastward of
Cape Corientes. At 10 A. M., saw the town of Guimas
and its beautiful bay ; stood boldly in, and anchored
11

110 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
with the small bower, in ten fathoms Avater, two miles
from the shore. This town, although small, is garrisoned
by a fort mounting ten guns, with a complement of fifty
men under the command of a colonel. It is a place of
some importance, because it is the nearest port on the
Pacific Ocean to the city of Mexico. The reason for
bur anchoring at so great a distance, was to be out of
gun-shot of the fort, and avoid all intercourse until Ave
could settle upon a plan of operations for trade. The
whole of this day we Avaited anxiously for some com
munication from the shore, but, as none Avas apparent,
we lifted our anchor and dropped in so as to be within
short gun-shot of the fort This was done in order to
cover our boats, it being the intention to land next
morning. During the night, a sharp look-out was kept
up. In the morning, according to previous arrangement,
a boat, bearing the white flag ih the bows, was sent
on shore, under the command of the third officer, with
the interpreter. They were received v'e*y courteously
by the colonel, and the strongest expressions of pleasure
and satisfaction Avere evinced at the sight of our noble
ship, more especially when they understood the nature
of our business. It Avas said by them that no foreign
ship had ever visited. this place, and that the whole
country was in the greatest Avant of articles, such as
linens of every description, muslins, cottons, &c. None
of those fabrics Avere to be had throughout the whole.
coast and country, except in the cify of Mexico. The
colonel Avas politely invited to go, on board, Avhich in
vitation he immediately accepted, and no distrust or
fear was manifested by any of the Spaniards, .who had
come doAvn in great numbers to the beach where
the boat landed. The boat returned to the ship Avith
the Spanish colonel, Tvho Avas received Avith the most
marked attention, and he seemed perfectly amazed and
delighted when he beheld the beautiful symmetrv of
our ship, her perfect cleanliness, ajid the order and regu
larity of her battery ; and no marvel, for this was the
first time he had ever set his foot on board of a ship.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. Ill
He appeared to regard the officers and crew as a race of
superior beings, at the same time expressing freely his
opinion in relation to our force, Avhich had been magnified
by us to a much greater degree than it really was. No
consideration, hoAvever, would induce him to permit us to
trade, unless the consent of the viceroy could be obtained,
of which he expressed not the least doubt, and offered to
despatch a courier immediately to the city of Mexico, to
obtain permission to trade, as well as the fixed rate of
duties. This Avas all fair and reasonable, and Captain W.
determined to wait patiently the result. As to the rate
of duties, it was a mere matter of moonshine to us, so
that we obtained permission to sell. An invitation
Avas given to the colonel to visit the ship, and a gen
eral invitation was sent on shore to all the inhabitants to
the same effect. Among our crew there were a number
of musicians, who had formed themselves into a kind of
band, and, although their music was not as ravishing as
it might have been under other circumstances, yet it
afforded exquisite enjoyment to those Avho had never
heard better. These men were ordered to keep them
selves constantly clean, and be in readiness to salute
the delicate ears of the Spaniards with a concord of
SAveet sounds. In a word, the decks were cleared ; and
every thing connected with the ship, — her discipline,
cleanliness, &c, — was in the most perfect order. No
other duty was permitted to go on except the boat ser
vice, in transporting the Spaniards to and from the ship.
Every morning a gun Avas fired, and the ship Avas dressed
and decorated, fore-and-aft, with the flags of almost every
civilized nation, in addition to a number of signals which
were on board. The most friendly intercourse was
kept up between the inhabitants, our officers, and crew ;
many of the Spaniards,' of both sexes, dined on board
from, time to time ; but that Avhich seemed to delight
them more than any thing else was our music; Avhich,
poor as it was, to them«-Avas a source of great pleasure.
The great contrast of complexion, beauty; and manli
ness of many of our crew, to those of the Spaniards,

112 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
caused a number of the young Spanish damsels to lose
-their hearts.
The news of our arrival having spread abroad in the
country, great numbers came down and pitched their
tents, so as to have a fair vieAv of the ship ; and it is
ho exaggeration in stating, that at least one million of
Spanish dollars, platina, and old plate, were lying or
the beach in their tents, brought here for the pur
pose of trade. Indeed, many of their cooking utensils
as well as other articles of furniture, were made of
silver. But they were destitute of almost every article
of wearing apparel, and it was curious to see the
Spaniards with their families. The dress of the male
consisted of a straw hat, a camisa, or shirt, of coarse
linen, and breeches of the same material, Avith old
silk stockings, procured, as we understood, from the
city of Mexico, and a pair of thin slippers, which com
pleted his whole costume. The dress of the females
(some of whom were beautiful, especially the younger
part) corresponded exactly, as to quality, Avith that of the
males ; their garments were made badly, and worn sloven
ly. Such, then, is the description of a Spaniard and his
family, who had Avith them at least fifty thousand dol
lars. I have actually seen a young female, whose vest
ments were not worth one dollar, Avearing a string of
pearls around her neck which would sell in any Eu
ropean market for a thousand.
December 7. — This day, despatches were received
from Mexico by the Spanish colonel, granting -us per;*
mission to sell the cargo ; with the proviso that fifteen
per cent, duties should be secured to the government.
This was good news, indeed, for a few days of unin
terrupted business Avould , close our operations on the
Spanish coast. All of the officers were employed in
effecting sales of the cargo ; and so great Avas the demand
for linens of every description, thaty incredible as it may
appear, coarse Irish linens sold from eighty to one hun
dred dollars per piece ; German platillas at eighty dollars
per piece ; silk stockings eighty-four dollars per dozent

LIFE ON THE O^EAN. 113
calicoes from four to seven dollars per yard ; and every
article of merchandise thit suited the buyers was sold
in the same proportions. The men also found a ready
sale, and large prices, for their private adventures. While
our business was progressing, and that too in the most
advantageous manner, dinner-parties Avere frequently
given on board to the Spaniards, and the same' compli
ment was returned by them to the captain, officers, and
many of the creAV, on shore. Thus the time passed
aAvay in the greatest harmony. So. strong did the
attachment become for our crew by the Spaniards, both
male and female, that many of us Ayere pressed by them
to leave the ship, and settle with them. L cannot omit
here noticing a circumstance Avhich took place at this
time. A young sailor, belonging to the ship, of fine
appearance and prepossessing manners, had the good
fortune to captivate the heart of one of the young dam
sels. Her father was a rich old Don, and she an only
daughter; and as the young sailor belonged to one of
the boats, he consequently had frequent opportunities
of intercourse Avith the fair one. He Avas loaded with
presents of every description, such as _the place could
afford ; and when the departure of the ship Avas talked
of, she would express a determination either to go in
the ship herself, or that her lover should remain on
shore. Matters stood thus until the time of our depart
ure had nearly arrived, when she importuned her father
to obtain leave from Captain W. for her lover to remain
in the country ; but, although he had managed this love
affair very adroitly with the senorita, yet his passion did
not become so. violent as to induce him to abandon his
ship and his country, and remain among the Spaniards.
The young lady Avas inconsolable at his refusal, and so
the matter ended.-
December 22. — The last fifteen days, as before stated,
Ave Avere assiduously employed in making sales of the
cargo, and transporting the merchandise on shore. We
had noAV sold nearly all the goods, with the exception
~of about 'twenty cases of-muslins, which did not suit

114 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. '
that market, and some* articles which were expressly
adapted to the northern coast, to barter fof otter-skins.
The amount of our sales in this place was one hundred
and forty thousand dollars ; say, ninety thousand Spanish
dollars, forty thousand dollars in old plate, and ten thou
sand dollars in platina and pearls.
We filled all our water-casks, got off twenty bullocks
and great quantities of fruit : here, also, were yams in
great abundance, a good substitute for potatoes, an arti
cle of all others the most desirable for the ship's com
pany ; consequently, we took on board a large supply.
December 23! — As the time of our departure Avas fixed
for the 25th, a large and splendid -dinner was given on
board by Capt. W. to about fifty Spanish ladies and
gentlemen. In the morning, the ship was dressed, the
yards were manned, and. a national salute was fired.
The day passed off Avith great glee and merriment,
and to the unspeakable satisfaction of all parties. An
hour before sunset, when the company was about to
return on shore, the yards were again manned, and
another salute given ; and thus ended the intercourse,
which to them Avas highly gratifying, and to us exceed
ingly profitable. On the afternoon of the 24th, being
ou shore Avith the boats, I had an .opportunity of wit
nessing the apparent estimation with Avhich these people •
regarded us. They Avere aAvare that this Avas the last
interview that we should have with them, and they ap
peared to regret it exceedingly. To some of the crew
they presented crucifixes, and to others a rosary of beads,
or a precious relic of some saint. One of the young
senoritas gave a youthful sailor an image of the Virgin,
and requested him to Avear it over the region of the
heart. She assured him that it Avould be a protection
in the hour of danger, &c. After having loaded us Avith
presents, we exchanged the parting adieus, not Avithout
feelings of regret and sorroAV on both sides, as we had.
Spent many pleasant hours in this place.
. JDecember 25. — Weighed anchor and made all sail,
with a fine breeze from the eastward, and stood out of "

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 116
the Bay of Guimas to the northward. The feelings of
regret, which seemed to pervade the minds of the crew
on leaving this port, Avere very natural, because it
Avas the first social intercourse we had enjoyed Avith the
female sex since our departure from Boston. But these
feelings soon gaA'e Avay to those of a more intense
character, viz., the prospect of a speedy termination of
our business on this coast. Captain W. resQlved to
touch at St. Joseph's as the last port, in order, if possi
ble, to effect sales of the few cases of muslins, Avhich
were all that remained of the cargo intended for this coast.
December 29. — Nothing material occurred during.the
last four days. At 2 P. M., saAv the Bay of St. Joseph's
bearing north-west, eight leagues, and stood in with a
fine breeze, and anchored at 6 P. M., in seventeen fathoms
water, two miles from the shore. This bay is in latitude
23° 4' north, and 109° 42' west longitude. We sent the
boats on shore next m.orning, and very soon ascertained
that no sales could be effected in this place, as the
principal persons belonging to "the town had visited
Guimas, and purchased a supply of goods from us while
there. The inhabitants Avere exceedingly friendly, an,T
loaded the boats with fruit. The boats returned /a.
board, and, when the above information was reeved
by Captain W., he decided immediately to go to the
northern coast.
December 31. — Got under way this morning, with a
fine bieeze from south-east ; made all sail, and stood to
the northAvard and westward, our next destination being
the Bay of Todos Santos. The communication with the
Spanish coast, where any danger could be apprehended
from cruisers, was hoav at an end. Our cargo had been
disposed of to great advantage, and all that remained
were the few cases of muslins, a matter of very small
importance, Avhen compared to the probable detention
of the ship to sell them ;" and it was expected that one or
tAvo ports on the northern coast would be sufficient to
dispose of what articles Ave had adapted to that market.
January 1, 1809. — The weather now became dark

116 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
and cloudy, with occasional squalls, and, although ' we
were yet within the limits of the trade winds, we
, had no steady trades since Ave left the parallel of 20°
north. January 2. — We had strong breezes and cloudy
weather, which obliged us to take in our light sails.
Indeed, we had been cruising so long on the Spanish
coast, with uninterrupted fine weather and fair Avinds,
that the changes Avhich Ave uoav began to experience,
, while increasing our latitude, proved quite a novelty.
January 4. — This day, as well as the preceding, we
continued under a press of sail, standing to the north
ward. At meridian, observed in latitude 31° 29'. The
land being in sight, stood in for the Bay of Todos Santos,
which lies in the parallel of 31° 36' north latitude, 116°
22' west longitude. At 5. P. M., anchored in ten
fathoms Avater, three miles from the shore. •
January 5. — Sent the boats on shore to look for the
best landing-place, with orders to proceed *with great
caution ; and in no case to land, if they saw any appear
ance of treachery among the Indians. The boats pro
ceeded, and found it difficult to land, the water being-
shoal at a great distance from the beach, and the breakers
reaching at least half a mile outside ; although they
were not high, yet oftentimes they would capsize the
boats. The men, however, effected a landing, to the
great surprise of the Indians and Spaniards who Avere
there, and who pointed out a landing-place farther to the
westAvard, of much greater security. The object of
our visit was made known to them, and "several went
off to the ship, and a trade Avas soon commenced ' in
barter for ¦ otter-skins'. It is usual farther north, when
trading with the Indians, not to venture on shore
unless some Indians are on board as hostages ; but as,
here, the natives had intejcourse with Spaniards, they
were neither as savage or treacherous as the north-west
Indians. Yet it was necessary, even here, to keep a
rigid look-out, especially as they would steal everything
they could lay their hands on ; and, when ashore, it was

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 117
necessary for us to keep within sight of the boats, or we
should run the hazard of being stripped and robbed of
all our clothing. We had not been there many days
before this miserable propensity was carried ~out, by a
party of the Indians stripping and robbing tAvo of the
men who had strayed a little distance from the boat.
To prevent any further acts of this kind when our boats
went on shore, we detained some half-dozen of the In
dians on board as hostages.
During the thirty-four days we remained in this place
the Indians collected together all the skins far and near,
and we succeeded in bartering away nearly all the' re
maining articles, and received on board, in exchange,
seventeen hundred otter-skins. Although we were not
harassed by the fear of Spanish cruisers, neither were
we in danger of being cut off by the Indians when
on shore, (because many of them Avere detained as
hostages,) yet those engaged in the boats were in con
stant alarm, on account of the surf; it requiring all the
skill, management, and fearlessness, of the crews to per^"
form this service without loss of life and property. Here
we filled up the water-casks, replenished the stock of
bullocks, and obtained a quantity of cocoa, chocolate,
yams, and fruit.
February 6. — Our cargo Avas noAV all disposed of, with
the exception of the muslin, some hardware, and two
bales of blankets. We had, in its place, six hundred
and fifty thousand Spanish dollars, forty thousand dol
lars' value in old plate, ten thousand in platina and
pearls, three thousand and two hundred seal-skins, and
seventeen hundred otter-skins. Now that the whole of
our operations were closed on this coast, the next day
Ave were to sail for China.
February 7. — The day arrived, and it was a day of
jubilee to all hands. I shall never forget the shrill voice
of the boatswain on that morning, when he piped, "All
hands, up anchor, a-hoy ! " — neither shall I forget the
merry tones of the drum and fife while we Avere running
around the capstan, heaving the anchor to the bows. In

118 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
fifteen minutes the ship was under royals, her head
canted to port, standing out of the Bay of Todos Santos.
Three cheers were given by the crew, -the main-brace
Avas spliced, the watches set, and at meridian the land
had sunk beneath the horizon in the distance, and the
ship Avas running off to the southward with a strong
breeze from the northward.
The gloom Avhich had so universally pervaded the
ship's company had noAV entirely, disappeared, owing
partly to the circumstance that our future operations"
Avould be legal, but mostly to the fact that every day
would bring us nearer to the land of our nativity. It
was curious to behold the_ crew in the dog-watch on
that night. Every countenance was lighted up Avith
intense joy ; mirth and merriment prevailed, while the
extra allowance of grog Avas being drunk to sweethearts
and wives. The more calculating, who had disposed of
their adventures, were summing up the whole amount
of their gains Avhen the cruise should be up. There
were a large number of this latter class, but a much
greater part of the crew had no other dependence than
their Avages, and a pretty round sum out of this would
be deducted for clothing, Avhich they had neglected to
provide themselves with before leaving Boston. My old
messmate, Jack Sawyer, preserved his equanimity, and
took advantage of every favorable opportunity, in our
watch below, to learn ta read, in Avhich he made very
fair progress. In turn, he embraced every opportunity
to teach me seamanship, and making me his constant
companion at every job of work going on, which was of
signal service to me.
On this occasion, Avhilo most of the crew Avere push
ing round the flowing can, Jack seated himself on a
chest by my side.' " Now, youngster," said he, " you
and I have got clear withwhoie carcasses from them cut
throat Spaniards, and I've been thinking that it's much
better to sail in a fair trade aboveboard, than to be dodg
ing in and out, and afraid of every craft that Ave fall in
with, just for the sake of a feAV dollars; why," continued

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.. 119 '<•¦
¦ he, :' since I've heard you read that book, I've a notion*
that a clean set of papers, and a fair log, \'ill be much
better, Avhen all hands are piped at tho last day to show
their reckoning, than all the kelt Ave've got on board."
"That's very true, Jack," said I; "for all the money
hi the universe will not prolong a man's life one day,
• neither Avill it give him a regular set of papers for his
admission into the broad bay of heaven."
" That's just what I've been thinking," said, Jack ;
"and as Ave've got oh that tack, youngster, I should like
to knoAV hoAV a poor sailor, Avhom nobody cares for
Avhen he's on shore, but just to get his Avhack out of
him — I say, h should like to knoAV hoAV he's to keep
clear of these land-sharks and fire-ships, and steer' on
the same tack that Ave are noAA^."
" Why," said I, "Jack, if we live to get home, if you
will follow my advice, I'll put you in the Avay ; but
first you must sheer clear of swearing rocks and grog
harbor while you are on board of this ship, and then
it will be much? -easier for you to weather cape frolic
Avhen you get on shore. But, Jack, Ave've a long dis
tance. to run before Ave get to Canton, although, as 1 hear,
Ave shall touch at the SandAvich Islands for a feAv days,
and the probability is; that, we will have an uninter
rupted series of good Aveather all the passage. I shall
therefore hold you to the promise you gave me, about
the-history of your old mother and yourself."
" With all my heart," said Jack, shifting the quid to,
the lee side of his cneek, and slapping me on the
shoulder with his large, braAvny ha'nd, Avhich for Aveight
Avas not unlike a sledge-hammer; "that I will, youngster;
and as it is our first watch on deck to-morrow night,
I'll begin that yarn for you when Ave get iu the top.'"
Eight bells were now struck, the larboard Avatch' was
1 called, who still lingered about the forecastle,.unAvilling
to leave their cups and merriment, until one bell vas
struck, Avhen the melodious voice of the boatsAvain's
mate sung out, " Douse the glim, beloAV ! " and, " Larbow-
lines all on deck, a-hoy ! " This order was immediately
12

120 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
obeyed ; the larboard watch wont on deck, the starboard
watch turned in, the lights were all put out, and I soon
fell into a deep' slumber and pleasing dreams of my
native land, until I was aroused by three heavy sounds
made with the forescuttle hatch, the shrill whistle of
the boatswain's mate, and the hoarse cry of C Starbow-
lines on deck, a-hoy ! " The watch was soon relieved,
and the topmen took their stations. The ship was run
ning along Avith a stiff top-gallant breeze, the wind
being a-beam.i
Our situation in the tops was not quite as pleasant as
when running down the coast of Peru ; but as Ave were
running to the southward, to take the sfcngth of the
trade Avinds, Avhen in the parallel of the Sandwich
Islands, of course we expected steady winds and good
weather. February 8. — This day was ushered in Avith strong
breezes from the northward, and dark, cloudy weather.
As we did not expect to have any more use,for our guns
at present, they Avere housed and secured, the anchors
were stowed, the cables unbent and coiled away, and^
the usual routine of duty, such as knotting, yarns, making
rope, repairing sails, &c, was carried on.
The last two months, there was" a scarcity of tobacco
on board ; the stock Avhich had been laid in by the cap
tain had run out — many of the seamen having used up
their last morsel, and then resorted to the expedient of
buying up old soldiers; others giving five dollars for a
plug of tobacco which AA^ould cost about six and a
quarter cents in the United States. I have seen an old
sailor overhaul his chest three times in the" course ol
one day, in search of tobacco. At length, the Avants of
the men for the precious Aveed became so- great, that
if one was known to have any in his possession, he
Avas sure to be relieved of it in some way. Many com
plaints Avere made to the»captain for redress, when the
following expedient settled the whole matter. Captain
W. requested every man who had tobacco in his pos
session to bring it aft, and, in the presence of the whole

LIFE ON THE C CEAN. lgl
crew, he made the very libera' offer of three doijars per
pound, which Avas accepted. He then dealt it out at
the same rate, in equal proportions to every tobacco
cheAver. This had the desired effect to put an end to
all further strife. Indeed, on this, as Avell as on many
other occasions, it seemed tb be the Studied object of
Captain W., that harmony and good- will should prevail,
fore and aft the ship. No act of tyranny was ever al
lowed, and contempt or disobedience of orders, on the
part of any of the crew, did not meet with corporal chas
tisement, but a-punishment in such a Avay that the of
fence AAras never after repeated. I recollect that a great
passion for gaming Avas contracted among the crew, and
indulged in to such an extent, that some of the sailors
lost all their clothing, and annoyed the watch below at
night Avith their cards, after eight bells were struck.
This soon reached the ears of the captain, who issued a
peremptory order to desist from the practice.
The passion, however, was so strong, that the order
had not the desired effect. The crew were then all
ordered on deck, the evils of gaming expostulated upon
by Captain W., and what would be the inevitable result —
discord, quarrelling, fighting, &c. " Now, men," said he,
"if, after this, I find you still persist in gaming, I shah
not only stop your grog for the voyage, but I shall keep
all hands on deck until I am satisfied - you implicitly
refrain from this unhappy passion." All this, however,
did not put an- end to gaming, and the determination
of Captain W. was put in execution. All hands were
kept on deck, and the grog stopped. In a few days,
JioAvever, the more resolute part, of the creAV collected all
the cards together and delivered them to Captain W.,
and the creAV promised implicit obedience, if he would
restore to us our Avatch below, grog, &c. This' was
done, and here the matter ended; and there was no
gaming on board during the remainder of the voyage.
T|ie dog-watches being ended, and the tops relieved,
Jack Sawyer and. myself, and two 'other topmens were
soon stowed away in the fore-top. JaclCand myself took

122 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
onr stations on the weather side, while the other two
rolled themselves up in the staysails for a nap; and Jack,
after lej.lenishing his nip Avith a fresh quid of the weed,
acco lip j to promise, commenced his yam.

123

CHAPTER XI.
JAC*. SAWYER'S NARRATIVE COMMENCED  ARRIVAL AT THB
SANDWICH ISLANDS  DESCRIPTION -OF OAVYHEE, SfC.
" As near as I can work it out, I am now about fort>.
years old. I was born in Marblehead ; my parents were
poor ; my father folloAved fishing, and my mother took
care of the house and the children, (as there were three
of us,) and sometimes took in work, to help my father to
support us and give us a bit of schooling. I didn't get
much of it, and what I did get 1 soon forgot. Matters
wenl on pretty snugly this way until I was about eight
years old, and my father then took me out „on a cruise,
of fishing. I followed this business two years, and then
our fishing game was knocked up. I can just recollect
- the great talk there was about the revolution, and the
rebels ; and it Avas not long after this before my father
went in a cruiser, fitted out by the colonies, and lost his*
life in an engagehient with an English sloop-of-war.
Old mother was now left alone in the World, with three
of us towing astern. After this, she had to pull against
wind and tide ; and as I told you before, youngster, she
would often ' read that book and give us good advice.
Matters went on in this Avay until1 1 was twelve years
old, and then I thought I was big enough to get my
own living ; so I told mother I would go to Boston, and
get a voyage ; for I always had a notion of the sea, ever
since I went with father a-fishing. My poor old mother
did t't like this much ; she told me there was nobody
cared for poor little Jack, and that I Avas too young to
take care of myself ; ' and besides, Avhen you get to Boston, .
you'll have to go out in a cruiser of some kind, and then
mayhap you may fall in with a king's vessel, and share «
12*

J.24 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
the same fate as your poor father.' And ther. she could
say no more.
" ' But,', says I, ' mother, I am strong enough to work,
1 and lend a hand to help you along, for many times we've
not enough to eat, and I can't stand it to see you giving
up all the food, and Avorking for us. No, no ! that I
can't.' " ' God bless you, my poor boy ! ' said old mother"; and
after many chats like this, she consented that I should
go to Boston. Well, all my duds were got ready, and I
tell you they wouldn't have filled a very large chest.
In the mean while, I got much good advice ; but she said
most about keeping the orders of a neat little Bible, which *
she gave me, and said, ' Although, my poor boy, t you<
can't read much, yet if you go 'to sea, mayhap you may
fall in with-some shipmat^who will learn you.' Well,
the day came when I Avas all ready to make a start ; my
stoek was snugly packed up, old mother taking care to
stow away the little Bible. I shall never' forget that
time ; I had my bundle on my back, and a letter in my
hand to an uncle in Boston. 'God bless you, my boy;
remember your mother's advice, and if God spares your
life to get back from sea, come home ; any way, let me
hear from you as often as you can.' She'could say no*
more for crying, and I just remember that I sobbed out
to her, Twill, I will ; ' so I shut my eyes, and started
upon a half run." Here the narrator 'seemed as if he1
Avere acting the same scene over again.
At this point the narration Avas broken off by an order,
from the officer of the deck, to take in studding-sailsand
royals; the Avind having freshened, and heavy black-
clouds were rolling up from the northAvard. This duty
being performed, eight bells were struck, and the watch
relieved. February 13. — During the preceding five days, the
wind' was variable and the weather squally. Every
advantage was taken of the shifts, to get within the fair
limits of the trade winds. Observed 'his day at npon
in latitude 25° 30' north, and longitude, by lunar obser*

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 125
vation, was 133J° Avest. At sunset the Avind hauled to
north-north-east, with clear, pleasant, fine weather ; set
studding-sails alow and aloft, with every yard of canvass
that could be spread upon the ship to advantage.
February 14. — The trade wind increased and became
steady, with fine, clear weather. We took advantage of
this to overhaul and clean the between-decks and fore
castle throughout ; and it Avas remarkable that, with. the
exception of the tAvo Avounded men and the carpenter,
we scarcely ever had any on the sick list off duty.
This, no doubt, was principally OAving to the great pre
caution taken to provide fresh provisions as often as pos
sible, together with the cleanliness of the ship and crew.
Thus far, no appearance of scurvy was indicated, and the
crew were generally in the most healthy condition. .
February 17. — Nothing of importance transpired for
the last three days ; the wind continued steady from the
-north-east, the sea smooth, and the weather fine. The
ship was now making about three and a half degrees of
longitude per day, and we had reached the parallel of
22£° north latitude, our longitude, by lunar, being 140°
Avest. February ,1S. — At daylight this morning, a sail was
seen on the larboard beam, but at so great a. distance,
that we could not ascertain, her character from the mast
head with the glass,. ' She appeared to be standing to
the westward, and Ave soon lost sight of her.
As we now had steady Avinds and fine weather, and it
A\ras our first watch on deck to-night, my old messmate
promised to resume his narrative. The dog-watches
were spent with unusual mirth and merriment ; all
hands were piped to mischief, the forecastle and main
deck being given up to the crew, and the scenes which
followed were truly ludicrous. Two hours were spent
in this way, and the next hour fou. or five different
parties of the crew were tripping aAvay the merry dance
to the swee't sounds of our ravishing band. The utmost
good humor and harmony prevailed throughout. Sup
per being over, eight bells struck, the starboard watch

126 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
was called on deck, and taking their several stations,
silence soon prevailed throughout the ship, she running
at the rate of seven miles per hour, under a clear star
light night, and a cloudless sky.
After we had got snugly fixed in the fore-top, Jack
Sawyer resumed his yarn, as follows : —
-" To make a long story short, I got safe to Boston ; how,
I hardly know, but I believe I rode part of the way in a
'.art, and the rest of it I took my land-tacks aboard, and
.rotted along on 'shanks mare. I soon found out my
viincle, arid a clever old soul he was, for he took me to his
nouse, and told me to stay with him until he could get
me a berth. Well, this was soon done, for in three days
he told me he had got a berth for me on board the
H  , mounting sixteen guns, and carrying one hun
dred and twenty men ; that I was to go in the ward
room, to wait upon the officers. The craft was soon
ready for sea, and my old uncle, God bless him ! -rigged^
me out with a chest of clothes for the cruise.
"Well, I recollect we sailed some time in March, be
cause it was cold and squally weather ; and before we
got clear of the bay, we had Avell nigh lost the craft in a
north-easter on the cape. We had not been out many
days before I overheard them talking, in the wardroom,
that we were going to the southward, to cut off the
English West Indiamen. It was a cut-off, to be sure ;
for the next day we fell in with an English frigate on
our weather beam ; and, after a chase of five hours, she
overhauled and took us, and we were just clapped on
board of her, like so many dogs, they swearing that they
would hang us all up at the yard-arm, for being found in
Arms against the king. Here Avas the beginning of my
troubles : our crew were treated worse than brutes : I
came off a little better, I suppose because I was a young
ster. A few days after this, we fell in.Avith the English
frigate S  ; they put me on board of her, with fifteen
if our men, who had entered into the English service,
This frigate was bound to the West Indies, to join, as
convoy, the homeward-bound West India fleet.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 127
" I was entered on the frigate's books without leave or
license, and soon found out, by the g. uff usage, that I
had to mind my p's and cfs. Well, Ave got to Jamaica,
and the fleet Avas ready for sea ; so, after watering and
provisioning the frigate, we got under way, the convoy-
consisting of a seventy-four, our frigate, and a sloop-of-
war, and stood to sea with a fine breeze. Nothing tran
spired until we got clear of the passages, and then you
would have laughed to see how the Yankee privateers
and cruisers picked out the ships from the fleet. • One
morning, after a dark and squally night, seven large
Jamaica-men were among the missing. I shall never
forget how the skipper of our frigate swore, and cursed
the Yankee rebels, because they would not show him
fair fight in the daytime. After we had been out about
fifteen days, one morning Ave gave chase to a strange
sail to windward of the fleet. I heard a good deal of
bragging about catching the sail, for they said the frig
ate was the greatest heeler in the service. Well, we
chased her six hours, and we didn't gain on her an
inch. ; so we joined the fleet again that night, and the
next morning one of the largest Jamaica-men was off,
and by the time we got into Portsmouth, eleven sail of
the fleet Avere missing.
"After we got to England, I Avas turned over to the
W  , seventy-four, which was und sailing orders
to join the fleet of Admiral J. When on board this
ship, I mixed with the sailors, and soon larnt all the
tricks of a man-of-war's-man. Two years soon went
off, and I got to like a ' man-of-war,' although poor old
mother would sometimes come across my mind, and
then I hove a sigh or tAvo, and thought I would like to
be at home again. But these thoughts soon wore off,
for I tell you that a man-of-war is no place for whining.'1
Here the thread of Jack's yarn was cut short by the
helmsman singing out, " Eight bells." The watch was
relieved, and I soon lost all recollection of Jack and his
narrative by falling into a deep sleep.
February 19. — This day was ushered in, as the past

128 LIFE ON . THE OCEAN.
few days had been, with fine bree*zes and pleasant
Aveather.' Lunar observations were taken, and a course
shaped to make the Island of OAvyhee ; and as we Avere
noAV drawing near to the Sandwich Islands,, we saw a
number of aquatic birds, such as hover about the land,
being generally a sure indication of its vicinity. We
anticipated much gratification while there, because of
the abundance of the fruit and vegetables, Avhich in
those days could be purchased for a mere trifle ;¦ and we
looked forward to much pleasure in having intercourse
with the natives, on account of the peculiar gentleness and
docility of their character, of which I had heard much
from some of the crew Avho had visited the islands on
their former voyages.
February 20. — As usual in a long course of fair winds
and. fine weather, nothing occurred to interrupt the
monotony, except the excitement produced by the an?
ticipation of our visit to the islands, Avhich served as a
general topic of conversation in the forecastle. My
messmate, Jack Sawyer, made rapid progress in learning
to read ; every opportunity Avas embraced by him, in his
watch beloAV, to effect this result, Avhich appeared to be
the height of his ambition. Indeed, the forecastle was
more like a school than any thing else ; the elementary
branches of education were taught, as well as the
sciences of i..- ration and mathematics, by our young
shipmate, Wm. Harris, who, as before stated, was an
under-graduate of Harvard University. .It Avas a com
mon pircumstance to see, at meridian, in a clear day,
from twenty to thirty of the crew, Avith their quadrants,
measuring the altitude of the sun, to determine the
ship's latitude ; and Ave kneAV the position of the ship, in
' the forecastle, by our reckoning arid lunar observations,
as precisely as the officers in the cabin.
February 21. — The trade winds had become lighter,
and the Aveather Avas unusually Avarm. It was rumored,
in the forecastle, that Ave Avere to celebrate, on the mor
row, the birthday of Washington, the father of our
£Ountry. I knew not how it was to be celebrated, ex-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 129
cept with an extra alloAvance of grog and a fresh mess,
the most acceptable treat Avith Avhich the crew could'be
regaled. As to the fresh mess, that was entirely out of
the question, for all our fresh stock consisted of three
terrapins, (the remains of trie Gallipagos Islands,) and a
few fowls; the bullocks which we obtained at the Bay
of Todos Santos having been killed and salted,
The day of jubilee, February 22, however, arrived.
The sun rose, and not a cloud obscured its disk in~
ascending from beneath a perfectly well-defined hori
zon ;' the wind Avas fresh and the sea smooth, and the
ship was running majestically over the Avaves under a
.press of canvass, yet so steady>that her motion could
scarcely be felt on deck. The scene was in perfect
harmony Avith the feelings that universally prevailed
throughout the ship's company. The usual and cus
tomary morning duties were performed — such as hauling
home, the sheets, swaying up the' yards taut, Avashing
do vn decks, &c. At 8 A. M., the* stars and stripes Avere
run up at the peak, and a salute of tAventy-one guns
was fired ; no other duty but that which was necessary,'
such as trimming sails, &c, was carried on ; an extra
allowance, of grog was served out ; but, instead of the
fresh mess, we had a pudding, or, as a sailor would say,
duff, which was made by mixing the flour and a portion
of fat taken from the slush barrel, until' it was of a prop
er consistency, and then poured into a bag, and boiled.
Sometimes this delightful mess, after being cooked, is
so intolerably hard that it- almost might' be thrown over
- the fore-yard and not break to pieces in its fall ; notwith
standing this, it is a very grateful dish to a sailor who
has been a long time at sea, especially Avhen it is eaten
with molasses. The day passed off Avith great good-
humor, and closed with a ball on the main deck and
forecastle. We-Avere uoav rapidly approaching the Island
of OAvyhee, and expected, from our lunar observations,
to see the high land at daylight in the morning.
February 23: — At day-daAvn the Avind became light ;
and when broad daylight Avas ushered in, our expecta-

130 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
tions Avere realized by the Avelcome sound of " Land ho ! "
from the mast-head, which, at first, appeared Hie a dark,
spiral cloud, rising from the horizon. The computed
distance from the island was at this time qne hundred
miles, which seems scarcely credible, yet it is nevertheless
true ; for the high mountain of Owyhee is elevated more
than one thousand feet higher than the Peak of Tene-
riffe. We ran all that day and night until 2 A. M., and
hove to until 6 A. M. ¦ On the 24th, made all sail, the wind
Deing light till meridian, Avhen a fresh breeze sprang up,
which obliged tis to take in all our light sails. On ap
proaching the island, a number of canoes were seen in
shore of us, and although the ship was running at the
rate of ten knots, yet the canoes kept way Avith us.
Every preparation was made £o bring the ship to an""
anchor. Capt. W. - being well acquainted, Ave stood
boldly into Karakakooa Bay, and anchored in fifteen
fathoms water, about a mile from the landing-place.
At 3 P. M., Ave were visited by the king, Tamaamaooa,
Avho came off escorted by six Avar canoes, which were
lightly constructed, yet -they were of great beauty, and,
as regards speed, nothing that floats, of the same length,
can excel them. Each of the canoes had an outrigger,
which is taken up or let doAvn at pleasure, to prevent
capsizing in sudden flaws of Avind.
With the exception of the king and two of the prin
cipal chiefs, the natives Avere almost in a state of nature
as regards clothing^ .having nothing about them except
what they termed a " tappa," Avhich is a piece of cloth,
made of grass, throAvn around their loins. The king
and two chiefs, hoAvever, in addition to this species of
dress, had a piece of red broadcloth, (no doubt purchased
from a ship that had touched here,) which hung loosely
over the back, forming a kind of mantle, and was secured
in the front with a gaudy ribbon, topped off with some
feathers. seAvn together, to form a head-dress. These
chiefs Avere received in the most polite manner by Capt.
W., and in return they gave us a hearty welcome and
promised to afford every facility jin proc iring refresh-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 131

4

ments, the principal object of our visit to the island.
After a stay of about an hour*, during which they were
treated with great kindness, Capt. W. gave them many
presents, at which they expressed much satisfaction, and
then took their leave.
February 25. — At daylight, many canoes came off
filled with the natives, both male and female, bringing
Avith them almost all kinds of tropical. fruits, together
with yams, tarra-root — a good substitute for potatoes ;
also geese, foAvls, and hogs, Avhich are abundant in these
islands. The only point of difference in the dress of
the females, was, that the color of the cloth worn around
the loins was more gaudy. Indeed, they were almost in
a complete state of- nature. The males were in general
small in stature, and slightly formed. The females
Avere finely proportioned, their forms symmetrical, their
countenances pleasing, Avith features corresponding more
to the European stamp than the Indians of either North
or South America. We found them perfectly harmless,
and exceedingly gentle and docile in their disposition,
and all eager to trade, although they neither cared for,
nor understood the value of, money. Cutlery, gaudy
strips of cloth, and iron hoops, were the principal articles
they wanted'in barter for their fruits, hogs, <fcc. I have
seen a hog weighing one hundred pounds bartered for
a piece of iron hoop a foot in length. We found tropical
fruits of every description, in abundance, which were
purchased for a mere trifle, and which proved salutary,
to the creAV, as an excellent anti-scorbutic. One party
Avas sent on shore to procure water, and another to get
wood ; this duty was performed Avith but little difficulty,
the king ordering the natives to fill our casks and roll
them down to the beach. They cut and piled large
quantities of wood near to the landing ; consequently
the wooding and watering Avas soon completed. <I made
a visit to the burying-place of Captain Cook, a beautiful,
sequestered spot, of a circular form, surrounded with
banana and cocoa-nut trees, the grave occupying the.
centre of the circle. The natives, on approaching this

132 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
place', seemed to be awed into a profound reverence;
and as two of our men, Avhp had been at these islands
several iimes, spoke the language of the islanders, — in
conversation Avith them, they expressed unfeigned .sor
row at the unfortunate circumstance Avhich caused the
death of this great chief, as they termed him ; they also
informed us that, once in every year, all the natives "as
sembled here to perform a religious rite- in memory of
his lamentable death.
We were treated Avith the greatest hospitality and
kindness during our stay. Large parties of the crew
Avere often sent on shore to exercise, and Ave made
frequent excursions to the interior of the island, falling
in with a number of small villages, the residents of
which ahvaysvtreated us Avith the same hospitality and
kindness as those did bordering on the sea-shore. Ill
one of those excursions, a party of us ascended to a
considerable height on the mountain Avhich is seen at
so great a distance seaward, and on the top of which
is a volcano constantly sending forth liquid flames and
lava. We had not, however, reached half its summit,
before the atmosphere became so dense, and the air so
cold, that we were obliged to retrace our steps. The
islanders have a tradition in reference to this mountain
and volcano, and believe that a superior being in
habits the crater, Avhich, ^although unseen, the'y wor
ship with the most profound adoration. We found but
one white man, (an Englishman,) on this island;, he
called himself, by name, John Young ; and it was said,
by some of our creAV, that he was one of the mutineers
of the n Bounty," of famous memory, who had escaped
from the island in a boat, and Avas picked up by a
whaler, which brought him here. He informed iis he
had been on the island three years but no information
could be obtained from him further than that he had
left a whaling ship. He was a man of great au
thority, next in power and rank to the king, having
rendered essential service in the frequent wars with
the other islands. It was by his skill and courage' that

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 133
Tamaamaooa subjugated the Island of Mo wee. I have'
before stated that these islanders were nearly in a com
plete state of nudity ; but I have rarely seen more respect
paid to the kuvs by Avhich they are governed, and the
maintenance of equal rights of life, property, &c, than
among this people.
As yet, few of the vices of civilized life. Avere preva
lent; the use of ardent spirits Avas rare, and drunkenness
Avas considered a crime, and punished with severity.
The Avorship of the true God Avas not known among
them, except Avhat little information they had received
from John Young, which, at the best, was exceedingly
vague. Many moral precepts, by Avhich civilized society
are regulated, were either Avholly unknown, or not
practised; such as the inviolability of conjugal life, for
polygamy Avas universal among them. Although each
one had a plurality of Avives, yet they are considered as
a kind of property ; consequently, the right of each Avas
universally respected. They are idolaters of the grossest
kind, Avorshipping a variety of hideous images, wrought
by their OAvn hands, as well as the unknoAvn being,
before mentioned, in the volcano. With all these un
pleasant features in their character, they Avere, never
theless, kind and hospitable in the extreme ; and I
ahvays felt myself perfectly safe Avhen on shore, although
frequently surrounded by thousands of them. There
are, perhaps, no people in the world as expert at SAvim-
ming as these islanders. Our ship was anchored at least
the distance of one mile and a quarter from the shore ;
and it was as common for the females, as well as the
males, to swim off to the ship, and then swim on shore
again,, as it was for them to come and go in their
canoes ; although the waters are infested Avith sharks,
Avhich, by the way, they did not appear to notice more
than other fish ; and it is not unfrequently the case, that
tAvo of these islanders will attack and kill a shark in
the water, and then sAyim on shore with it as a trophy.
March 13. — We had been here seventeen days ;
tt, -• crew were completely recruited, our Avatering and
13* ..

134 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
wooding were finished, and we procured a large number
of hogs, but were obliged to take them away alive, not
being able to procure salt ; and, indeed, if we could, it
would not have been practicable to cure the pork in this
climate. We had also procured a large quantity of fruit,
as well as the tarra-root ; but the stock of yams was
small, in consequence, of Avhich Captain W. was deter
mined to touch at another of the islands, to procure them.
The entire -object of our visit to this island being now
completed, to the great satisfaction of all on board, and
after distributing many little presents among the natives,
we bade them a long adieu, to their apparent sorroAv and
regret. At 10 A. M., Ave Aveighed anchor, made all sail,
Avith a fine breeze fronr- the north-east, and stood away
to the westward, with the intention of touching at the
island of Atooi.
The Island of Owyhee, or Karakakooa Bay, Ties in
the parallel of 19° 28' north, and 155° 57' west. It is
the most easterly of the group, and of a triangular form,
nearly equilateral. The angular points constitute the
northern, southern, and eastern extremities. The cir
cumference of the whole island is said to be 255 geo
graphical, or about 293 English miles. Its breadth, is
said to be 24 leagues ; and its greatest length, which lies
nearly in a north and south direction, is 28£ leagues.
The country rises inland, Avith a gradual ascent, and is
intersected by narroAv, deep glens, or rather chasms. It
seemed to be well cultivated, and to have many villages
scattered about its surface. Owyhee is by far the largest
of the whole group. Formerly, all these islands were
governed by the kings of Owyhee and Woalioo. A
short time previous to our arrival here, however, Avith
the aid of the Englishman before mentioned, in a ship
belonging to the king of Owyhee, they made a descent
upon Woahoo, and completely conquered and subjugated
the island to the poAver of the king of OAvyhee.
The Avind continued fresh, and, at 2 A. M., Ave passed
the Island of Mo wee. We stood on our course to the
westAvard during this day and night.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 135
March 14. — At daylight passed the Island of Tahoo-
rowa and Ranai, and, at 4 P. M., passed the Island of
Woahoo. During the night, the Avind continued strong
from the north-east.
March 15. — At 8 A. M., saw the Island of Atooi,
bearing west by north, distant ten leagues. At meridian,
hauled in to the Bay of Whymoa, and when sufficiently
near the landing, hoisted out two boats, and- sent them
on shore to procure yams, the ship standing off and on
in the mean time, Capt. W. not deeming it necessary to
anchor. At 4 P. M., the boats returned, not being able
to procure more than twenty baskets ; and as we Jm^
now no further business at these islands, and being welf
stocked Avith fresh provisions, vegetables, fruits, &c,
we made all sail, and bore away for Canton. During the
remainder of this day, we Avere employed in unbending
• and coiling away the cables, stowing the anchors on the
bows, clearing the decks, &c, preparatory to the long
run which was before us. Throughout the night the
wind continued fresh, and the weather exceedingly
fine, Avith a cloudless sky. Life and animation pre
vailed throughout -the ship's company. As the former
gloomy occurrences Avore aAvay, and the thoughts of
the land of our birth — being now homeAvard-bound, as
it were — took possession of every mind, the exhilarating
change induced a buoyancy of spirits to all on board,
except to Capt. W., whose countenance was sometimes
enshrouded with gloom, probably owing to the loss of
life we had sustained in the action on the coast of
Peru. My old messmate, Jack Sawyer, had not slackened
his studies while at the islands ; but, as he used to say,
Avhen there, " that as Ave were neither at sea, nor on
shore, n"or in,harbor, so he couldn't larn much there, but
now that we had fairly got into blue water, with all our
canvass spread to the breeze, he Avould turn to, with a
will, and hoist it in as fast as possible, and, in time, spin
the remainder of his yarn before we arrived at Canton."
March 16. - — This day the Avind settled into a fine

136 LITE ox tttf: ocean.
north-east trade, and every yard of canvass was spread
that could be set to advantage. Our latitude at merid
ian was 21° north, and longitude, from the last depart
ure, was 162° west. The watches were once more
regulated: every man on board knew his station, and
the duties of the ship were performed with, the usual
system and promptness. The most intense application
was made by mauv cf the young seamen to acquire, not
only a perfect kmnvledge of seamr.iship, but of naviga
tion also.
The finest opportunity that can be afforded to a young
man who intends to follow a sea-life, is in a well-regu
lated merchant ship, on similar voyages to the present
one, or to and from the East Indies. There are many ad
vantages, on these voyages, that are not to be found in
the European. West India, cr Brazil trade ; for, usually,
tn long voyages, watch and watch is given, or, at least,
-.he forenoon watch below; and as there is generally a*„
long series of fair winds arid fine weather, consequently
the watch below is seldom or never called up in the night
to reef topsails. See. and, therefore, have a sufficiency of
time for rest, and the watch below, in the daytime, may
employ themselves in study. Again, there are various
duties on those voyages which are of vast -importance to
a young seaman, and which are scarcely ever performed
on short voyages, — such as making uevr sails, laying
rope, building boats, and. more particularly still, that of .
stripping and overhauling a ship's rigging: that is," to
send down every yard and mnst — except the lower masts
— and then strip the yards, and overhaul the stops, take
all the rigging from off the mast-heads, then get it on a
stretch, and strip off the service and parcelling, tar the
rigging, heave ou the service and parcelling afresh, seize
the eyes of the rigging, and then clap it over the mast
heads again This is a very essential pifft of a sea
man's duty, Ei;d necessary to be perfcrmed on long '
voyages, as you are thereby enabled to discover wheth
er there are defects either in the rigging or spars. It
is sometimes the case that a v>ui7 man serves an en-

LIFE ll.N THE OCEAN. L3I

tire apprenticeship in the European trade, Avithout having
the privilege of lending a hand to strip a ship, or even
to Avitness that duty executed. Another great advantage
to a young man on those voyages, is, that he is not sc
frequently throAvn into scenes of dissipation, which is a
prolific source in forming dissolute habits, so common
among old sailors, because, when a ship is at anchor in
the East Indies, she generally lies in a roadstead, or
harbor ; consequently the crew live on board, and are
seldom permitted to go on shore, except on ship duty.
This is not the case in the European trade,. for it is al
most a matter of impossibility to keep a -ship's creAV on
board a single night, especially in England.
March 20. — During the preceding four days, nothing
transpired of importance to interrupt the usual monot
ony, resulting from a long spell of fair Avinds and good
weather. I have sometimes almost desired, after the
wind continued fair from the same quarter for a length
of time, to have a shift ahead, merely for the sake of
excitement ; indeed, I have often heard old sailors grum
ble at the continuance of a fair wind, and this was the
case with some of ours at this time. Now that Ave Avere
clear of the Spaniards, they did not care hoAV long the
A-oyage was lengthened, so that they might have a heavy
whack, as they called it, Avhen the cruise was up. Cer
tainly, this ship was an exception to the generality of
vessels ; and if good discipline, kind usage, with a suf
ficiency to eat and drink, and ample spare time for all
purposes of^ improvement, could make -an agreeable
ship and comfortable voyage, this Avas, undoubtedly,
our condition. Young as I was, and surrounded Avith a
variety of characters, differing essentially from associa
tions and habits met with previously to embarking on a
sea-life, — I, nevertheless, felt contented and happy. I_
had a messmate who Avas, in all respects, just such a
one as I had often conceived, in my warm imagination,
a sailor to be ; this companion and friend was the fear
less, honest, and true-hearted Jack Sawyer — one in
Avhom I felt an indescribable interest, and had reason

138

LIFE ON THE 0( EAN.

to believe it Avas reciprocated on his part. While Jack
and myself were engaged this day in his favorite study
of learning to read, he promised- to take up his narrative -
that night, as it was our first jvatch on deck.

13S

- CHAPTER XII.

JACK SAWYER RESUMES HIS NARRATIVE  PASSi SE TO CANTON
The Avatch being relieved, Jack Sawyer and myself
were once more quietly seated on the weather "Side of
the foretop ; the ship Avas bounding over the wide waste
of water, under a press of canvass, at the rate of seven
knots an hour ; the night was clear and cloudless, and
soon a profound- silence reigned. Jack resumed his
narrative as folio avs: —
" I forgot to tell you, when I Avas shipped on board
the frigate S  , I lost part of my clothes, and, among
the rest, the little Bible Avhich poor old mother gave me.
This was the worst job of all, for it is a rare thing to see
a good book among a set of man-of-war's-men. Well,
as I was saying, I was transferred aboard the seventy-
four W  , destined to join the fleet under Admiral J.,
off Cape St. Vincent, to watch the Spanish fleet." Well,
somewhere about April, five sail of the line joined the
fleet in Lisbon, making in all sixteen sail. So, in a short
time, the admiral received news that the Spanish fleet
was out ; and no time was lost in getting under way to
go in search of them. We lost one of our ships, a three-
decker ; she got aground, and was obliged to go back, to
repair damages. On the morning of the 13th, we were
joined by another ship of the line, in which was Captain
N  , who brought information that they had been
chased by the Dons, and that the whole Spanish fleet
was out in search of them.
" Our- admiral made signal to prepare for action and
4ceep close order ; that is, to stick the flying jib-boom into
the stern windows of the ship ahead ,¦ and we kept close

140 life on the ocean.
enough, for a man might walk ovei every ship on the
lee and'weather line of the fleet. Every now and then
Ave heard the signal guns of the Spanish fleet to wind
ward, and all eyes were trying to peer through the fog, to
catch a glimpse of them. In the morning, at five bells,
the van-ship made a signal that part of the Spanish fleet
were in sight. The signal Avas again made by the
admiral to prepare for action ; but he might haA j sared
himself the trouble, and the Ave_ar and tear of the bunt
ing, for Ave Avere all ready, bulk-heads doAvn, screens up,
guns shotted, tackles rove, yards slung, powder filled,
shot on deck, and fires out. At six bells in the forenoon,
the fog and mist all cleared aAvay at once, and there they
were, the whole Spanish fleet, twenty-six in number,
th,ree-deckers and four-deckers, and a pretty sight to look
at, — but a great odds against fifteen ships, though, to add
to our strength, we were -packed in close order, and all
eager for the fight, while there the Dons lay, somehow
and nohow, in tAvo broken lines, Avith a great gap' of
water between them. For this gap we all steered, with
every rag of canvass set, because, d'ye, see, by getting
them on each side of us, we had the advantage of fight
ing both broadsides at the same time.-
" At seven bells, the action commenced, the admiral
pouring a raking fire into the Spanish admiral's ship,
which made her bear up and fall out of the line, like a
struck deer. The broadside of the admiral's ship bored
such a hole in the Spaniard's stern, that you might have
drove a wagon and horses through it. We were soon
smothered up in smoke, and couldn't tell how things
were going on, but we guessed pretty near how it was ;
and when the smoke cleared off, there lay all the Span
iards in a heap. So we ranged up alongside of them,
. N  , in the Captain, taking the lead, passing the
Spanish three-deckers, which might have satisfied any
reasonable man, and ranged alongside the four-decker,,
pouring his whole broadside into her ; and a pretty-look
ing riddle he made of her, knocking many of her ports
into one, and her scuppers running blood. But Uw

life on the ocean. 141
Spanish four-decker ranged ahead, having made a gen
eral average of spars and men iu the old Captain. Soon
after, she fell iu betAveen tAvo Spanish three-deckers, and
had Avell uigh gone to Davy Jones ; but Ave ranged up
betAveen them in our ship, fresh as a daisy, and poured
in a broadside which quite astonished them ; they soon
dropped astern again, for our broadsides Avere too hot for
them ; but it was like jumping out of the frying-pan
into the fire ; for at this time three or four of our ships
came up, and mauled them at so great a rate, that two of
the Dons hauled down their colors. But Ave could not
get up to the four-decker again ; she played her part
Avell. This loss was soon made up, as the madcap,
N  , carried a Spanish three-decker by boarding,
when his own ship was in a sinking condition ; and
after driving the Spaniards below, and securing the
hatches, he carried another three-decker by boarding her
from the prize which he had just taken. As soon as
old J  had settled the Spanish admiral, he, with five
other ships, hauled his wind on the larboard tack, and
Aveathered the Dons ; then they7 all dashed through the
line, the headmost ship pouring her broadside into the
Spanish three-decker, giving her such a mortal dose
that she never got over it, and she was left to be picked
up by the other ships ; then she attacked a two-decker,
and hauled doAvn her colors. As soon as the V 
ran alongside of a Spanish three-decker, doAvn went her.
colors. And noAV, youngster, Ave had fighting enough
in our ship, for we were yard-arm and yard-arm with a
three-decker, pouring our broadsides into her as fast as
Ave could load and fire, making daylight through the
Spaniard at every discharge, tiH our guns became so
hot "that their breechings snapped like spun-yarn ; and
while she was no ways backward at this pretty sport,
returning compliment for compliment, which left us not
much odds to boast of in killed and wounded. Our
guns now becoming unmanageable, the order was given
to put the helm a-port, and we struck her on the star
board bow. ' Boarders, away ! ' shouted the captain,
14

142 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
who, sword in hand, took the lead, clambering up the
sides : Ave fell on her deck like so many incarnate fiends ;
and, rushing aft, Ave silenced every beggarly Spaniard
thatshQAved fight, and in ten minutes drove them beloAV,
and hauled doAvn the colors. The four-decker made a
brave ^resistance against four of our ships, but was at
last obliged to haul down her colors. But the leeward
division of the Spanish fleet, consisting of eleven sail of
the line, came to her assistance, and finally got her off.
Our ships were too much cut up to renew the action,
and the admiral made a signal to secure the prizes.
The Spanish fleet then got into line, and we lost no
time in following their example. But we both had had
plenty of fighting for the present.
" The next morning, the Spanish'fleet were to wind
ward, and might have brought us into action ; and at
one time they manoeuvred as if they would do so, for
they bore up and ran down tOAvards us, when old J 
hauled upon a Avind, to show the Dons that we were
ready ; seeing which, they made sail and were off.
" Well, that Avas the only general action that I was ever
in, and although many a hearty fellow lost the number
of his mess that day, and many a chap was sent off to
Greenwich with the loss of his pins and flippers, to be
laid up in ordinary, I did not receive a scratch.
" I shall pass over the many years that I was on board
of an English- man-of-war, being transferred from ship
to ship ; and when I was about twenty years old, as
near as I could make out my reckoning, I was promoted
to a captain's coxswain, on board the frigate S  , in
the Channel station. In this ship Ave had many a dust
on the coast of France Avith the batteries of Monsieur,
and it was on this station that, as we fell in with marry
an American ship, I began once more to think of mo'thei
and my native land. ' Where'* the odds ? ' — thought I to
myself: ' by^this time old mam is under hatches, and
there's nobody cares for poor Jack ; ' for, d'ye see, I was
then eleven years in the English sarvice : but I couldn't
get it out of my thoughts ; and I just began to contrive

wiis UiN THE OCEAN. 1'lL'
1ioav I should get clear of the sarvice, and get home to
Yankee-land ; but this was not quite so easy a matter to
do as to think about it. At last the frigate went into
Portsmouth, and I Avas paid off, and soon drafted on
board the M  , bound out on the East India station."
Here the narrator closed his yarn for the present, the
watch being called. The. tops Avere soon relieved, and
the stauboard watch Avere quickly stowed away in their
berths below.
March 25. — During the preceding five days nothing
unusual transpired ; there being a succession of fair
winds and fine Aveather. At meridian, by lunar observa
tion, we had compassed one half the globe, reached the
180° of west longitude, differing twelve hours in time
from the meridian of Greenwich. Continuing a westerly
course round the world, a corresponding decrease in the
east longitude is the consequence.
If there is any difference in the monotony of a sea
life, that difference certainly does exist while running
down the length of 100° of longitude, with a constant
fair wind and fine weather, when no change of scene,
to produce excitement, is likely to take place, and it is
exceedingly rare to fall in with vessels, being entirely
out of the track of those bound in a contrary direction ;
neither do you fall in with any land in this parallel of
latitude ; and besides, it is a rare thing to see any fish, —
so that, for amusement, you have the sky and water to
look on, salt beef and pork to feed on, and knotting
yarns, making sinnet, repairing rigging, &c, to work
on. Nevertheless, time did not hang so heavily on our
hands; for, with but very few exceptions, every man
had some plan for employment in his watch below, to
Avhich he resorted as regularly as a man would go to
his day's work on shore. Thus time rolled on, and the
ship rolled on too, bounding over the '.sea, without in
terruptions but suoh as occasionally occur in the trade
winds. April 10. — It is scarcely necessary to observe here,
that the last few days have been passed without any thing

144 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. -
remarkable transpiring, and, indeed, I should not have-
noted the date but for the purpose of describing a scene
which I had not Avitnessed since our departure from
Boston — a battle between a tnrasher and a whale.
Although of the same species, yet there appears to be a
mortal antipathy existing between them. At first a
noise Was heard like a distant gun, and presently the
combatants Avere visible, not being more than two* hun
dred yards from the ship; and noAV the scene of strife
began. The thrasher, raising his Avhole length nearly
perpendicular out of the water, fell Avith incredible force
on the back of his huge opponent, which Avas repeated
several times in quick succession ; and the surrounding
water presented a white sheet of boiling foam, caused
by the maddening struggles of the whale, as, throwing '
its flukes high in the air, it disappeared for a short time,
only to reappear upon the surface, to be again attacked
with redoubled fury by the thrasher. The battle lasted ,
but a few minutes, Avhen the whale went doAvn and
Avas seen no more. It was said, by tAvo of our men
Avho had been engaged " in the Avhale fishery, that,,
Avhile the thrasher is belaboring the whale on the back,
the sword-fish is at the same time annoying- him be-
Ioav. April 12. —Some difficulty occurred this day, of a very
unpleasant nature, betAveen the first and trn'rd officers,
which was terminated by suspending Mr. C, the third
officer, from duty. I endeavored to give the outline of
the character of each officer in the preceding part of this
work. The difficulty arose from an undue assumption
of authority on the part of Mr. C, and contempt for his
superior officer, Mr. L., while subject to his orders' in the
watch on deck. After a suspension from duty for a few
days, the affair Avas,amicably settled, and Mr. C. returned
again to his duty." I never had any very great respect
for Mr. C, myself. " Clothed Avith a little brief authority,"
he endeavored to exact the most implicit obedience
from every man under him : arid in the event of any one
failing to please him, he Avould work them up, as a sailor

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 145
calls itf — Avbi,:h means, he Avouldset them at some very
unpleasant job, such as tarring down the royal or top
gallant-rigging, or slushing the royal-mast, or topgallant-
mast, at a time Avhen the ship Avas rolling heavily. I.
had several of these jobs conferred upon me, in conse
quence, as he said, of disrespect shown to him ; of
course myself, as well as many others, Avas not a little
pleased when he Avas confined to his state room.
April 16. — This day, at meridian, our latitude, was
21° 40', and longitude, deduced from several sights of
the sun and moon, Avas 140° 30' east. From these
observations, a course was shaped to make the Bashee
Islands ; and as Ave Av.ere now drawing up toward them,
the trade Avinds Avere occasionally interrupted by squalls,
Avith heavy showers of rain. Day after day passed
off, with light winds, though fair, until the morning
of the 28th, when the cheering and exciting cry of
" Land ho !" was-sung out from the mast-head. It proved
to be one of the group of the Bashee Islands, called Goat
Island, Avhich,,by our computation, is in 20° 24' north
latitude, and 121° 52' east longitude, from 'Greenwich.
These islands, about sixteen in number, form the en
trance to the China seas, and extend, in a north-westerly
direction, about one hundred and thirty miles. The two
islands which were seen by us were rather Ioav, ,and
appeared to be covered with verdure. At 3 P. M., this
day, lost sight of them to the eastward. The winds
now became variable, and the Aveather dark and cloudy ;
and as Ave had had fair Avinds for about fifty days, the
change Avas not at all disagreeable.
April 29. — This morning the wind veered round to
the north-Avest, Avith dark, threatening weather. Heavy
black clouds rolled up in the western board, indicating
every appearance of a coming storm. As it was nigh
the period of the change of the monsoon, Captain W.
thought it not improbable that we might have a typhon,
Avhich sometimes blows with such violence that nothing
can withstand its force. As a preventive, all the light
sails were taken in ; the royal-yards, masts, and topgal-
14*

146 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Iant-yards were sent down ; and the topsails Avere double-
reefed, for the first time during four months. At Sunset,
a heavy cross sea rolled in from the north-Avest, Avith
severe squalls of wind and rain, accompanied with heavy
thunder, and flashes of sharp, vivid lightning. It con
tinued thus throughout the night; but in the morning
of the 30th, it cleared off, and the wind hauled to the
eastward, when the reefs were all shook out, the yards
and masts sent up, and every sail was set to the flowing
breeze. May 1. — The wind continued this day light but fair,
and we saAV many aquatic birds, Avhich generally hover
near the land. We continued on our westerly course,
without any thing material transpiring, until May 6th,
when we saw the Island of Pedro BJanco, at 10 A. M.,
bearing west-by-north, distant seven leagues. Thus the
passage from the coast was made in seven ty-tAVo days,
deducting sixteen days, the time spent at the Sandwich
Islands. We continued running to the westAvard until
sunset, and then shortened sail, the Ladrone Islands
being in sight — continued throughout the night under
short sail, and at daylight on the seventh, the breeze.
freshening, made all sail. Saw several junks, which Ave
supposed to be piratical cruisers. At 5 P. M., came to an
anchor, with a small bower, in fifteen fathoms of Avater,
in Macao roads, distant half a league from the land.
Throughout the night, kept a sharp look-out, as the
Ladrone Islands, at this time, Avere infested with pirates.
May 8. — This morning, sent a boat on shore, which
soon returned with a Chinese pilot, and a chop, or pass,
to proceed up the river. Throughout this day, it was
calm. May 9. — Got under Avay this morning, with a leading
breeze, and stood up the River Tigris. SaAV two ships
with American ensigns flying at their peaks. We spoke
them, and learned they were the Ann and Hope, of
Providence, and America, of NeAv York. These Avere
the first American vessels we had seen since we left our
native land; Ave desired them to report us. While

LIFE ON THE. OCEAN. 147
standing up the river in the night, througn the neg
ligence of the pilot, Ave ran foul of an English East
Iudiaman, and carried away our jib-boom and fore-top-
gallant-mas't. On the morning of the 10th, at 10 A. M., Ave an
chored at Whampoa, after an absence of one year and a
half from our native land. We found lying here vessels
of almost all nations; among the rest, there Avere a num
ber of American ships Availing for cargoes. Whampoa is
about fifteen miles from the city of Canton. The river
becomes narroAver from Whampoa-, and the water shoaler;
consequently it will not admit vessels of heavy draught. ;
indeed, the Chinese Avill not permit foreign vessels to ap
proach the city nearer than the latter place.
Captain W. and his clerk proceeded immediately to
Canton, and orders came doAvn, the next day, to send
up the specie with the boats Avell armed, as many of the
Ladrones, or pirates, were lurking about the river, and
could not be distinguished from the Chinese boats in
general. In four days, the specie, as well as the skins,
were all safely landed in Canton. We now commenced
stripping the ship to her girt-lines. As this duty has
been described in the preceding part of this work, it is
unnecessary to enter into detail ; suffice it to say, that
every yard, mast, and cap, as well as every piece of rig
ging, was sent down on deck, nothing being left but a
single block at each. mast-head, with a rope, or girtling,
rove through it, both ends of which Avere on, deck for
the purpose of swaying the rigging aloft after it had
been overhauled. This is what sailors call stripping a
ship to her girt-lines ; and a very necessary and impor
tant duty it is, especially for young seamen. In our ship
the Avork was divided between the tAvo Avatches, the
starboard watch taking the foremast and bowsprit, and
the larboard watch the main and mizzen-masts. In the
performance of this duty, I was, as usual, the partner of
my old messmate, Jack Sawyer ; and a better sailor never
clapped a gang of rigging over a ship's mast-head. He
taught me how to unrig and rig a ship, and in the

148 LIFE OK THE OCEAN„
duty Avhich was iioav goii.g on I became something of
a proficient through his instruction; for I soon learned
how to turn in a dead-eye, and put the rigging over a
mast-head, as well as various other kinds of "Avork, in a
tolerably seaman-like manner. In about ten days every
yard and mast Avas overhauled, as Avell as the lower
topmast and top-gallant-rigging ; the tops were also lifted,
and every mast-head examined, and soon our ship was
all a-tanto again, with royal and sky sail-yards athwart.
While this duty Avas being performed, the ship was
calked from her bends up, including decks, &c. ; and in
a few days after she was painted inside and out. when
she presented. to the eye, both in symmetry and finish,
as beautiful a specimen of what a ship should be as ever
rode to an anchor in Whampoa.
Orders were received from the captain, in Canton, that
the A-.essel must be got in readiness to receive the famous
John Tuck, or the great mandarin, avIio takes the meas
urement of every craft, for which a pretty round price
is exacted. In two days he came aboard, in great
pomp, bringing Avith him a large retinue ; and he went
through the ceremony of measuring, Avliich occupied at
least as much time as Avould have taken an American
surveyor to take the dimensions of tAventy ships. Great
respect and attention, however, were shoAvn him, it being
advisable to do so ; for, in default thereof, Mr. John Tuck
AA^ould have lucked on a very considerable advance in the
" cumshaw" allowed him for his services.
I shall pass over dates during the period of our stay
in Canton, as it Avas understood that avc should remain
here for some length of time for teas, Avhich had not
yet come in.
The ship being iioav in complete order, as a matter of
course, Avith so large a creAV, there Avas much spare time,
and liberty Avas given by Capt. W. for a part of the creAV
to visit Canton. As almost every man on board had an ad
venture Avhen we left Boston, and which adventure had
been sold on the coast, Spanish dollars were tolerably
plentiful among the creAV. Tt was a>;. amazing sight to

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 149
behold many of our lads after they had been a lay or
tAvo in Canton ; some of them Avere topped off in a
dress of sky-blue silk ; others purchased Chinese dresses,
and paraded about the suburbs; some of them felt the
3ffects of " hog lane" in their pockets and on their backs ;
and it was astonishing to see Avith -what dexterity the
Chinese would cheat them out of their good money, and
palm off counterfeit dollars on them. One day, Avhile in
company Avith three or four of my shipmates, we went
into a shop to purchase some quarter-chests of tea, and
trinkets. The articles Avere selected, the price agreed
upon, and the dollars thrown down; when, as quick as
thought, the good money Avas. secreted, and counterfeit
dollars Avere _placed on the counter, and the Chinaman
immediately cried out " Quisi," i. e., bad money. Of
course we were not very well pleased, and Avere taking
up the articles Ave had selected, Avhen a signal was given,
and about a dozen Chinese, with long bamboos, entered,
and began to belabor us soundly, until Ave had made
good our retreat, minus dollars, teas, trinkets, and every
thing else. After this, we never entered a Chinese store
unless there were a dozen of us in company. The
loAver class of Chinese are, perhaps, the most expert
thieves of any people in the world ; some of our men
were not only robbed of all their money, but, while sleeps
ing in the American factories, they had their, clothes
stolen from them by the native servants. After the
allotted time had expired, we all repaired on board the
ship again ; and it was very soon discovered that our
¦ visit to Canton would terminate less pleasantly than we
had anticipated, as the small-pox had been contracted,
ancLabout forty of the crew Avere taken down with this
loathsome disease. They were all sent on shore at
Dean's Island; and, as almost every ship in port had a
physician on board, of course they did not suffer for
want of medical treatment. Fortunately, the disease was
of a light character, or it must have proved fatal to many
of- them. With good treatment and attention, we did
not lose a man, and they all soon recovered.

150 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
So much has been written in reference to the habits
and traits of the Chinese, that I deem it unnecessary to
SAvell this work by entering into further detail respecting
them. It may not he amiss, hoAvever, -to notice that
Avhich attracts the attention of almost every one who
visits Canton. I was not a little surprised to behold the
many souls Avho appear to have their residences exclu-
siA'ely upon the bosom of the river; and I Avas credibly
informed that there were not less than three millions
who are doomed to pass a miserable existence on the
water, for crimes that had been committed against the
laAvs, or for some violation of their religious rites. They
reside in boats that are covered all oyer, and procure a
living by selling various articles to foreigners on ship
board, and washing for the ships' crews. At night their
boats are pulled in shore and made fast, but they are
never permitted to land. Many of them are miserable
in the extreme, subsisting on Avhatever they can solicit
from the foreign ships, and on the offal which is thrown
overboard. Our stay Avas so much protracted here, that Ave all
grew Avearied, and ardently longed for the period to
arrive when Ave should weigh anchor for Yankee-land.
At length, on the 24th of August, our prospects began to
brighten for this desirable object, as on this day we
commenced taking in our homeward cargo ; but, to my
great surprise and mortification, we were upwards of a
month before the ship was loaded.
September 28. — We had now all our cargo on board,
and, the ship being ready for sea, nothing was wanting
except that the captain had not ygt come down from
Canton, although he was expected every hour.

151

CHAPTER XIII.
SAIL FROM CANTON HOMEWARD BOUND  I>ASSAGE THROUGH
THE CHINA SEA, &C.
September 29. — Capt. W. arrived at 9 A. M., and
having unmoored the night previously, Ave had nothing
to do but to heave up our single anchor, which was
quickly done by running the capstan round to the merry
tune of " Yankee doodle." In a few minutes our ship
was under royals, standing doAvn the river in com
pany with the ship Baltic, of Providence, she also being
freighted with the proceeds of our voyage.
October 1. — Discharged the Chinese pilot in Macao
road, and received on board three Dutch merchants as
passengers, to be landed on the Island of Java. At 11
A. M., made all sail, Avith a fresh easterly wind, and soon
discovered that our ship was very much the superior
of the Baltic in point of sailings At 1 P. M., took
our departure from the land, exchanged the parting adieu
with the Baltic, and made the best. of our Avay. At 4
P. M., the Baltic Avas like a speck on the horizon, and
the coast lay J ike" a cloud ranging east and west, while
the Ladrone Islands began gradually to disappear in the
distance. At sunset, they Avere all out of sight, and
Ave were once more on the ocean, Avhere at every point
sky and water only meet the eye. At 8 A. M., all
hands were called aft ; the watehes Avere chosen ; the
creAV being somewhat diminished, it became necessary
again to choose the Avatches. It fell to my lot to be
again placed in the starboard Avatch, and, to my great
satisfaction, Jack Sawyer Avas also chosen in the same.
After this was done, the watch was set ; and, as cus-
. 15

152 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
tomary, the starboard Avatch had the first fcur hours,
on deck : I say, as customary, because the larboard or
chief mate's watch takes the ship Avhen outward bound,
and the starboard or captain's watch, Avhen homeward
bound. Throughout this night the Avind was fresh and
fair, and our ship, with her light and buoyant Canton
cargo, bounded over the sea like a race-horse, and, to my
imagination, seemed as eager to reach her appointed
destination, as if possessed Avith the poAver of thought
and reflection. Certainly she did not lack for canvass,
for sail after sail was set, until no more could be spread
to advantage.
It was a merry night; for, long after eight bells were
struck, and the Avatch had turned in, the jovial laugh
was heard from those who Avere snugly coiled aAvay in
their berths, while the Avatch on deck, in different groups,
were singing their favorite ballads, smacked Avith the
exploits of pirates and higlwaymen, which old sailors
so much delight in ; and another group, hanging round
the windlass, seemed to be very positive in their calcu
lations as to the number of days we should be in mak
ing the passage to Boston. " Avast there ! " said an old
salt; "don't be counting the chickens before they are
hatched. I've knoAvn a faster ship than this to be more
than six months making a passage ; ay, and a pretty
time we had of it, — for I Avas in that self-same ship. Our
captain Avas a young man, and had just as nice a suit of
hair on his napper as you might see in a day's Avalk ; but,
what with calms, squalls, head Avinds, and gales, on the
passage home, it made him rave like some chaps Avho
have their jibs bowsed out taut, so that he tore all the
hair out of the top of his head, and Avhen Ave got home, he
was just as bald as a guinea pig." At this point the
watch gathered around him, and he spun out a marvel
lous yarn of gales, and calms, and short alloAvances, Avhen
it Avas cut short by eight bells being struck, and the
boatsAvaiifs mate piping the larboard watch on deck.
Oct. 7. —Nothing of importance transpired the feAv pre
ceding days ; the weather continued good, and the wind

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 153
fair, with strong breezes. At 10 A. M made the small
Island of Pulosapata. This island bei og low, and the
Aveather hazy at the time, Ave Avere very near to it-before
it could be seen, so much so that Ave found some diffi
culty to Aveather it, there being two small rocks about a
quarter of a mile distant, and abreast the island. The
current running rapidly obliged us to pass through a
channel between the rocks, although it was at an immi
nent risk. Theserocksare called the Cockpits, and I shall
never forget them ; for, being a foretop-man, I was sent
on the royal-yards to look out for rocks and breakers
ahead, and, Avhiie passing through the channel, (which
certainly was not Avider than three times the length of
the ship,) my feelings were not at all enviable. Happily,
we passed through in safety, to the no small satisfaction
of all on board, and especially to myself, as I began to
think all my future prospects Avere then to be cut off.
October 11. — This morning, saw the Island of Banca
bearing west-north-Avest. Passing through these straits,
we experienced a strong current, and, as there were many
shoals, a sharp look-out was kept, as well as great atten
tion paid to the heaving of the lead.
October 13. — The Avind moderated, and the weather
became cloudy. This day, saw the Billiton Island bear
ing west-by-north. In entering these straits, Ave found
a current running six miles per hour. The straits being
short, the wind fair, and the current strong in our favor,
we soon passed through them, and on the 15th October
made the east end <jf Java. We stood close in with the
land to a position marked out by the Dutch passengers,
and at 4 P. M. landed them, with all their effects, for
Avhich, as I understood, Captain W. was largely remu
nerated. This being accomplished, all sail Was again
set, with a moderate breeze and cloudy Aveather, which
continued during the night.
On the morning, of the. 16th, we were not more than
tAventy miles distant from the Island of Java. It Avas
nearly calm, and the rain fell in torrents. Now our
troubles began ; for, as this Avas the time of the change

154 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
I
of the little monsoon, it frequently happens that theie
are thirty or forty days of alternate calms, squalls, and
rain, before the other monsoon fairly sets in. Alas !
this, to our great mortification, we experienced, and all
our fair prospects and close calculations of inaking a
short passage Avere in a few days sadly reversed ; for
day after day rolled aAvay, Avith obdurate calms and
heavy rains. At intervals light airs would spring up,
but they were generally ahead, and did not last more
than an hour or two. Serious thoughts began to be en
tertained by some of the old, superstitious sailors, that
we must have a Jonah on board, and at length- their
suspicions fell upon the old salt Avho had amused us so
much Avith his marvellous "yarn on the night of our de
parture from Macao.
" You're an unlucky chap," said an old croaker to him,
as we were seated around our kids of beef and tin pots
of tea at supper in the last dog-watch ; " I just thought,
when I heard you spinning that long yarn the other night,
that no good luck would attend us while you are on
board. Hark ye, Tom," continued the old croaker ; " how
was it that the shot from that beggarly Spaniard, Avhich
cut away the breech pf old Stitch there, didn't take your
napper off? you Avere right in the Avake of the shot,
though you happened to have your head down at the
time ; and, now I remember, you Avere in the armorer's
gang on the island, Avhen Joe Davis tumbled off the hill
and broke his neck."
During this miserably superstitious harangue there Avere
a number of sailors collected around the speaker, who
appeared to swallow every Avord that he uttered, as if it
were pure gospel truth. For my oavh part, I thought
these most unjust suspicions might have rested upon
myself Avith much more color of truth than on the ac
cused, for it Avill be recollected that, Avhen I fell from
the foretop, I broke the hold ff my shipmate by the fall,
which precipitated him into the sea to be droAvned.
From the duration of these incessant calms and
rains, we not only lost all hopes of making a short pas-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 155
sage, but the neAvs somehoAv or other got into tie fore
castle, that we should either have to put into the Isle of
France or the Cape of Good Hope for a supply of bread,
this article of provision having become short and ex
ceedingly bad.
November 20. — This day, the weather changed, and
the Avind sprang up from the south-east. It Avill be
seen, by comparing dates, that we Avere about thirty-five
days becalmed, and were not at this time two hundred
miles from the Island of Java. The change of weather,
and fair Avind, brought Avith them a corresponding change
of feeling among the ship's company. The discontent,
grumbling, and sour looks, gave place to cheerful coun
tenances and great good-humor ; even the unjust sus
picions Avhich had fallen upon old Tom Avere now fast
wearing aAvay ; and, after tAvo or three days' fait-Avind, the
divinations Avere again reneAved as to the length of our
passage. I was not a little gratified that such an entire
re'stbration of good feeling Avas established, and that the
utmost harmony prevailed among the officers and creAV.
As regards myself, I cannot describe the pleasing antici
pations of home Avhich this fair wind inspired, as the ship
bounded over the blue waves to the westAvardj every
mile shortening the distance, Avhich induced associations
and reflections that united me, if possible, more indisso-
lubly to my native land. One among those reflections
was peculiarly gratifying — namely, that 1 had made tol
erable progress in'seamanship-and navigation, and looked
forward with a degree of certainty to promotion after our
arrival in the United States. Another source of pleasure
was, that I had been instrumental in teaching my old
messmate, Jack Sawyer, to read the Holy Scriptures,
which he was iioav able fb~ do tolerably well, and which
gave him great satisfaction. I had also the good fortune,
in some degree, to acquire the confidence and esteem of
the officers in general, and more particularly those of Mr,
C, whoAvas, indeed, my friend, and to Avhom 1 was in-
debted for much of what I had learned in the profession*
December 16. — This day, crossed the parallel of the
15*

156 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Isle of France, Avithout any material alteration of wind
or Aveather, but such as is common to the trade winds.
The weather uoav began to assume an entirely different
appearance ; it Avas dark, cloudy, and threatening, Avith
a heavy cross swell ; and if this had been the season of
the hurricanes, no doubt we should have had one of '
them, as I understood these signs Avere the precursors
of those frightful storms. The light sails were all taken
in at sunset, and the royal-yards sent on deck. During
the night, it bleAv strong, with small rain, whep we took
in all the studding-sails.

157

CHAPTER XIV.
ENGLISH EAST INDIA FLEET  THE CHASE — 'ACK SAWYER'S
NARRATIVE RESUMED. /
December 17. — This morning, at daylight, saw a fleet
of seven ships to the eastward. We supposed them to
be the English East India fleet, which had sailed from
Canton about ten days before us. We were not wrong in
this supposition ; for at 9 A. M., having closed in Avith
the fleet, the convoy gave chase to us for the following
reasons — that, as at this period these seas were infest
ed Avith large French privateers, which now and then
picked up a straggling East Indiaman, and as the
English fleet ahvays made their rendezvous at St,.
Helena, the convoy obliged every neutral vessel that
they overhauled to go into St. Helena, and there suf
fer a detention until ten days after the English fleet
had sailed. This Avas done to prevent' their giving
information to the French 'privateers. As' soon as it
was clearly ascertained that the frigate Avas in chase of
us, all sail was made upon the ship that she could bear,
the wind blowing strong from the eastward, which,
of course, brought the frigate- to windward. Although
she gained upon us, yet it was so trifling, that in three
hours she gave up the chase ; this was probably done
for the purpose of not being separated far from the fleet.
During the night, the winds were variable and squally ;
and at daylight, on the 18th, to our great surprise and
mortification, the fleet Avas nearer to us than on the
previous day ; consequently, the chase commenced at
broad daylight, the frigate being about six miles dis
tant from us. It was continued until 12 o'clock, when

158 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
she had gained about three miles upon us, and then
gave up the chase. At sunset, the frigate was out of
sight, and, having altered our eourse a little during the
night, we saw no more of them.
December 20. — This day, we reached the parallel of
27° 30' south, and longitude by observation 30° east.
Our fine strong breeze left us, and the wind became
light, variable, and Avesteriy. For several days, similar
wind and weather continued, without any material al
teration ; and, of course, every advantage was taken of
the change of the wind to get to the westward. On the
morning of the 28th, we found ourselves in the midst
of a strong current-ripple, which runs rapidly on the
edge of the Lagullos Bank round the Cape, until it loses
itself in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The Weather noAV assumed a very threatening appear
ance ; heavy, dense masses of black clouds rolled up
from the Avestern board, Avith thunder, lightning, and
small rain. Every necessary preparation Avas uoav made
for a gale ; the royal-yards, masts, &c, Avere sent down,
and the flying jib-boom Avas run in on deck ; preventer-
gripes, lashings, &c, were got on the boats and spars,
and the guns Avere Avell secured. At meridian, the wind
increased from west-north-Avest, the topgallant-yards
were sent doAvn, and the topsails were double-reefed.
Reefing topsails is one among the most exciting scenes
on board a ship ; and it Avas so Avith us, particularly at
this time, as Ave had not reefed since our departure from
Canton. Not having described this duty, it may not be
amiss to do so in this place. It has been stated in the
preceding part of this Avork, that, in consequence of our
creAV being large, all hands were" never called to reef
topsails, Avhich, however, is not generally the case with*
merchant vessels, because of the small number compos
ing their creAVs. But iioav for the description on board
of our ship; the watch Avas divided equally, one half
forAvard, and the other half aft ; the officer of the watch
then gives the order — " Stand by the topsail-halliards,
man the clewlines, let go the buntlines and reef-tackles,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 159
and stand by the lee-braces ; let go the topsail-halliards,
slacken the lee, and round in the Aveather-braces." This
is done so that the sail may shiver and run down on
the cap easily. When the halliards are let go, the top-
men spring on the yards and overhaul the ties ; Avhen
the yard is doAvn, the lifts are taut, and the yard is then
braced so as to prevent the sail from shivering; the
buntlines are then hauled up and the reef-tackles hauled
out; the topmen then spring out to the Aveather and lee
earings, and the seamen from the deck lie aloft, cluster
ing like so many bees upon tho yard ; the earings being
fast and the reef-points knotted, the seamen — some on
the topsail ties, and others descend Avith all possible
despatch to the deck. The cleAvlines, reef-tackles, and
buntlines, being let go, and overhauled by the, topmen,
the yard is swayed up; during Avhich the braces are
tending, and when the sail is taut, the boatsAvain, or
boatswain's mate, pipes, " Belay," or " Make fast." I have
knoAvn the topsails to be close-reefed on board this ship,
and the sails set, in seven minutes from the time the
halliards were let go. In this instance, hoAvever, Ave
Avere eleven minutes, OAving, probably, to the want, of
practice. But to return : at 4 P. M., it bleAV a strong gale ; furled
the fore and mizzen-topsails, and at sunset furled the
foresail, and brought the ship by the wind on the star
board tack, with her'head to the northward. The night
was terrific : the gale had increased to a hurricane, AVith
a short, high, cross sea, breaking in almost every direc
tion, and presenting a broad sheet of Avhite foam, Avhich,
together Avith the incessant flashes of lightning, made it
impossible to fix the sight upon any object except at
short intervals. The heavens were overspread Avith
blackness, while peal on peal of thunder roared -with
horrid din, altogether appearirig as if the furies Avere let
loose in this contention of the Avarring elements. But
the ship behaved gallantly : as yet no angry sea, Avith
foaming crest, had fallen on board ; yet it Avas evident,
from the increasing fury of the hurricane she could not

160 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
much longer resist the waves. Indeed, what could wood
and iron do, although managed by the most consum
mate skill, and stoutest hearts, against the frightful gale
in such a fearful night as this ? At 11 P. M., a squall, the
violence of Avhich exceeded any of the preceding gusts,
struck her a-beam, and#at the same moment a heavy sea
broke under the counter, tripping her, which, together
with the violence of the wind, immediately sent her
over, with her gunwajes under Avater. Happily, at this
instant the main-topsail was bloAvn away from the bolt-
rbpe ; and, eased of the pressure, she immediately righted ;
but the loss of the after-sail had caused her to fall off
four points; as soon, however, as she felt the action of
the helm, she began to luff up to the Avind. Then Avas
heard the hoarse voice of the first officer, Avhich rose
distinctly above the roaring elements, " Secure your
selves, every man of you ! " I caught a turn Avith the
main-clew-garnet around my body and the main-sAvifter,
and then, casting my eye over the rail to windward, saw
a huge black mass, Avhich came rolling on toward our
beam with frightful rapidity, as if impelled by sorrie fury
eager to swallow the ship up for its prey. It Avas an
awful moment — the ship could not shun the sea. I
heard and saw no more, until I felt I Avas nearly up to
my arm-pits in water. For a feAv minutes she lay Avater-
logged ; fortunately,, however, all the lee ports had been
triced up, and she quickly freed herself from the im
mense weight of Avater, .Avhich must otherwise have
caused her to founder. But our troubles Avere not yet
over, for all the ring-bolts had been started, and many
of the timbers to Avhich the guns were secured Avere
broken, and four of the waist-guns Avere adrift, or hang
ing merely to the broken timbers. " Launch the guns
overboard ! "shouted Capt. W., " or they will make day
light through the ship;" for tAvo of the guns were partly
hanging over the side. It Avas a dangerous service, but
this was no time for skulking. I saAV the fearless
second officer — whom no danger could appal, and avIio
never quailed from any duty — with a hatchet and hand-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 16 .
spike in his hands, folloAved by my old messmate, the
undaunted Jack SaAvyer, fearlessly proceeding to the
scene of disaster. As I felt great pride to be engaged in
any hazardous duty, I immediately joined them. We
quickly cut aAvay the tackles and breechings of the
tAvo guns, which Avere partly hanging over the side, and
got them clear of the ship. There were yet tAvo more
adrift; and, idlhough with the utmost difficulty, and at
the hazard of life and limb, we succeeded, in about half
an hour, in launching them overboard also. At mid
night the gale was at its height ; after that, the sea be
came more regular, and consequently less dangerous ; set
the main-stay-sail, and lay throughout the night in safety.
For three days it continued to blow Avithout much varia
tion as to the violence or course of the wind, during which
time Ave had frequently to live on raw pork and biscuit,
it being impossible to cook in the galley. This was in
deed an unfortunate gale for us, as all the fresh stock Ave
had on board Avas washed off the deck, together with
three casks of water.
- On the morning of the first of January, .1810, the
wind- moderated and hauled round to the southward
and eastward, and the sea went doAvn. All necessary
sail was set, and once more we stood on our course to
the westward. The weather now became exceedingly
fine, with a clear atmosphere ; and we found the ship's
position, at meridian, to be in 31° 30" south, and longi
tude 22° east. This day the stars Avere as perfectly
visible at meridian as they were at night, although the
sun's altitude was upAvards of 70°. This circumstance
is owing to the clearness of the atmosphere, especially at
this season of the year.
January 4. — By observation Ave ascertained that the
ship had doubled the Cape of Good Hope; consequently
we bore aAvay to the nortrnvard and westAvard, with a
fine south-east trade wind, and set every sail that would
draw to advantage. As we uoav had got the ship's head
to the northward and AvestAvard, Avith a fine, steady,
south-east trade wind, it appeared more like reaching
16

162 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.,
our native land, because we were steering a direct course,
and had no more capes to double. There Avas yet, hoAV-
ever, a long distance to run ; and as our provisions had
become exceedingly bad, — especially the bread, of which
there was noAV only a small quantity left, — and as we
Avere out of fresh stock of every description, it Avas ru
mored that Ave should put into some one of the islands
near the line, for a supply. We iioav began to suffer for
the Avant of bread. What little there Avas on board Avas
so much eaten by the Avorms and weevils, that a small
tap on a biscuit Avould reduce it almost to dust. The
only Avay, therefore, in which it could be eaten, was to
separate the vermin from the bread, and put the dust into
our pots of tea or coffee.
January' 5. — The weather this day was bright and
clear, and the Avind blew due south-east, and studding-
sails Avere set on both sides. For the first time, I ex
perienced AArhat I had often heard remarked by sailors,
viz., rolling down St. Helena homeward bound; for not-
Avithstanding the severe privations Ave now experienced
for the Avant of wholesome food, yet, nevertheless, gene
ral good-will and harmony prevailed throughout the ship,
for the reason that all pangs arising from deprivations
and difficulties Avere absorbed by the pleasing anticipa
tions of shortly realizing "svveet home."
January 10. — No change or interruption of wind or
Aveather took place the preceding days. The damages
Avere noAV all repaired, and the usual routine of duty Avas
carried on. I soon began to perceive that our bad pro
visions were not so well relished, neither was the hard
fare borne with the same equanimity of temper, in the
land of knives and forks and plates, as in the forecastle
among the crew. The officers grew peevish, and mani
fested it in a variety of ways, by working up, &c. This
was particularly the case Avith the third officer. Indeed,
Ave had been so long confined to the narroAv compass of
a ship, and this passage having been so much protracted
beyond all our calculations -*- added to the unwhole-
someness of our provisions — Avas not only the causa

LIFE ON THE OCEAN, 163
of some ill-humor, but actually produced much debility
aihong the creAV. Every mile, therefore. Ave made to the
westAvard, Avas a source of great satisfaction to me, be
cause it brought our privations nearer to a termination.
As Ave had got. into steady weather, in order to pass
aAvay time pleasantly, my old messmate, Jack, promised
to resume and finish his narrative in our Avatch on deck
at night. He now could read and spell Avith a degree
of accuracy that astonished many of the creAV, and I
commenced teaching him to AATite. It \vas a source of
the highest satisfaction to poor Jack, who Avas actually
a different man than Avhen first introduced to the notice
"of the reader.
January 11. — This day commenced and continued
the same as the former ; the crew Avas variously employed
in getting- the ship in order while running down these
trades. Expecting, of course, to arrive on the coast of
America in cold Aveather, I took this opportunity to get
my Cape Horn clothing in order, Avhich had been laid
by a long time in almost a useless state, not having had
occasion to Avear it for more than a year and a half.
Eight days had now elapsed since we passed the Cape
of Good Hope, and the Avind continued t6 bloAv due
south-east without varying a quarter of a point, and
the Aveather Avas also uninterruptedly fine. HomeAvard-
bound vessels generally take advantage of these trade
winds to overhaul and paint, and get ready to make their
entrance into port in trim appearance, as it "can be done
with almost the same facility as when lying to an anchor.
The decks cleared and supper over, all hands Avere
on deck, and the privilege of the rnain deck being
granted them, the crew joined in the merry dance as a
-ecreation to drive away the spleen and discontent Avhich
>egan to appear among them on account of bad pro
visions and short allowance. These privations, Iioav-
>iVer, Avere unavoidable on the part of Capt. W. ; conse
quently the difficulties" were borne with little murmur-
iiig. During these tAvo hours of frolic and sky-larking,
&Il_Avas forgotten, or merged into a general feeling of
mirth and jollity.

164 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Eight bells Avere struck ; and the starboard watch being
called, Jack Sawyer and myself went' up to our station
in the foretop, where we quietly seated ourselves on the
starboard side. After the usual preliminaries of taking
a fresh quid, and discharging a liberal portion of the
juice, arising from the severity of a high-pressure grind
ing, he resumed his narrative as folloAVS : —
" It is a long time since my yarn was cut off, and I
hardly know whereabouts to knot again ; but I believe
it was someAvhere about Avhen I was drafted oh board
the frigate M., for the East India station. Well, I thought
I Avould give them the slip, and get home to my native
land, to see Avhether my poor old mother was alive or
not ; but then there Avas a messmate of mine, and we
had been together three years in our frigate. He Avas a
true-hearted- chap, and often shared his last shilling Avith
me ; so, d'ye see, we talked the matter over, — for we had
no secrets between us, — and he got the better of me, for
he had the gift of the gab. ' Now, Jack,' says he, 'just
go out this cruise, and mayhap we'll make some prize-
money ; and then, with a long score of wages when the
cruise is up, why, then you'll have plenty of shiners,
and may go home and make your old marri comfortable
all the days of her life.' This last, argument won me
over, and I consented to go with my messmate Tom,
and we fixed the bargain on the spot with a glass of
grog. Well, Tom and I had a cruise for-three days, for,
d'ye see, all the shiners were not yet gone. Says Tom,
' What's the use of this stuff at sea, or among them out
landish chaps yonder in Bengal ? ' 'That's true, Tom,!
says L; ' so the quicker we get clear of it the better.' So
at it we went ; and in three days, sure enough, we had
pockets to let, and after that grum looks and hard words
from the land-sharks in Rotten Row. Well, Ave were
now ready to go on board the frigate ; and as she was un
der sailing orders, she Avas picking up a crew wherever
they could be found ; and many of them didn't go on
board Avith a good will, that's sartain ; no, no ; they were .
dragged off by the press-gang, just, for all the world, like

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 165
so many bullocks to the slaughter-house. Well, off
Tom and I goes to the frigate ; and after taking a squint
at the crew, I just made up my mind that they were a
sorry set of felloAvs. HoAvsomever, I heard an old quar
ter-master say that they Avould be as good for the sharks
and alligators, out yonder, as better men. Well, we
got under Avay from Portsmouth, and stood doAvn the
channel. " And now, to make short work of it, I will pass over
what took place on this passage, except that there Avas
plenty of exercising and plenty of flogging ;- so that, by
the time Ave got to Bombay, the frigate Avas in a pretty
good state of discipline, and I was promoted to quarter
master. We remained on this station a long time, long
enough to make a pretty considerable hole in the crew ;
for, Avhat Avith the dysentery, fever, and hot weather, the
hands died like rotten sheep, making a large average
among the tinkers and cobblers that had been pressed
in Portsmouth ; so, sure enough, the words of the old
quarter-master came true, as a number of them Avere
throAvn overboard to fill the hungry maws of the sharks
and alligators. Well, I came very near losing the num
ber of my mess there too, for I Avas laid up in the sick
bay three months ;,and hadn't it been for my old mess
mate, Tom, who stuck bv me through thick and thin, I
also should have been a sweet morsel for the hungry
belly of a shark.
¦'• We remained cruising on this station, sometimes at
Calcutta, sometimes at Madras, Bombay, and Singapore,
for nineteen months, during which time sixty of our
chaps slipped their moorings, and the grim monster,
•Death, made a pretty equal distribution among the offi
cers. To be sure, we felt pretty blue ; but hoAvsomever,
we made up for it, because we took a large French pri
vateer ship, and recaptured her prize, an English East
Indiaman. So, d'ye see, as we had so many men docked
off the ship's books by death, why, then, the remaining
number would share more prize-money for it. I Avas not
sorry when our ship was relieved by another frigate, and
16*

166 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
was glad enough Avhen we got under sailing orders foi
England ; for, somehoAV or other, I couldn't get it out
of my head about these devouring critters, and I had.a
mortal disliking to be eat up and stoAved aAvay in the
store-room of a shark or alligator. And I tell you, when
I heard the boatswain pipe to unmoor and get under
way for England, I felt just as glad as if I had a week's
grog ; and I saw the phiz of many a chap that day
brighten up, which, for nine months before, looked, for
all the world, like sour milk. Well, we got under
way with a 'fine breeze, and it seemed to me as if the
frigate was as glad to get out of these horse latitudes as
ourselves. " We made a pretty quick run of it, and got into Ports
mouth in* ninety days; then the frigate was taken, into
dock, and I was paid off — wages, prize-money and all,
amounting to just one hundred and forty pounds ster
ling money! Why, I felt like one of them nabobs out
yonder ! So much chink ! ' A pretty sum ! ' says I to my
self. ' Why, I'll just sheer clear of the pirates, streamers,
-and Rotten Roav, and get these shiners home to old
mam, if she's still above hatches. Yes,' thought I, 'I'll
cut loose from the sarvice, and my messmate, Tom B. ;
or I very well knew, if Tom once threw his grappling-
irons and small talk around me, I was a gone chickj
shiners and all, for another cruise. Well, I didn't stop to
consider ; so I took a boat and went off to an American
ship which had sprung a leak and put in here to repair.
So, as I Avas saying, I goes aboard and asked liberty to
see the captain. Down I went into the cabin, and there
he was ; so I told him my whole yarn ; how long I had
been in the English sarvice, and how I had a mother in
Marblehead, if she was still alive, and how I Avanted to
get home to see her, as I had some chink of my arnings
to make her comfortable in her old days. ' There it is,'
says I, taking out my bag and giving it to the captain.
' I just want you to keep that little sum for me, and let
me go in your ship, that I may once more see my native
land.' 'Well, my man,' said the captain, 'your story

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 167
seelns to be a -pretty straight one, and if all is right, I
am Avilling to do all I can for you. But, you know,"
continued he, ' the press is very hot, and you have no
protection, and it is likely they Avill overhaul my ship
very closely — what will you do in that case ? ' ' What
Avill I do ? ' said I ; ' Avhy, if they take Jack SaAvyer out
of this ship, they must be Avide aAvake ; but, if they do,
captain, just take that bit of dust, and, when you get
home, inquire after my-old mother, Elizabeth SaAvyer,
or my sister, Nancy SaAvyer, and if they're alive, give
it to them, and tell them it's from poor Jack.' 'I shall
be ready to sail in tAvo days,' says the captain ; ' so, my
man, get your dunnage aboard to-morroAV, and I'll stow
you aAvay, or, if you like it better, you may stay Avhere
you are noAV.' I thanked him heartily for his kind
offer, and told him I Avould go ashore, and pack up my
traps, and be off to-morroAV. I kept under hatches that
night, for the press-gang Avas out, picking up every
straggler. The next day I got my traps all off safe on
board, and stowed myself a\vay among the cargo ; and
it was Avell I did, for the ship was overhauled twice by
the press-gang before we got to sea. Howsomever, Ave
got out clear, and arrived safe at Antwerp. >.
"I had like to forgot to tell you that the ship's name
was the Eliza, of Boston, Capt. Saunders, and as fine a
felloAV as ever stepped on a ship's deck ; — a sailor, every
inch of him, and knew how to feel for a sailor. Well,
we discharged our cargo, Avent doAvn to St. Ubes, took
in a cargo of salt, and arrived safe in Boston, when 1
once more trod the shores of my native land, after hav
ing been aAvay nearly fifteen years."
Here, the Avatch being out, the narrative was closer^
for the present, with the promise of concluding the re
mainder at the next favorably opportunity.
January 25. — The almost universal sameness of Avind
and Aveather, in the south-east trades, produced a state
of monotony, during the preceding days, Avhich Avas
¦nearly insupportable. We found ourselves, however,
about this time, drawing up to the equinoctial line, and,

168 LIFE ON THE OCEABf.
for the first time,. we understood in the- forecastle that"
Captain W. had decided to put into the Island of Fer
nando Noronha, to ascertain Avhether a supply of bread,
or a substitute for it, could be obtained, as indication
of the scurvy began To make its appearance among the
creAV, OAving, no doubt, to the*unAvholesomeriess of the
provisions — Avant of bread and articles of an anti-scor
butic character.
January 29. — The trade winds during, the pr .ceding
days .became light, in consequence of which we did .not
make the island until this morning, at 9 A. M., when the
exciting qry of "Land ho ! " was heard from the mast
head, to the unspeakable satisfaction of all or board ; it
being the first land seen since Ave left the east, end of
Java. The usual preparations Avere made for coming
to an anchor; — such as bending cables, getting anchors
over the bows, &c. The anchorage being to the Avest-
ward, we ran round the south point, luffjd up to the
anchoring ground, and came to Avith the small bower,
in fifteen fathoms water, abput a mile distant from the
shore. We lost no time in getting our boats out, two
of which Avere sent on shore, to obtair the necessary
information in reference to the object of our visit to this
place. .It was soon ascertained that a supply of bread
could not be obtained, and the only article ih place of
it Avas the cassava root, Avhich, Avhen dried and pulver
ized, and made up as dough, and baked, answered as a
tolerable substitute. A difficulty now presented itself,,
vhich Avas, that even this poor article could not be
-obtained in any considerable quantity; the deficiency,
however, was made up by yams, which Avere purchased
at an exorbitant price, as well as some fresh stock, such
as fowls, pigs, &c. There are no springs of fresh Avater
on this island; but, as there are frequently heavy rains,
the people catch large quantities of Avater in a. cistern, or
reservoir, built for that purpose, which affords an ample
supply to the inhabitants of the. island. This reservoir,
from Avhich we filled ten large casks, stands on the top-
of a hill ; and it was with some considerable difficulty
we got them down to the beach, being obliged to par-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 169
buckle them doAvn Avith ropes. We remained here tAvo
days, during which time Ave got off all such supplies as
could be obtained, and for Avhich the most exorbitant
prices Avere paid.
February 1. — Got under Avay at 6 A. M., with a
light air from off the land ; made all sail, and steered
aAvay to the Avestwaid.
The Island of Fernando Noronha is in the parallel
3° 56' south, 32° 33' Avest. It is small, and of a moder-
. ate height ; and, except on the western part, there l?
scarcely any land susceptible of cultivation ; and it pre
sents the appearance of a mass of rocks when it is
approached from the eastAvard. There is no shelter, or
harbor, Avhatever ; but, as the anchorage is to the leeward
. of the island, no danger is to be apprehended, especially
as there are no gales of wind, and the squalls are of
short duration. Here the Portuguese government trans
ports its convicts. There were, at this time, about tAvo
hundred and fifty #n the island, kept under restraint by
a garrison of about as many soldiers. Females Avere
entirely excluded; in consequence, we found their, in a
most Avretched condition, addicted to almost every vice,
and pilfering Avhatever they could lay their hands on.-
We Avere not at all displeased Avhen we left those knaves,
and took our departure.
At sunset, although the wind had been light during
the day, Fernando Noronha had sunk beneath the
horizon. The breeze freshened, every sail was set that
Avould draw to advantage, and once more we were
bounding over the sea, with our head in a direct course
towards home. The supply of provisions, Avater, &c,
though small, was nevertheless seasonable, for two
reasons; first, because ii induced'a better spirit and tem
per among the creAV ; and secondly, because it prevented
the outbreaking of scurvy, Avhich was so strpngly indi
cated previously to our touching at the island. In two
days from our departure, we once more crossed the
equinoctial line, homeward bound, it being the sixth
time we had crossed it on the voyage, as well as having
passed the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 1g

176

CHAPTER XV.
¦ATURDAT NIGHT AT SEA  CONCLUSION OF JACK SiWVIBI
NARRATIVE, &C.
February 4. — The three preceding days the wind
became light, and hauled gradually round to the east
ward. • Having crossed the equinoctial line far to the
westward, say 34° 307, we experienced no calms, and,
much to our regret, did not fall in Avith any outward-
bound vessels ; for although the' supply of cassava root
obtained at Fernando Noronha answered, in some sort,
in the place of bread, yet in a few dajp it became loath
some, and was entirely rejected by many of the crew.
but especially by the officers,
February 7. — We were this day in the latitude of
8° north, with a fine north-east trade Avind, running at
the rate of eight miles per hour, Avith studding-sails set
alow and aloft. It was Saturday, a day above all others
to the close of which sailors look forward with great
pleasure and delight ; for on this day the work generally
closes at a much earlier hour than usual ;¦ and while
the extra glass, technically called " Saturday night," is
being drunk, all the fond remembrances of home are
called up, and long yarns are spun and lengthened out,
while the much-cherished toast of " sAveethearts and
wives " passes round ; and on these occasions, especially,
all the hardships and privations of a sea-life are forgotten.
We had now been out upwards of two years, and every
hour brought us nearer to the land of our birth. Pf
course all those fond recollections of hbme became the
subject of our thoughts and conversation. Every spear
of grass and bed of weeds, which was now seen in large

LIFE CN THE OCEAN. 171
quantities floating by us, were strong indications, to me
especially, that this long voyage would shortly come to
an end. Indeed, I almost fancied myself-»«lroady at
home, though still many hundred miles distant from
Boston. This, then, Avas a Saturday night of peculiar
delight with us. The decks being cleared and suppei
ended, at the commencement of the last dog-watch the
tin pots were passed aft, and soon returned to the fore
castle, brimming Avith the customary Saturday night's
alloAvance. The members of each mess, with the grog
before them, seated themselves for a regular set-to at
long yarns and unalloyed enjoyment. Although Jack
Sawyer had mostly abstained from indulgence in drink,
since our conversation on that subject, yet, on this oc
casion, he could not refrain from quaffing the health of
a tight little cutter, to whom he averred, if God spared
his life, he intended to get spliced.
" By the A«ay," continued he to me, <fwhat do you
think. of it, messmate? " I told him I was not compe
tent to give advice on those subjects, but that I had often
heard it said, that a man might do an act of this kind
in five minutes, and repent of it during his whole life
time afterwards." "That's true," says Jack, seriously ;
" there was a messmate of mine, Sam Jenkins ; when he
Avas paid off from the Syren frigate, he goes ashore to
spend his liberty. Noav Sam Avas a good-looking chap,
and loved a glass of grog ; so, after he had taken aboard
tAvo or three, he got under way for a cruise. It was not
long before he fell in Avith a snug little frigate, Avhen he
bore aAvay in chase ; iioav, she having skyscrapers set,
streamers flying, and booming it off wing and Aving
Avith a clear run, it Avas not quite so easy a matter to
come-up with her; howsomever, Sam freshened' his
nip, and after that, he overhauled her hand over hand.
She played off a little by a manoeuvring puzzle, but
Sam boarding by a brisk movement, she soon sung out
for quarters, and struck her colors. To make a long yarn
short, he got spliced, and a pretty splice he made of it.
She was not a bit better than she should be, for"she

172 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
- B-ould not only have the last word, but the last drop in
ehe bottle ; so it Avas squall after squall with them until
poor Sam sheered off aboard of a frigate, >ound on the
East India station, and left, her to fight her own battles."
His yarn being over, Jack poured out his allowance
into a tumbler made of a bullock's horn, and after toast
ing " SAveethearts and Avives," and expressing a hearty
Avish that the breeze might last until Ave got into Boston
Bay, he tossed off his glass with a degree of satisfaction
which feAv but sailors exhibit. On the larboard side of
the forecastle Was a group of youthful sailors who had
just finished a long yarn, at the conclusion of which
one of them exclaimed, " In twenty days I shall be in
my father's house in Portsmouth."
" Avast there ! " said an old calculating Scotch sailor,
who had nearly worn the hair off the top of his head
with the lid of his chest, by frequently overhauling his
clothes, and adventure: " ye'll have a norwester or twa
to grin at afore ye get safely moored in Boston, mon."
" Stop that prophesying, old croaker, and let's, take
things as they come ; that's my fashion ; " bawled out
the boatswain's mate: "so come," continued he to Tom
Fairbanks, "screw up that small opening of yours,"
(meaning his mouth, Avhich, by the Avay, Avas the
largest of any- on board,) "and give us a ditty."
After the usual preliminaries of hemming, &c, Tom
sommenced Avith the famous pirate song, — " My name
is- Captain Kidd," &c. It is ¦ probably -known to the
reader that this song has about tAventy verses, and it
was roared out by the stentorian lungs of Tom, to the
no small satisfaction of many in the forecastle. He had
scarcely finished the last verse when this Saturday night's
glee was broken up by the shrill Avhistle of the boatswain
summoning the larboard Avatch on deck.
February J2. — No change of Avind or weather occurred
since the last date ; and, with the strong north-east trade
wind, we were fast approximating to the westAvard, and
being noAV in the parallel of Bari adoes, we kept a bright
look-out for outAvard-bound West Indiamen, supposing

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 173
we should cross their track while they were running down
to the islands ; as it is known that these vessels gen
erally get in the latitude of the island to Avhich they are
bound, and then run doAvn the longitude, until they
make it. It Avas not our good fortune, hoAvever, to
fall in with any of these vessels unti' the morning of
the 17th, Avhen a sail Avas seen far to the Avestward of
us. As she bore forward of the beam, and appeared to
be steering away to the AvestAvard, we shortened sail
and hove to. As soon, hoAvever, as she was sufficiently
near to see our colors, Avhich were hoisted at the fore-
royal-mast-head, she hauled her wind and made sail from
us. Chase was immediately given, and in three hours
we overhauled her, Avhen she proved to be the. brig
Susan, of New London, Capt. Trask, bound to Marti
nique, Avith a cargo of Yankee notions, such as potatoes,
onions, cheese, bread, <fcc. &c, all of whi<;h we so much
needed. Boarding her, Ave found the captain in a very
unpleasant-humor ; after stating to him our situation, and
offering him any price for the articles Ave Avanted, he
refused to sell or give us any, alleging that they were
all stowed away in the hold, and that he would not
break open his hatches. This report Avas made to Capt.
W., who immediately sent the second officer Avith orders
to tender the money to the captain in the presence of
his mate and crew, and if he still refused, to break open
the hatches, take what articles we actually stood in need
of, in the presence of his crew, and then to let our men
restow his cargo, calk down the hatches, stow his
boat, &c. When the money was offered to the captain,
he refused to accept of it. The orders were promptly
executed, during which time the captain made frequent
threats of protesting, as he said, against this outrage.
At 3 P. M., our supplies, boats, &c, were all hoisted in,.
and in a few minutes she AAras again on her north-west
course, under a press of canvass, and soon lost sight of
the brig Susan and her surly commander.
February 18. — The sun rose this morning with un
common splendor and brilliancy, no clouds intervening
17

174 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
to form curved or irregular lines, to break the clear and
well-defined horizow from beneath Avhich this glorious
orb ascended majestically, to perform his diurnal round,
describing most minutely the limbs as he rapidly ad
vanced into the azure vault above ; this magnificent
sight, Avhich had afforded me so much delight in its first
exhibition, while crossing the north-east trade Arinds,
outward bound, had now lost much of its interest, from
the frequency in which the same scene had been viewed
during this long voyage. Indeed, from the reflections
which constantly occupied my mind at this time, I
was brought to the conclusion that the grandeur and
sublimity of a sun-rising scene on the land was superior
to that on the ocean, because of the accompanying beau
ties, such as landscape, singing of birds, &c. While I
stood gazing on this scene, " How perfectly symbolical,"
thought I, "is.the diurnal round of this planet to that of
man's life ! how rapidly does it ascend in the morning,
nor slacken its pace until near -the meridian ; then slowly
descending until it reaches its midway distance to ihe
western horizon, when its velocity is quickened, and
with almost the rapidity of thought it vanishes from
the keenest vision ! "'
Here, then, are more than tAvo years of my life passed
away on the ocean, and to my imagination it seems but
as a day ; and yet it is gone, and I am now in my
tAventieth year, with all the buoyancy of youth, in the
morning of life. What my meridian, decline, or exit, may
be, is yet in futurity-; at all events, my reflections on the
past two years were not altogether of an unpleasant char
acter. I had advanced in the knoAvledge of seamanship
and navigation as much as could be expected in one
voyage. I had also cultivated the good-will of the of
ficers and crew, and believe I had been of some ser
vice to one true-hearted, illiterate sailor. I had also the
satisfaction to know that those habits Avhich are some
times imbibed in the forecastle had not been contracted
by. me, although I confess I was not proof against those

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 175
influences more than young men generally are. With
these reflections, therefore, I considered my future pros
pects to be somewhat flattering.
In running up our latitude to the northward, indica
tions of changes in the atmosphere began to he manifest;
and as it Avas highly* probable- we should soon have to
change our stations from the tops to the deck, Jack
SaAvyer, being aAvare of this, said he would spin out the
remainder of his yarn to-night, as it Avas our first watch
on deck. As soon, therefore, as the last dog-watch had
ended, and the watch was relieved, we went up to our
station in the foretop, when Jack cbncluded his narra
tive as follows : —
" You may be sure I did. not stay long in Boston ; so,
after inquiring about for my uncle,- 1 found out that he
and his wife had slipped their moorings, and then I
could hear nothing of their tAvo children ; so, as there
was nothing further for me to do, away I starts for
Marblehead, to look out for poor old mother and sister.
Well, I soon got down there, and was afraid to ask
about them, for, sorriehow or other, I had a kind of fore
boding that old mam Avas under hatches ; and sure
enough the very first question I asked was of an old
man — but I didn't tell him Avho I was. ' Well,.' says I,
* daddy, do you know one Mrs. Sawyer,, living about
these parts ? ' ' Know her ? ' said he ; ' that I did ; but she
died about six years ago, and her daughter Betsy didn't
live long afterwards ; but Nancy Sawyer married, two
years ago, to a clever farmer, and noA\r lives in Worces
ter.' Then clapping a pair of peepers over his nose, and
taking a long squint at my phiz, he said, ' I could almost
'sAvear you are Mrs. Sawyer's son Jack, but that Ave heard
he was killed aboard of a British man-of-Avar, fighting
the Spaniards.' ' Give me yourhand, old gentleman ; —
no, he was not killed, for here he stands before you, that
self-same Jack SaAvyer, Avhat's left of him.' ' And a good
deal more is added to you since I saw you last,' con
tinued the old man."
During the latter part of this narration, I perceived

176 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
the voice of poor Jack to falter; for whenever he spoke
of his mother, the feelings of his nature quite over ¦
powered him.
" Well, I went home with the old man, spun him my
yarn, and he, in return, gave me an account of every thing
that had taken place since I had been away. So I slept
there that night, and the next morning I started "for
Worcester. You riiay be sure I was not long in 'getting
there. I soon found out Nancy, but she didn't know
me when I met her, and I didn't much recollect her ;
but when I told her I Avas her own brother Jack, she
jumped, cried, and laughed, all in one breath, and then
threw her arms around my neck, and there we was about
half a glass, blubbering like two young babies. So,
after Ave got cooled off, we sat doAvn, and each of us told
all that had taken place during our long separation.
'Now, Nancy,' says I, 'I have stowed aAvay a few
shiners ; and as poor old mother is gone, and I've got no
other relation but yourself, we'll just divide them be
tween us.' So I hauled out my bag, Avhich had just
eighty golden guineas in it ; I emptied them all on the
table, and with my hand 1 scraped off -her part, and
shoved them toAvards her. ' There,' says I, 'take them,
and much good may they do you.' 'Bless me,' said
she, 'Jack, you have given me most all of them.' ' Never
mind that,' said 1; 'I've got enough here to pay my
shot on to Boston, and have a cruise besides ; and when
this is gone, why then, do ye see, I'll go to sea for
more.' Well, i staid with Nancy about a week ; her
husband was a clever sort of a greenhorn, for he axed
me one day, while Ave Avas eating dinner, if sailors didn't
eat with plates, cups, saucers, knives and forks. I
soon got tired, and iioav says I, ' Nancy, I'm off.' So
the next day my dunnage was all packed up, and I bid'
Nancy and her husband good-by, and aAvay I goes to
Boston. Well, I had a bit of a cruise there, and then I
shipped in the States' sarvice for a three years' cruise:
since that time I have sailed in the merchant sarvice till
1 fell in with this ship ; and noAV you know the rest,
messmate." «

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 17?
February 24. — During the preceding days, nothing
of importance transpired ; on the 22d, hoAvever, it being
Washington's birthday, it Avas spent much in the same
way as described in a preceding part of this Avork.
We were nowdraAviug up toward the parallel of variable
winds, being in the latitude of 28° north, and 60°*west
longitude, by observation ; the temperature of the weather
had become cooler, reminding us of the necessity of get
ting our Cape-Horn dunnage in order, so as to meet the
attacks of the north-easters in Boston Bay.
A sailor is literally " Jack of all trades," for you might
have seen in the forecastle, at this time, a variety of
them in operation ; such as makigg and mending shoes
and boots, some of which had been long throAvn aside,
cutting out jackets and trousers, (what they technically
call south-westers,) all of which, it was presumed, we
should have occasion for. In this expectation Ave Avere
not disappointed ; for, in reaching the parallel of Ber
muda, the weather became squally and cold, and Ave
were glad to put on extra clothing. The crew were
much affected by this change of weather ; the reason,
however, is obvious ; for more than a year and a half
we had either been under the tropics or near the equi
noctial line, consequently had become enervated, and
unable to resist the attacks of cold. ,
February 28. — We Avere noAV to the northward of the
Gulf Stream, and during the last feAv days the weather
was boisterous and squally, especially in crossing the
Stream. This day the wind Avas to the. eastward, with
rain. Spoke several vessels outward bound. At sunset
the Avind hauled to the southward, which gave us a slant
alongshore ; and although it blew exceedingly hard,
nevertheless, she was driven along by a press of( canvass,
it being necessary to improve-'this Avind, because, at this
season of the year, it was sure to be followed by a north-
Avester. At 8 P. M., the Avind increased to a gale : royal
and top-gallant yards were sent down, and the royal-
mast housed ; we close-reefed the topsails, furled the miz-
zen-topsail, mainsail, iib, and spanker. At midnight it blew
17*

178 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
a severe gale, attended with rain, thunder, and .ightning,
from the north-west ; clewed up the fore-topsail, and
furled it, the ship being now under close-reefed main-
topsails and staysails. At 1 A. M., the wind lulled, and
then the hoarse but distinct voice of- my old friend, the
second officer, shouted, " Clew up the main-topsail and
fm-1 it ! " No time was lost in executing this order. We
sprang aloft on the yard and gathered up the sail, and
had scarcely reached the deck when, the terrific north
wester struck her. We were prepared for this attack by
having previously put the ship's head on the starboard
tack at midnight. So violent was the gust that, for a
few minutes, she lay gunwale under, nearly motionless.
In an hour the fury of the gale had subsided, and settled
into a steady, but hard north-wester.
At 4 A. M., set close-reefed fore and main-topsails and
foresail ; with this short sail, however, we could do little
more than hold our position — the gale continuing to bloAV
with violence three days; at the expiration of which, on
the morning of March 2d, the wind veered to the west
ward, which gave us a fine slant, having made our
westing previous to the commencement of the gale.
During the whole of the former part of" this voyage, I
never knew the ship to~ groan so heavily as under the
severe press of canvass Avhich was iioav carried on her.
March 4. — From the meridian observation this day,
and the position in which the ship Avas judged to be by
the last lunar observation, Block Island bore north-Avest,
twenty miles distant ; no land Avas in sight, however,
from the mast-head. We continued our course north
wardly, edging a little to the westAvard, and at 4 P. M.
got soundings. As we continued our course along, we
gradually changed the character of the soundings, from
mud to sand, which evidently indicated that Ave Avere
approaching Nantucket south shoals.
On the morning of the 5th, the soundings having now
changed from sand to shells, as indicated by the lead, it
showed that we Avere approaching George's. At 8 A. M.J
kept the ship to the northward, and ran along Avith a

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 17 J
light breeze from Avest-south-west. At 7 P. M , saw Chat
ham Light, being at this time nearly abreast of it. The
breeze continuing light, we ran along until 2 A. M ; then,
judging onrselves up Avith Race Point, hauled in to the
norttiAvard and AvestAvard for the bay. In the morning,
at daylight, saw the low sand-hills of Cape Cod, bear
ing on the beam, and before us lay the broad bay of
Massachusetts. One or two small vessels Avere in sight,
and as Ave ran aloug they presently multiplied ; and
here and there might be seen various descriptions of
vessels, some standing on a wind and others before it.
It was a scene of much interest to us, having had so
long a passage ; and, Avith the exception of the English
fleet seen off the Cape of Good Hope, Ave hadr fallen in
with but one vessel for nearly six months. All was
now excitement on board, and preparations Avere made
for entering Boston harbor in ship-shape order. , For
the last time, Ave holystoned the decks, cleaned the ship
fore and aft, above and below. The high land of Cape "
Ann, and the rocks of Cohasset, Avere now in sight; in
deed, the scenes Avhich were multiplying around us
produced additional interest and excitement, for we were
now approaching our homes. At 9 A. M., saw the land
about Hingham, and, as we approached Cape Ann, took
a pilot on board. Nothing could exceed the joy which
sparkled in the countenances of the crew when the pilot
stepped upon our deck ; every order was executed with
astonishing rapidity, and Ave considered ourselves as
having almost arrived at the summit of that pleasure and
happiness contemplated by us for so many months —
reaching our native land.
The ship was gliding along at the rate of five knots,
although the breeze was light ; and yet to me she never
appeared todrag through the water so heavily. As we
were now in a position for. telegraphic view, the fore-
roya} was loAvered doAvn and the signal hoisted, so that
in a short time the owners (for she had many, having
been fitted out by a company on shares) would have
the welcome intelligence of the arrival of this most

180 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
fortunate ship with her rich cargo" ; and a me neAvs of
our coming- Avould soon be known, there .vould be no
small stir among the land-sharks,' and the keepers of
sailor boarding-houses ; doubtless, they calculated to
gull poor Jack out of the greater part of his tAvo and a
half years' earnings. Already the ship was literally sur
rounded with boats, filled with these gentry, who, with
soft words and pleasant looks, Avere uoav handing over
to the sailors bottles of rum, which they had managed
to keep out of sight of the officers ; but it would not do
among this ship's company, for they Avere in general
different men now to Avhat they Avere Avhen they left
Boston ; and I Avas not a little pleased to see that Jack
Sawyer withstood all the wheedling pretensions of these
hypocritical fellows. Orders were noAV given to clear
the ship of every man avIio did not. belong to her, and
cast off all the boats.
In one hour and a half, Avith the same breeze, Ave
should either be to an anchor in the harbor, or made fast
alongside of India Wharf. The guns were sponged and
loaded, in readiness for a salute, and the hands Avere
turned up to strip the yards and mast-heads of their
bandages. We sprang aloft, and very soon you might
have heard those from the mast-head singing out, " Stand
from under ! " Down went mats, leathers, parcelling,
battens, tail and jewel-blocks, and in a few minutes she
presented as neat a set of mast-heads and spars as ever
graced a ship coming into port after a voyage of two
years and a half. The decks being now perfectly clear
and clean, short ranges of both cables were overhauled,
and every preparation Avas made for coming to. The
ship was now skimming along gracefully with studding-
sails set, passing the islands, 'which form a very narrow
channel ; but it was a matter of no moment to us, as
we had a fair wind. At length the last island Avas
passed, and the castle and hospital were distinctly
seen. The royals and studding-sails were now taken
in ; and, with colors flying fore and aft, she ran up the
harbor until nearly abreast of India Wharf, when every

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 181
%
sail was cleAved up at once"; and the anchor ht go for
the second time since Ave left Whampoa roads, say one
hundred and seventy days. The yards Avere manned,
sails furled, and a handsome salute of eighteen guns
was fired.
ItAvas not long before our decks were croAvded Avith
people — custom-house officers, &c. ; some inquiring for
their friends Avith anxious looks, which bespoke a secret
foreboding that they Avere not on board; others were
anxiously inquiring after neAVS ; and there were not a few-
sailors' landlords, Avho, in the most polite and agreeable
manner possible, addressed our tars as if they had been
acquainted AVith them all their lifetime, swearing that
they recognized them as their old boarders, and using
every art and persuasion in their power to induce them
to become so again. I soon discovered in the crowd
two young men, who Avere my cousins, and sons to
the good old relative mentioned in the preceding part
of this work. It was a happy meeting, although they
scarcely knew me at first, because of the great alteration
in my appearance. They informed me that great anxiety
Avas manifested by my friends, and especially by my
sister, as they had heard but once from the ship since
her departure from Boston. They had received the
account of the action on the coast, and the number
qf the killed and Avounded, but did not learn their
names. The anchor was now hove to the bows, and
the ship hauled into India Wharf and made fast. I soon
got myself in readiness by having what a sailor calls " a
go-ashore Avash ; " and, putting on an entire rig of short
clothes, securing my chest which contained my Canton
adventure, and obtaining leave from Captain W., I once
more set foot on Yankee-land, after an absence of two
years and four months.

182

CHAPTER XVI.
MEETING WITH FRIENDS AT HOME  LAST INTERVIEW WITH JACK
SAAVYER  SAIL IN THE SHIP BALTIC FOR RIO JANEIRO.
With my two cousins, I started at a rapid pace for
the residence of my friends in Roxbury. Every object
I fell in with induced a train of reflections Avhich
called forth pleasing recollections of my schoolboy
days. Passing up State Street, I saAV, at the lower part
of the Old State House, the Roxbury. Dedham, and
Milton stages ; I had often 'rode behind the former,
while crossing Roxbury Neck. There, too, stood the^
Old South, Avith its tall steeple, presenting the same
appearance of tottering age that it did ten years be
fore. As it Avas near five o'clock, and this the first
time I had had my land tacks aboard for six months,
and the distance being greater than I felt disposed to
walk, we concluded to take our seats in the Roxbury
stage, and, after a ride of about fifteen minutes, we
landed before the old family mansion, and I soon found
myself surrounded by my friends, Avith my sister at my
side. This interview was such as might have been ex
pected with near and very dear relatives, on meeting after
a separation of tAvo years and. a half; and every pains
Avere taken to render me comfortable and happy. Time
flew on with golden wings ; three Aveeks had now
passed aAvay since my return, during which I'was com
pelled to relate, Avith minute exactness, all the incidents
of the voyage ; and then the most earnest entreaties
were used to induce me to give up the hardships and
perils of a f-ea life, believing, as they said, I must have
had enough of it ; in this, hoAvever, they Avere greatly
mistaken — for, so far from my ardor being abated for

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 183
this vocation, it was greatly increased, and my deter
mination settled doAvn to follow its pursuits as my
future calling.
I frequently met Avith my old messmate, Jack SaAvyer,
and found that his habits, as Avell as his appearance,
were altogether changed. He assured me that he had
"knocked off drinking grog, and had been standing on
t'other tack," ever since he came on shore. " There,"
said he, offering me his hand, " is a hard fist and a
true heart ; Jack Sawyer is not the man to forget a
messmate ; no, no ! you have larnt me hoAV to read
and Avrite, and your advice has kept me from rum shops
and other places that used to swamp all my hard-earned
rhino Avhen I got on shore. Now, d'ye see, I've got a
few brads in my pocket, and, what's better, I've got a
boatsAvain's berth. on board an East Indiaman. Hark.
ye," continued he, "so long as you bang salt water,
here's wishing you may have a tight- ship, a leading
breeze, and always be able to eat your allowance ; but
if head winds and foul weather tliAvart your haAVse, and
you have to bear up in distress, why then, you know
my name is Jack SaAvyer, that's all."
When he had finished, he shook me heartily by the
hand, and turned away, evidently laboring under, great
emotion. After this, I saAV him but once more, and then
he was going on board the East Indiaman, which Avas
to sail the next day. Our parting may be better im
agined than described ; suffice it to say, his heart was
too full for utterance, and as he turned off, the last sound
of his voice struck full upon my ears, as he murmured
out, " God bless you ! "
About this time, I became acquainted with t\vo young
men who were shortly to embark, in the ship Baltic,
for Rio de Janeiro, intending to establish a commission-
house in that place. They had chartered the ship, and
the cargo was of their own procuring ; consequently,
consigned to them. The ship was nearly ready for sea,
and they urged me to seek for a berth on board of l.er as
second mate. I did not, however, think myself suffi
ciently qualified for the station ; but they were urgent,

184 ..IFE ON THE OCEAN.
and introduced me to Captain L., the commander of tfo
Baltic, Avith Avhom they Avere well acquainted. Aftev
some conversation with him as to my pretensions, &c,
for the place, I produced my recommendation from
Captain W., Avhen it was settled that I should have the
berth, at the wages of twenty-five dollars- per month,
and that I must immediately repair on board to entez
upon the duties of my station. This being settled,
jny friends were soon made acquainted Avith the ar
rangement, and the necessary preparations Avere made
for a second voyage, such as getting my sea dunnage
in order, &c. I purchased a small adventure suitable
to that market; and this, with my Canton adventure,
which I had not sold, amounted in all to about three
hundred dollars.
On the 3d of April, 1810, 1 repaired on board with my
dunnage, &c, and "was introduced to the chief mate,
Mr. R., whom I thought to be (on first acquaintance) a
very clever fellow. I very soon found out that the
second officer on board of this ship had not quite so
easy a berth as in the Dromo. We expected to be ready
for sea in two or three days, and the crew Avere shipped,
amounting in all to fourteen souls, viz., the captain, first
and second officers, cook, steward, eight men and one
boy before the mast. On the 5th of May, the cargo
was completed, and the ship Avas in readiness for sea.
Our destination was to Rio de Janeiro, and from thence
to the Island Tristan d'Acunha ; here the ship was to
land Mr. Jonathan Lambert, who had taken passage
with us for the purpose of settling on that island, and
take off some men who had been there for some time
sealing, together with Avhatever skins they might have
procured ; the ship was then to return to Rio, and load
for Boston. As this Avas the last day of our stay ,in
port, I went to Roxbury, and took an affectionate leave
of all my friends.
Next morning, April 6th, the pilot and all hands Avere
on board, together with the passengers, three in) number,
two of whom were the young gentlemen before men
tioned. At 9 A. M., loosed the sails, sheeted home the

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 185
topsails and top-gallantsails, overhauled a short range of
cable, cast off the fasts from the Avharf, and in a few
minutes we were under Avay, standing out of Boston
harbor, with a light breeze from the northward. When
a feAV yards from the Avharf, the customary three cheers
Avere given by our creAV, Avhich were responded to by the
crowd on the Avharf. Studding-sails Avere now set beloAV
and aloft ; and, as the beautiful view of Boston receded,
Pgazed upon its magnificent buildings and tall spires
Avith feelings somewhat similar to those Avhich I expe
rienced on my last voyage, although I had ooav the
privilege of walking the quarter-deck, Avith a handle to
my name, and the distinctive appellation of "second
dickey " by the sailors. The Avind hauling to the east
ward, Ave anchored in Nantasket Roads. While here,
every necessary preparation was made for sea, such as
lashing spars, Avater-casks, &c, and getting on chafipg
gear. At 8 P. M., the Avatches were chosen, as described
in a former part of this Avork ; this being over, the crew
were addressed by the captain in the following Avords,
a fair specimen of a sailor's lingo : —
" Well, men, here we are stowed away in this ship
for a six or eight months'' cruise ; all of you have shipped
for able seamen ; if you do your duty without grumbling, ,
you will find me an easy-going-along chap ; but if you're
a set of lubberly greenhorns, why then you'll just have
a hell upon earth on board of this -ship. And hark ye,"
said he, significantly pointing to Mr. R. ; "this is my
chief mate," and then pointing- to me, " this is my second
mate ;. just recollect that. That's all — go below."
The Avatch was now set ; and as I had the last dog-
Avatch, from 6 to 8, of course I had some time to reflect
upon the character of the man under Avhose command I
was brought to perform the duties appertaining to the
voyage ; indeed, my opinion of him had been pretty Avell
settled before I heard- his address to the crew. Captain
L. Avas a man of about forty-five years of age ; a thorough
bred seaman, of limited education, coarse and blunt in
his manners, and, as may be seen from his speech,
18

i.86 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
demanding every respect for himself and officers. He
was not the one to make any allowance if a man Avas
not able to perform the duty he shipped for. Now, as
the second mate of a merchant ship ought to be as active
and as good a seaman as any on board, of course 1 did
not feel, quite at ease with a man of Capt. L.'s peculiar
temperament, to scrutinize my capabilities ; however, I
was resolved to do the best I could, and make up in
activity whatever I might be deficient in seamanship.
Mr. R., the chief mate, Avas about thirty years of age,
entirely opposite in his character to Captain L. He
was a man of education, but not much of a seaman ;
pleasant and agreeable in his manners, but exceedingly
sIoav in his movements, — just such a one as commands
but little respect from A sailor. -As I have described the
duty appertaining to the officers of a merchant vessel in
the preceding part of this work, I shall here merely state
my condition, and the duties I had to perform aboard
of this ship. In the first place, then, my situation as
second mate was a kind of betwixt-and-between, scarce
ly considered by the sailors as an officer, and, in the es
timation of the captain, entitled to but little more-respect
than a foremast-hand ; of course, my OAvn conduct must
determine my future position. The duty devolving on
me was, first, the care of all the spare rigging, junk,
spun-yarn, blocks, marlinspikes, martin, &c. &c. ; .so
that, whenever any of these are wanting, it was neces
sary I should be able to put my hands on them at once.
In reefing topsails, I must always be the first man at the
Aveather-earing, and in furling, always in the bunt, this
being the place of an able seaman. There is no surer
mark of a lubberly second mate, than to let any man on
board get out to the Aveather-earing before him, or to be
on the quarter of the yard when furling the courses or
topsails. In a Avoid, my duty Avas like that of a boat- .
SAvaiu, not only to take care of the spare rigging, blocks,
&c, but also to look out that the standing rigging did
not get chafed, and especially, to report whenever a yard
or mast Avas sprung or defective. 'It was my -duty, in

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 187
fact^ to be at the head and front of all the work going
on, and also to have it done in a seaman-like manner.
Noav, the rules of this ship were, the forenoon watch be-
Ioav, and all hands on deck in the afternoon ; it may be
supposed, therefore, that I had not much idle time.
April 7. — The wind hauling to north-north-west this
morning, all hands were called to get under way ; and
presently the welj-known, long-drawn sound Avas heard,
at the windlass, Avhen the cable was stay ; peak, topsails
and top-gallantsails, . were loosed, sheeted home, and
hoisted to the mast-head, and the yards braced so as to
cant the ship's head to starboard ; the windlass Avas
again manned ;. and, as soon as the anchor was off the
ground, the helm Avas put to starboard ; the ship fell
off, the yards were braced to the wind, the anchor
Avas hove up and catted, the fish-tackle hooked on, and
the anchor was got on the bows. By this time the ship
Avas standing out on her course, running off at the rate
of six miles per hour. At 11 A. M., discharged the pi
lot, secured the anchors, coiled away cables, and cleared
deck ; and at 3£ P. M., Cape Cod lighthouse was 12
miles distant. At sunset, the land sank in the distance,
and once more I was bounding over the ocean where
sky and water meet.
I do not design, in this voyage, to fatigue the reader
with a detailed account of a sea life ; that having been
.given in my former voyage. I shall, therefore, coilfine
myself to the most prominent circumstances connected
with it. The duties were laborious in the extreme, and"
particularly so with me, in vieAv of the great disparity in
number of the crew with that of the last voyage. Here
was a ship of 350 tons' burden with only five men in
a watch; consequently, we were never able to reef top
sails Avithout calling all hands, a cirpumstance frequently
occurring two or three times during a single watch,
Avhich Avas never the ease in the former ship'. Very fre
quently, Ave did not have more than four hours' sleep out
of the twenty-four. However, I Avas young, with a
sound and vigorous constitution, and was able to with-

188 LIFE ON THE OCEAK.
stand all the hardships that I was -called upon to en-
dure ; indeed, 'such Avas my pride-that, if the duty had
been doubly severe, I should have endeavored to per
form it Avithout a murmur ; and in the end it greatly/
assisted me, for I found myself somewhat deficient in
seamanship, but contrived, nevertheless, by promptitude
and activity, to secure the favor and approbation of
Capt. Ii. The chief mate, hoAvever, was not so fortu
nate. Naturally of a supine disposition, and not much of
a seaman, and fully aware of his deficiency, he became
not only the butt on whom Capt. L. vented his ill-
humor, but at the same time he commanded but little
respect from the sailors ; his situation, therefore, was
exceedingly unpleasant, and had he not been a rela
tive of the owners, Capt. L. Avould have deprived him
of authority.
I now perceived in Capt. L. that which, of all things,
I most dreaded in a master of a vessel, — viz., a fondness
for the glass ; and it astonished me, how much he could
bear, and at the same time discharge the duties of his
station. On these occasions, — and they were very fre
quent, — sail Avas carried so long that it could not be taken
in, and frequently' the top-gallantsails Avould be spread
in a heavy head-sea, when we ought to have been under
double-reefed topsails. Twice during the passage we
lost our top-gallantmast and top-gallantsails, and were
well nigh running the ship under. The , evil conse
quences of. drinking to excess, particularly Avith a cap
tain of a ship, are incalculable ; for he has not only the
absolute control of both vessel and cargo, when at sea,
but also the lives of all on board are in his hands. It
is a matter of astonishment, therefore, that so great a
responsibility should be given to one who, perhaps,
two thirds of his time may be under the influence of the
intoxicating draught ; and I have no doubt that it has
been owing to this miserable vice that so great a loss of
property, and the lives of so many human beings have
been sacrificed. I resolved, therefore, from this time
never to connect myself to any ship or to embark with

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 189

•

a/iy captain addicted to this practice ; indeed, so great
Ave re my fears, in reference to Captain L. and the ul
timate fate of the ship, that I determined, if possible, to
frame an excuse, on arriving at Rio de Janeiro, to leave
her. Accordingly, I began forthwith to make an ar
rangement Avith the tAvo gentlemen that were on board,
consignees of the cargo, to remain in their employment
at Rio. This excuse was plausible enough, for those
tAvo gentlemen had entered into copartnership Avith a
commission-house that was largely engaged in navi
gation at that place ; and, to further this object, they
agreed (if Captain L. would permit me to leave the
ship) that I should have charge of one of their vessels,
Avhich, at that time, was trading between Rio and Buenos
Ayres. This plan being matured, when about half-pas
sage, it Avas proposed by those gentlemen to Captain L.
for his approbation ; but the proposition did not meet
with a very kind reception. He agreed, however, that
if a second mate could be procured at Rio, he Avould
not object ; but if not, I should have to go the voyage.
Accordingly, I was eutered in [he articles as a passenger,
iii order to meet the scrupulous exactness of the Portu
guese, who at that time Avere constantly alarmed with
the dread that American vessels would introducelFrench-
men clandestinely into the Brazils.
May 11. — We had uoav crossed the equinoctial line,
in thirty-four days from Boston, during Avhich Ave had
plenty of hard work and rough usage, and at the same
time the crew had not feasted upon pies and puddings.
The ship was considerably strained, from the undue
pressure of canvass that Avas croAvded upon her, which
had caused her to leak, especially in her upper works,
obliging us to set the pumps a-going every hour. This,
Df all the other duties of a ship, a sailor most dislikes,
nore especially Avhen it is brought on by mismanage-
jaent, as was most evidently the case with us. The
.abor of the creAV was increased, and of course the
natural spleen of a sailor was soon manifested by
grumbling, and, in one or two instances, indications of
18*

l90 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

•

mutiny were exhibited, by refusing to do their duty
My situation now became exceedingly unpleasant, com
pelled as I Avas to enforce the orders of Captain L. —
which, in my judgment, were sometimes Very unjust —
with a set of men who, I must acknowledge, were
treated rather like slaves than freemen. In order, there
fore, to have the duty of the ship carried on, and the
orders of Captain L. executed with promptness, and to
preserve the discipline of the ship, I was necessarily
compelled, much against my own feelings, to resort to
corporal punishment. This mode of enforcing obe
dience, hoAvever, Avas resorted to but once; after Avhich,
the duties of the ship were executed without any more
grumbling. May 14. — This morning, saw Cape Frio, bearing
west-south-west, distant fourteen miles. During the
whole of the day, ran doAvn the land under a press of
canvass, Avith the wind from south-east; towards sunset,
the wind dying away, hauled in, and anchored abreast
of the Island of Maricas, in twenty fathoms water. This
is one of a group of small islands situated at a short
distance from the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. Here we
lay during the night. At 8 A. M., the sea breeze setting
in, we immediately got under way, and stood into the
harbor. When abreast of the " Sugar-loaf," Ave Avere
boarded by a boat from.<he fort, from which a pass was
obtained to proceed up the bay to the anchorage-ground ;
and before Ave reached the latter place Ave were boarded
by several boats belonging to men-of-war, the custom
house, and the forts. At 11 A. M., came to an anchor,
in seven fathoms water, abreast of the Island of Cobras ;
after Avhich Ave moored the ship. Here Ave underwent
a severe examination by the officers of a Portuguese
man-of-war, by Avhom we Avere forbidden to go ou shore
until a further examination was made by the intendant
of the police. In this Avay Ave Avere kept in suspense
until night, Avithout any communication with the shore.
After dark, to our great surprise, a large boat, full of
armed soldiers, came alongside, the commanding officer

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 191
of which jumped on board, and ordered all the pas
sengers, with myself, into the boat, giving us no time
for expostulation, and, Avithout any ceremony, drove us
into tho boat at the point of the bayonet — a proceeding
perfectly unaccountable to us. They took us on shore
with great silence and secrecy ; and, when there, put us
under a strong guard of soldiers, who conducted us to
a loathsome prison appropriated for felons. There Ave
were thrust in with as little ceremony as Ave had been
taken out of the ship, and then left to reflect upon
our most unenviable situation. In one corner of this
wretched prison were about thirty negroes, chained in
pairs; in another were as many more squalid, misera
ble-looking white men, whose very appearance denoted
crime of the deepest dye. These, as I afterwards learned,
were imprisoned for deeds of the most horrid character.
Indeed, the whole interior of the prison Avas a mass of
filth and vermin. The stench Avas so* horrible, that it
was impossible for any of us to close our eyes during
the night, and we gave some of those miserable wretches
a few pieces of silver to let us stand on a bench that
was near to a window secured with large iron bars, so
that Ave might inhale the fresh air. In this Avay Ave
passed a sleepless night, in the deepest suspense, being
wholly ignorant of the cause of this outrage. We were
conscious 'that none of their laws had been violated by
us, and that all the ship's papers, and our passports, Avere
correct, and in strict compliance with their laws. With
these reflections, therefore, Ave felt assured that, so saon
as our minister was apprized of our condition, he
would immediately get us released. This, however, Avas
.rot so easy a matter, for two reasons, — the first and most
prominent of which was, that the American minister
had not much influence at the court of Brazil, and
secondly, because of the many forms necessary to pass
through before it could be effected. However, the next
day we Avere "visited by several .American merchants,
who assured us that every thing was in a fair train, and
that Mr. Sumpter, our minister, would have us released

192 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
the next morning. Now, the idea of pass.ng another
night here was almost insupportable, especially by the
two young merchants; but, to make a virtue of rieccs-
sity, and cheered by the reflection that our sufferings
would be short, we waited with patience until the next
morning, when an order came for our discharge. We
proceeded to the residence of S. W. B., an American
commission-merchant, with whom the tAvo young men
who came out in the ship had entered into copart
nership. From Mr. B. Ave learned the cause of our
imprisonment. It seems that information had been re
ceived that an Arnerican vessel from France, via United
States, had actually sailed from the former place for this
port, having passengers on board who were supposed to
be French spies. It further appears that, our ship an
swering the description of the obnoxious vessel, their
suspicions fell upon us as being the spies in question ; the
result of Avhich was, we Avere throAvn into prison.
It is probably known that Don John, the king of Por
tugal, left Lisbon Avith his family in haste, (at the period
when the French endeavored to possess themselves of
that capital*) and took up his residence at Rio ; and
notAvithstanding the broad Atlantic rolled between his
enemies and himself, and, besides, the combined armies
of England and Portugal Avere opposing them, yet,
nevertheless, so great Avere his fears, that the most rigid
search was made in every foreign ship, to ascertain, if
possible, if any Frenchmen Avere secreted in them. The
affair of our imprisonment created much excitement,
and it became the subject of a correspondence betAveen
the American minister and the court of Brazil ; in con
sequence of which, the Americans Avere treated with
the greatest respect during the remainder of my stay
in Rio. I now repaired on board the ship, and her
cargo Avas soon discharged, the ballast taken in, &c,
and she Avas made ready to proceed on her voyage.
Fortunately, Capt. L. had procured a young man to act
in my place as second mate, and I was paid off and for
mally discharged from the ship, to my great satisfaction.

LIFE CU THE OCEAN. 193
Havmg previously taken my adventure on shore, I ex
changed the customary adieus with Capt. L., Mr. R., the
crew, &c, and, taking my dunnage, I repaired to the
residence of my friends, into whose employ I immediate
ly entered. I disposed of my adventure to considerable
advantage, "and remained with those gentlemen six
months, in the capacity of clerk ; after Avhich they
gave me command of a fine brig to •run betAveen Rio,
Montevideo, and Buenos Ayres. I remained in this ves
sel fourteen monthSj during which I made five success
ful voyages for the owners, and-Avas so fortunate as to
scrape together about three thousand dollars for myself,
which Avas placed in their hands; as I had the most un
bounded confidence in their integrity.

1=V4

CHAPTER XVII.
CNFORTCNATE CIRCUMSTANCES INDUCING A RETURN TO THE
UNITED STATES  ARRIVAL  WARLIKE PREPARATIONS  PROS-
TECTS OF REMAINING ON SHORE BROKEN UP  ENTF.kED ON
BOARD A PRIVATEER  SAILED ON'A CRUISE.
I sailed on my sixth voyage, and arrived safely in
Buenos Ayres. After having been there a feAV days,
another vessel arrived from Rio, having persons on board
with powers to attach my vessel and cargo. I soon
learned that the house at Rio, in Avhose employment
I sailed, had failed for a large amount, and that these
persons Avere their creditors. I was noAv left Avithout
a vessel, and, fearing that I should lose the funds placed
in their hands, lost- no time in getting back to Rio;
and when there, I found the condition of the house even
worse "than I had anticipated ; for all my two years'
hard earnings Avere gone, with the exception of about
five hundred dollars.
With this small sum I took passage in the ship
Scioto, bound for Baltimore. I was induced to do this
because little doubt Avas then entertained that there
would be a war between the United States and Eng- .
land, and I was anxious to get home, if possible, before
it Avas declared. We were fortunate enough tp arrive
in safety, although ,the Avar had been actually declared
fifteen* days before Ave got inside of the Capes of Vir
ginia. When Ave arrived in Baltimore, I found the most
active preparations Avere in progress to prosecute. the
war. A number of pri\rateers were fitting out'; and every
where the American flag might be seen flying, denoting

LIF3 ON "THE OCEAN. 195
the places of rendezvous; in a Avoid, the most intense
excitement prevailed throughout the city, .and the posi
tion of a mau Avas not at all enviable, if it wore ascer
tained that he Avas in- any degree favorably disposed
tOAvards the British. It happened to fall to my lot to be
an eye-witness to the unpleasant affair of tarring and
feathering a certain Mr. T., and alsn to the demolishing
of the Federal Republican printing-office by the mob.
Once more I returned to Boston, to see my friends,
whom I found pretty much iu the same situation a3
Avhen I left them. Tavo years had made but little alter
ation, except, that my sister Avas married, and my father,
being aged, had retired from the navy, and taken up his
residence in Marshfield. Every persuasion wras iioav
used to induce me to change my vocation, backed by
the strong reasoning Uhat the war Avould destroy com
merce, and that no alternative Avould be left for seamen
but the unhalloAved pursuit of privateering. These argu
ments had great Aveight, and I began to think seriously
oi^eutering into some business on shore ; but then most
insuperable difficulties arose in my mind as to the
nature of the business I should pursue. My means
Avere limited, quite too much so to enter into the mer
cantile line; and the only branch of it with which
I Avas acquainted being the " commission," another
obstacle presented itself, Avhich was, to fix upon an
eligible location. These difficulties, hoAvever, soon van
ished, for a Avealthy relative offered me the use of his
credit, and a young friend Avith whom I Avas acquainted,
having just returned from the south, informed me that
there Avas a fine opening in Richmond, Virginia; where
upon Ave immediately entered into a mutual arrangement
to establish a commission-house in that place. The-
necessaiy preparations were made, and we started for
the south.
To my great surprise and mortification, hoAvever, .
when Ave reached Norfolk, I ascertained that my partner
was without funds ; neither had he the expectation of
receiving any. This changed the current of my fortunes

196 LIFE ON THE OCEAV.
altogether. I was deceived by him ; consequently all
intercourse Avas broken off between us. As -my prospects
were now blasted, in reference to establishing myself
in business on shore, I resolved once more to embark
on my favorite element, and try my luck there again.
Here too, in Norfolk, all was bustle and excitement —
drums beating,, colors flying, soldiers . enlisting, men
shipping in the States' service, and many privateers
fitting out, — creating such a scene of confusion as I had
never before Avitnessed.
Young, and. of an afdeut temperament, I could not
look upon alk these stirring movements an unmoved
spectator ; accordingly, I entered on board the George
Washington privateer, in the capacity of first lieutenant.
She mounted one tAvelve-pounder on a pivot, and tAvo
long nines, Avith-a complement of eighty men. She Avas
in all respects a beautiful schooner, of the" most exact
symmetrical proportions, about one hundred and twenty
tons' burden,, and said to -beas swift as any thing that
floated the ocean. In reference to this enterprise, I
must confess, in my cooler moments, that I had some
qualms : to be sure, here Avas an opportunity of making
a fortune ; but then it was counterbalanced by the pos
sibility of getting my head knocked off, or a chance of
being thrown into prison for two or. three years: how
ever, I had gone too far to recede, fu*d-I determined to
make the best of it. Accordingly, I placed what little
funds I had in the hands of Mr. G., of. Norfolk, and
repaired on board of the- privateer, Avith my dunnage
contained, in a -small trunk and clothes-bag. On the
morning of July 20th, 1812, the officers and creAV being'
all on board, weighed anchor, made sail, and stood doAvn
the fiver, Avith the stars and stripes floating in the breeze,
and was saluted with a tremendous cheering from the
shore. I noAV Avas on board^of a description of craft Avith
Avhich I was entirely unacquainted ;* I had, therefore,
much - to learn. The lieutenants and prize-masters,
hoAvever, were a set of clever felloAvs; but the captain
was a rough, uncouth sort of a chap, and appeared to me

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 197
to be fit for little else than fighting and plunder. The
creAV Avere a motley set indeed, composed of all nations;
they appeared to have been scraped together from the
loAvest dens of wretchedness and vice," and only want
ed ar leader to induce them to any -acts of daring and'
.desperation. Our destination, in the first place, Avas to
cruise on the Spanish main, to intercept the English
traders betAveen the West India Islands' and the ports
on the main. This cruising ground Avas chosen because,
in case of need, Ave might run into Carthagena to refit
and Avater. When Ave had run doAvn as far as Lynn-
haven Bay, information Avas received from a pilot-boat
that the British frigate Belvidere Avas cruising off the
Capes., This induced our captain to put to sea with the
wind from the southward, as the privateer's best sailing
was on a Ayind.
On the meriting of 22d of July, got under Avay from
Lyunhaven Bay, aud stood to sea. At 9 A. M., when
about 10 miles outside of Cape Henry lighthouse, a
sail Avas discovered directly in the wind's eye of us^
bearing doAvn under a press of canvass. Soon ascertain
ing she was a frigate, supposed to be the Belvidere, Ave
stood on upon a Avind until she came Avithin short gun
shot. Our foresail Avas1 iioav brailed up, and the topsail
lowered on the cap ; at the same time, the frigate took in
all her light sails, and hauled up her courses. As the
privateer lay nearer the Avind than the frigate, the latter
soon dropped in our wake, and when Avithin half-gunshot,
Ave being under cover of her-guns, she furled her top
gallant saiLs ; at the same moment Ave hauled aft the fore
sheet, hoisted aAvay the topsail, and tacked. By this
manoeuvre the frigate Avas under our lee. We took her-
fire, and continued to make short board's, and in one
hour Avere out of the reach of her guns, without receiving
any damage. This was our first adventure, and Ave
hailed it as a good omen. The crew Avere all in high
spirits, because the frigate Avas considered to be as fast
as any thing on qjvr coast at that time, and, furthermore,
the captain had not inly gained the confidence of the
19

198 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
crew by this daring manoeuvre, but Ave found we.c.ulJ
, rely upon our heels for safety.
Nothing material occurred until Ave got into the Mona
passage, when we fell in Avith the Black Joke privateer,
of New York ; and feeing unable to ascertain her charac-*
ter, in consequence of a thick fog, Ave came into collision, _
and exchanged a few shots, before we found out Ave
both wore the same national colors. This vessel • was a
sloop of not very prepossessing appearance ; but as she
had. obtained some celebrity for sailing in smooth water,
having previously been an Albany packet, she Avas fitted
out as a privateer. In a sea-Avay, however, being very
short, she could not make much more head-way than a
tub. It was agreed, between the respective captains of
the tAvo vessels, to cruise in company, and in the event
of a separation, to make a rendezvous at Carthagena.
We soon ascertained that our craft Avould sail nearly tAvo
knots to the Black Joke's one, and it may Avell be sup
posed that our company-keeping Avas of short duration.
In two days after parting Avith her, the long-Avished-foi
cry of " Sail ho ! " Avas sung out from the mast-head.
Made all sail in chase. When Avithin short gunshot,
let her have our midship gun, Avhen she immediately
rounded to, took in sail, hoisted English colors, and
seemed to be preparing to make a gallant defence. In
this we were not mistaken, fo/ as Ave ranged up, she
opened a brisk cannonading upon' us. I noAV Avit-
nessed the daring intrepidity of Captain S. ; for, while
the brig Avas pouring a destructive fire into us, Avith .
the greatest coolness he observed to the creAV, "That
vessel, my lads, must be ours in ten minutes after
I run this craft under her lee quarter." By this time
we had sheered up under her stern, and received the
fire of her stern-chaser's, which did us no other damage .
than cutting aAvay some of our ropes and making
Avind-boles through the sails. .1$ AA^as the work of a mo
ment ; the schooner luffed up under the lee of the brig,
and, with almost the rapidity of thought, We Ave re made
fast to her main chains. " Boarders aAvay ! " shoutecl

LIFE ON "'IIE OCEAN. 199
Capt. S. We clambered up the sides of the brig, and
dropped on board of her like so many locusts, not, Iioav-
ever, till two of our lads were run through w:th board
ing-pikes. The enemy made -a brave ' defence, but
Avere soon overpowered by superior numbers, and the
captain of the brig was mortally Avounded. In twenty
minutes after we got alongside, the stars and stripes
were Avaving triumphantly over the British flag. In
this affair, Aye had two killed and seven slightly wound
ed, besides havjng some of our rigging cut aAvay, and
sails someAvhat riddled. The brig Avas from Jamaica,
bound to the Gulf of Maracaibo ;- her cargo consisted of
sugar, fruit, &c. She was two hundred tons' burden,
mounted six six-pounders, with a complement of fifteen
men, all told. She Avas manned Avith a prize-master and
creAV, and ordered .to any port in the United States
wherever she could get in.
This .affair very much disgusted me Avith privateering,
especially Avhen I saw so much loss of life', and beheld
a band of ruthless desperadoes — for such I must call our
creAV — robbing and plundering a few defenceless beings,
who Avere pursuing both a laAvful and peaceable calling.
It induced me, to form a resolve that I Avould relinquish
what, to my mind, appeared to be an unjustifiable and
outrageous pursuit ; for I could not then help believing,
"that no conscientious man could be engaged ih priva
teering, and certainly there was no honor to be gained
by it. The second lieutenant came to the same deter
mination as myself; and both of us most cordially de
spised our commander, because it Avas with his permis
sion that those most outrageous scenes of robbing and
plundering were committed on board of the brig. After
repairing damages, &c, we steered a\vay for Carthagena,
to fill up the water-casks, and provision the pr^yateer, so
that Ave might extend the cruise.

200

CHAPTER XVIII.
BOARDING IN THE NIGHT  CAPTURE  TAKEN PIJSt'NEIJ BY
CANNIBALS  HORRIBLE TREATMENT  RELEASE BY RAN-
SOM  SAIL FOR CARTHAGENA.
In a few days we arrjved at our destination, without
falling in Avith any other vessel ; and, on entering the
port, we found our comrade, the Black Joke privateer,
which had arrived'a day or two previously. Carthagena
lies in the parallel of 10° 26' north, and 75° 38' west
longitude ; the harbor is good, Avith an easy entrance ;
the city is strongly fortified by extensive and command-
'ing fortifications and batteries, and I should suppose, if,
Avell garrisoned and manned, they Avould be perfectly
able to -repel any force Avhich might be brought to bear
against them. It was well knoAvn, at this time, that. all
the provinces of Spain had shaken off their allegiance
to the mother country- and declared themselves inde
pendent. Carthagena, the most prominent of the.prov- •
inces, "was a place of considerable commerce ; and about
this time, a feAV men-of-war, and a number of privateers,
were fitted out there. The Carthagenian flag now pre
sented a chance of gain to -the cupidity of the avaricious
and desperate, among whom Avas'our commander, Capt.
S. As soon, therefore, as Ave had filled up our Avater, &c,
a proposition Avas made by him, to the second lieutenant
and myself, to cruise under, both flags, the American. and
Carthagenian, and this to be kept a profound secret
from the crew, until Ave had sailed from port. Of.
course Ave rejected the proposition with disdain, and
told him the consequence of such a measure, in the
event of being, taken by a man-of-war of any nation, — ¦

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. ' 20]
thett it Avas piracy to all intents and purposes, according
to the laAV of nations. We refused to go out in the pri
vateer if he persisted in this most nefariods act, and we
heard no more of it while Ave lay in port.
In a few days Ave Avere ready for sea, and sailed in
company Avith our companion, her force being rather
more than ours, but the vessel very inferior, as stated
before, in point of sarling. While together, we captured
several small British schooners, the cargoes' of Avhich,
together with some specie, Avere divided between the"
tAvo, privateers. Into one of the prizes we put all the
prisoners, gave them plenty of water and provisions,
and let them pursue their course: the -remainder of the
prizes Avere burned. We then parted company, and,
being short of Avater, ran in toAvards the land, in order
to ascertain if any could he procured. In approaching
the shore, the wind died away to a perfect "calm, and, at
4 P. M., a small schooner was seen in shore of us. As
we had riot steerage way upon our craft, of course it
would be impossible to ascertain her character before
dark ; it was, therefore, determined by our commander .
to board her with the boats, under cover of the night.
This Avas'a dangerous service, but there was no backing
out. Volunteers being called for, I stepped forward ;
and very soon, a sufficient number of men to man tAvo
boats offered their services to back me. Every dis
position was made for the attack. The men were
strongly armed, oars muffled, and a grappling placed in
each boat. The hearings of the strange sail Avere taken,
and night came on perfectly clear and cloudless. I took
command of the expedition, the second lieutenant hav
ing charge of one boat. The arrangement was to keep
close together, until Ave got sight of the vessel ;. the
second lieutenant was to board . on the boAV, and I
on the quarter. * We proceeded in the most profound
silence ; nothing Avas heard, save noAV and then a- slight
splash of the oars in the water, and before Ave obtained'
sight of the vessel I had sufficient time to reflect on this
most perilous enterprise.
My reflections were not of the most pleasant charac-
19* -

202 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
ter, and 1 found myself imvardly shrinking, when I
Avas aroused by the voice of the bowman, 'saying, " There
she is, sir, two points on the starboard boAv;'? There
she lay, sure enough, Avith every sail hoisted, and a light
Avas distinctly seen, as Ave supposed, from her deck, it
being too high for the cabin-windows. We hoAV held
a consultation, and saAV no good reason to change the
disposition of attack, except that Ave agreed to*board
simultaneously. It may be well to observe here, that any
number of men on a vessel's deck, in the night, have
double the advantage to repel boarders, because they
may secrete themselves in such a.position as to fall upon
an enemy unawares, and thereby cut them off, Avith lit
tle difficulty. Being fully aAvare of this, I ordered the
men, as soon as we had gained the deck of the schooner,
to proceed Avith great caution, and keep close together,
till eveiy hazard of the enterprise was ascertained. The
boats now separated, and pulled for their respective sta--
tions, observing the most profound silence. When Ave
had reached Avithin a few yards of the. schooner, we
lay upon our oars for some moments, but could neithei
hear nor see any thing. We then pulled aAvay cheerily
and the next minute Avere under her counter, and grap-
pled-to her; every man leaped on the deck Avithout op
position. The other boat boarded nearly at the same
moment, and Ave proceeded in a body, Avith great caution,
to examine the decks. A large fire Avas in the caboose,
and Ave soon ascertained that her deck Avas entirely de
serted, and that she neither had any boat on deck, noi
to her stern. We then proceeded to examine the cabin,
leaving an armed force on deck. The cabin, like the
deck, being deserted, the mystery-was easily unravelled.
Probably concluding that Ave should board them under
cover of the night, they, no doubt, as soon as it Avas
dark, took to their boats, and deserted the vessel. On
the floor of the cabin Avas a part of an' English ensign,
and some papers, Avhich shoAved that she belonged tc;
Jamaica. The little cargo on board consisted of Ja
maica rum, sugar, fruit, &c.
The breeze now springing up, and the privateer show-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 203
ing lights, wc were enabled to get alongside of her in a
couple of hours. A prize-master and ere av Avere put on
board, with orders to keep company. During the night,
Ave ran along shore, and, in the morning, took on board
the privateer the greater part of the prize's cargo.
Being close in shore in the afternoon, Ave descried a
settlement of huts; and, supposing that water might be
obtained there, the tAvo vessels were run in, and anchored
about tAvo miles distant from the beach. A proposition
was made to me, by Capt. S., to get the water-casks oil
board the prize schooner, and, as she drew a light draught
of water, I Avas to run her in, and anchor her near the
beach, taking with me the two boats and tAventy men.
I observed to Capt. S. that this was probably an Indian
settlement, and it Avas Avell known that all the Indian
tribes on the coast of Rio de La Hache Avere exceedingly
ferocious, and said to be cannibals; and it Avas also well
known that whoever fell into their hands never escaped
with their iives ; so that it Avas necessary, before any
attempt Avas made to land, that some of the Indians
should be* decoyed on board, and detained as hostages
for our safety. At the conclusion of this statement, a
very illiberal allusion Avas throAvn out by Capt. S., and
some doubts expressed in reference to my courage ; he
remarking that, if I Avas afraid to undertake the exped.
tion, he Avould go himself. This was enough for me ;
1 immediately resolved to proceed, if Lsacrificed my life
in the attempt. The next morning, twenty Avater-casks
were put on board the prize, together Avith the tAvo boats
and tAventy men, well armed Avith muskets, pistols, and
cutlasses, with a^supply of ammunition; I repaired ou
board, got the prize under way, rah in, and anchored
about one hundred yards from the beach. The boats
Avere got in readiness, and the men were well armed, and
the Avater-casks slung, ready to proceed on shore. I had
examined my own pistols narrowly that morning, and
nad put them in complete order, and, as I believed, had
taken- every precaution for our future opeiations, so as to
prevent surprise.
There were about a dozen ill-constructed huts, or wig-

204 LIFE ON THE OCKAN.
Avams ; but no spot of grass, or shrub, was visible to the
eye, Avithrthe exception of, -here and there, the trunk of
an old tree. One solitary Indian Avas seen stalking on
the beach, and the whole scene presented the .most Avild
and savage appearance, and, to my mind, augured very
unfavorably. ."We pulled in with, the casks in tow,
seven men being in each boat; when Avithin a short
distance of the beach, the boats' heads were put to sea-
Avard, when the Indian came abreast of us. Addressing
him in Spanish, 1 inquired if Avater could be procured,
to which he replied in the affirmative. I then displayed
to his vieAv some gewgaws and trinkets, at which he
appeared perfectly delighted, and, Avith many signs and
gestures, invited me on shore. Thrusting my pistols
into my belt, and buckling on my cartridge-box, I gave
orders to the boats' crews, that in case they discovered
any thing like treachery or surprise, after I had gotten on
shore, to cut the' Avater-casks adrift, and-make the best
of their way on board the prize. As soon as I had
jumped on shore, I inquired if there were any live stock,
such as fowls, &c, to be had. Pointing to a hut about
thirty yards from the boats, he said that the stock Avas
there, and invited me to go and see it. I hesitated, sus
pecting some treachery; however, . after repeating 'my *
order to the boats' crews, I proceeded with the Indian,
and when within about half a dozen yards-of the hut,
at a preconcerted signal, (as I supposed,) as if by magic, ,
at least one hundred" Indians rushed but, with the
rapidity of thought. I was knocked. down, stripped of
.-ill my clothing except an inside flannel shirt, tied hand
and foot, and then taken and secured to the trunk of a
large tree, surrounded by about tAventy squaws, as a
guard, who, with the exception of two or three, bore a
most wild and hideous look in their appearance. ' The
capture of the boats' creAvs was simultaneous with my
own, they* being so much surprised and confounded at
the stratagem of the Indians,- that they had not the
power, or presence of mind, to pull off.
After they had secured our men, a number of them
jumped into the boats; pulled off, arid captured the prize,
without meeting with anv rA=i=ta"«» a-™- *i  "

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 205
they being only six in number. Her cable Avas then cut,
and she was run on the beach, Avhen they proceeded to
dismantle her, by cutting the sails from the bolt-ropes,
and taking out Avhat little- cargo there Avas, consisting
of Jamaica rum, sugar, &c. This being done, they led'
ropes on shore from the schooner, Avhen about one hun
dred of them hauled her up nearly high and dry.
By this time the privateer had seen our'disaster, stood
boldly in, and anchored within less than gunshot of the
beach ; they then very foolishly opened a brisk cannon
ade, but every shot was spent in vain. This exasperated
the Indians, and paiticularly' the one'Avho had taken
possession of my pistols. Casting my 'eye around, I
saAV him creeping towards me Avith one pistol presented,
and Avhen about five yards off, he pulled the. trigger.
But as Providence had, no doubt, ordered it, the pistol
snapped ; at the same moment a shot from the privateei
fell a feAV yards from us, when the Indian rose upon
his feet, cocked the pistol, and fired it at -the privateer;
turning round Avith a most savage yell," he threw the'
pistol. with great violence, which grazed my head, and
then with a. large stick beat and cut me until I was
perfectly senseless. This was about 10 o'clock, and I
did not recover my consciousness until, as I supposed,
about 4 o'clock- in the afternoon. I perceived there
Avere four squaws sitting around me. one of whom, from
her appearance, (having on many geAvgaAvs and trinkets.)
was the wife of a chief. As soon as she discovered
signs of returning consciousness, she presented me with
a gourd, the contents of Avhich appeared to be Indian
meal mixed with water ; she first drank, and then gave
it to me, and I can safely aver' that I never drank any
beverage,"before or since, which produced such relief.
Night wa*s noAV coming on ; the privateer had got
under way, and was standing off and on, with a flag of
truce flying at her mast-head. The treacherous Indian
Avith Avhom- I had first conversed came, and, Avith a
malignant smile, gave me the dreadful intelligence that
at 12 o'clock that night we were to be roasted and eaten.

206 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Accordingly, at sunset I Avas unloosed and conducted
by a band of about half a dozen savages to the spot,
Avhere I found the remainder of our men firmly secured
by having their hands tied behind them, their legs
lashed together, and each man fastened to a stake that
had been driven into the ground for that purpose. :
There Avas no. possibility to elude the vigilance of these
miscreants. As soon as .night shut in, a large quantity
of brushwood Avas piled around us, and nothing noAV
was wanting- but the fire to complete this horrible
tragedy. The same malicious savage approached- us
once more, and with the deepest malignity taunted us
Avith our coming fate. Having some knoAvledge of. the
Indian character, I summoned up all the fortitude of
which I Avas capable, and in terms of defiance told him
that tAventy Indians Avould be sacrificed for each one
of us sacrificed by him. I kneAV very Avell that it. would
not do to exhibit any signs-of fear or coAvardice ; and,
having heard much of the cupidity of the Indian char
acter,.! offered the savage -a large ransom if he Avould
use his influence to procure our release. Here the con
versation was abruptly broken off by a most hideous
yell from the Avhole tribe, occasioned by their having
taken large draughts of the rum, Avhich iioav began to
operate very sensibly upon them; and, as it will be
seen, operated very much to our advantage. This thirst
for rum caused them to relax their vigilance, and Ave
were left alone to pursue our reflections, which Aveie
not of the most enviable or pleasant character. A thou
sand melancholy thoughts rushed over my mind. Here
I Avas, and, in all probability, in a feAV hours I should
be in eternity, and my death one of the most horrible
description. "O," thought I, "how many 'were the
entreaties and arguments used by my friends to deter me
from pursuing an avocation so full of hazard and peril!
If I had taken their advice, and acceded to their solici
tations, in all probability I should at this time have been
in the enjoyment of much happiness." ' I was aroused
from this reverie by the most direful screams from the

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 207
united voices of the Avhole tribe, they having drunk
largely of the rum, and become so much intoxicated that
a general fight ensued.' Many of them lay stretched on
the ground Avith tomahaAvks deeply inrolanted in their
skulls ;'aud many others,' as the common phrase is, Avere
" dead drunk." This Avas an exceedingly fortunate cir
cumstance for us. With their senses benumbed, of *
course they had forgotten their Vvowal to roast us,"or, it
may be, the Indian to Avhom I proposed ransom had
conferred with the others, and they no doubt agreed to
spare our lives until the morning. It Avas a night,
however, of pain and terror, as Avell as of the most
anxious suspense; and when the morning daAvn broke
upon my vision, I felt an indescribable emotion of grat
itude, as I had fully made up in my mind, the night
previous, that long before this time I should have been
sleeping the sleep of death. It Avas a pitiable sight,
when the morning light broke forth, to see twenty
human beings stripped naked, with their bodies cut and
lacerated, and the blood issuing from their wounds; Avith
their hands and feet tied, and their bodies fastened to
stakes, with brushwood piled .around them, expecting
every moment to be their last. My feelings on this
occasion can be. better imagined than described ; suffice
it to say, that I had given up all hopes of escape, and
gloomily resigned myself to^death. When the fumes
of the liquor had in seme degree worn off from the
benumbed senses" of the savages, they, arose and ap
proached us, and, for the first time *,he Avily Indian
informed me that the tribe had agreed to ransom us.
They then cast off the lashings from our bodies and
feet, and, Avith our hands still secured, drove us before
them to the beach. Then another difficulty arose; the
privateer -Avas out of sight, and "the Indians became
furious. To satiate their hellish malice, they obliged us
to run on the beach, Avhile they let fly their, poisoned
arrows after us. For my OAvn part, my- limbs Avere so
benumbed that I could scarcely Avalk, and I firmly
resolved to stand still and take the worst of it, -which

208

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

Avas the best plan -I could have adopted ; for, when they
^perceived that I exhibited no signs of fear, not a single
arrow was discharged at me. Fortunately, before they
grew weary of this sport, to my great joy the privateer
hove in sight. She stood boldly in, with the flag of
truce Hying, and the savages consented to let. one man
of their own choosing go off in the boat to procure the
stipulated ransom. The boat returned "loaded Avith ar
ticles of various descriptions, and two of our men Avere
released. The boat kept plying to and from the priva
teer, bringing with them such articles as they demand-
. ed, until all were released except myself. Here it may
be proper to observe, that the mulatto man Avho had
been selected by the Indians performed all this duty
himself, not one of the privateer's creAV daring to hazard
their lives with him iu the boat. I then was left alone,
and for my release they required a double ransom. I
. began now seriously to think that they intended- to
detain me altogether. My mulatto friend, however,
pledged himself that he would never leave me.
Again, for the last time, he sculled the boat off. She
quickly returned, Avith a larger amount of articles than
previously. "It Avas a moment of the deepest anxiety,
for there had now arrived from the interior another
tribe, apparently superior in point of numbers, and elated
Avith the boofy Avhich had been obtained. They de
manded a share, and expressed a determination to detain,
me for a larger^ransom. These demands Avere refused,
and a conflict ensued- of the most frightful and terrific
character. Tomahawks, knives, and arroAvs, were used
indiscriminately,, and many an Indian fell in that bloody
contest. The tpmahawks were thrown with the SAvift-
ness of arrows, and Avere generally buried in the skull
or the breast ; and whenever two came in contact, Avith
the famous " Indian hug," the strife Avas soon over with
either one or the other, by one plunging the deadly
knife up to the hilt in the body of his opponent ; nor
were the poisoned arrows of -less sAvift execution, for
wherever they struck, the wretched victim Avas quickly

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 209
in eternity. I shall never forget the frightful barbarity
of that hour ; although years have elapsed since its oc
currence, still the whole scene in imagination is before
me, — the savage yell of the AvarAvhoop, and the direful
screams of the squaws, still ring afresh in my ears. In
the height of this conflict, a tall Indian chief, Avho, I
knew, belonged to the same tribe with the young sqnaAV
avIio gave me the dri»k, came down to the beach Avhere,
I Avas. The boat had been discharged, and was lying
Avith her head off. At a signal given by the squaw to
the chief; he caught me up in his arms with as much
ease as if I had been a child, Avaded to the boat, threw
me in, and then, with a most expressive gesture, urged
us off. Fortunately, there were tAvo oars in the boat,
and, feeble as I was, I threw all the remaining strength
I had to the oar. It was the last effort, as life or death
hung upon the next fifteen minutes. Disappointed of
a share of the booty, the savages were frantic with rage,
especially Avhen they i saw I had eluded their grasp.
Rushing to the beach, about a dozen threw themselves
into the other boat, which had fceen captured, and pulled
after us; but fortunately, in their hurry they had for
gotten the muskets, and being unacquainted Avith the
method of roAving, of course they made but little prog
ress, which enabled us to increase our distance.
The privateer, having narrowly Avatched all these
movements, and seeing our" imminent danger, stood
boldly on toward the beach, 'and in the next-five min
utes she lay betAveen us and the Indians^ discharging a
heavy fire of musketry among them. Such'Avas the
high excitement of my feelings, that I scarcely recollect
ed how I gained the privateer's deck. But I Avas saved,
nevertheless, though 1 was weak with the loss of blood,
and savage treatment, — my limbs benumbed, and bidy
scorched 'with the piercing rays of the sun, — the whole
scene rushing through my mind with the celerity of
electricity ! It unmanned and quite overpowered me ; I
fainted, and fell senseless on the deck. '
> 20

210

CHAPTER XIX.
LEAVE THE PRIVATEER, AND SAIL FOR THE UNITED STATF8 
ENTER ON BOARD A LETTER OF MARQUE  CAPTURED BY TBB
ENGLISH  RECAPTURED BY THE PAUL JONES PRIVATEER —
v
ENTER AS PRIZE-MASTER  HER OFFICERS AND CREW.
r
The usual restoratives and care were administered,
and I soon recovered from the effects of my capture.
Some of the others Avere not so fortunate,; tAvo of them
especially were cut- in a shocking manner, and the
others Avere so dreadfully beaten and mangled by clubs,
that the greatest care was necessary to save their lives.
My dislike for the captain had very much increased/
since that unhappy, disastrous affair; it^ would not
have occurred if he had ^aken my advice, as his illib-
erality, and the hints. he threw out in reference to my
courage, Avere the causes of my suffering and the sad
result of the enterprise. I determined, therefore, in
conjunction Avith the second lieutenant, to leave the
privateer as soon as Ave arrived in Carthagena^ to which
port Ave were noAV bound. We soon had a good pretext
for putting this determination into execution; for, two
days after the affair Avith the Indians, Ave fell in with a
Spanish schooner, and, for the first time since leaving
Carthagena, a commission and flag of the latter place
were produced by Captain S. Under this commission
and flag he captured the schooner, being deaf to every
remonstrance thfct was made to him by us. - The prize
Avas manned, and ordered to Carthagena, Avhere she
arrived two days after our entrance into that port. The
second lieutenant and myself immediately demanded
our discharge, and share of prize money, which Avere
granted, when Ave received eighteen hundred dollars each,
as our part of the captures. With these funds Ave pur-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 211
, chased a fine coppered schooner, and succeeded in
getting a freight and passengers for NeAv Orleans. In
about a Aveek Ave sailed, and bade adieu to the privateer
and her unprincipled commander, who Avould at any
timo sacrifice, honor and honesty, and expose himself to
the ignominious death of a pirate, for sordid gain.
We arrived at New Orleans, after a passage of eleven
days, Avithout accident or interruption. Here all was
excitement, as the neAvs of the capture of the Guerriere
frigate by the Constitution had just been received.
Three large privateers were fitting out, from the com-'
manders of Avhich very tempting offers Avere thrown
out to enter on board ; but I had enough of privateering,
and considered it at that time a most unjustifiable mode
of Avarfare ; and, although I could ngt obtain business
for our vessel, and the probability Avas that nothing
would offer for some time, I resolved to remain on shore
rather than to engage again in that nefarious calljng.
Ne,w Orleans, at that period, was swayed by French
and Spanish influence. The manners and customs of
these people universally prevailed ; consequently,^ pre
sented to a mind trained under the strict regulation of
moral precepts, the greatest degree of repugnance ; and
although, in my travels, I had frequently' been -among
these people in South America, and, of course, had
become acquainted, in some degree, Avith their habits, ,
yet I could never reconcile the strongly-marked de
viations from those principles of virtue and piety so
prevalent in the other states and cities of North Amer
ica. The consequence Avas, that I soon became weary,
and, as Ave could find no .employment for our vessel. I .
embraced a most advantageous offer as first officer of a
letter of marque, bound to Bourdeaux. /No time was lost
in settling the business of the schooner Avith my friend,
and as he had also procured a berth, we gave a power
of attorney to a merchant of high lespectability, to act
for us during our absence. ^
On the 8th October, 1812, the letter of marque being
ready for sea, with the crew, &c, all on board, we cast

212 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
off from the " Levee," dropped down the river, and on the
12th went out of the "north-east pass," and discharged
our pilot. This vessel was a schooner of three hundred
tons' burden, Baltimore-built, and of the most beautiful
symmetrical proportions ; she mounted ten guns, with a
crew consisting of thirty men. Our commander was .a
native of NeAv Orleans, a good 'seaman, possessing, at the
same "time, great affability of manners and great decision
of character. The second officer was an old American
seaman, rough in liis exterior, yet, at the same time,
frank, open, and generous, with a frame and constitution
that seemed to defy the hardships of a sea life. The
crew were a fine set of able seamen, arid in such a craft
I promised myself as much comfort as could be expected
apart from the danger of capture and the perils of the sea.
Nothing material transpired until we reached the
MaranillaTteef, Avhen, on.the mornjng of the 21st, we fell"
in Avith an English frigate. Fortunately for us, we Avere
to' the windAvard, or she Avould have crippled us, being
Avithin gun-shot. All sail Avas made on the schooner;
the chase continued throughout^the whole day ; and
at sunset we had not gained in distance more than
^oue mile ; the reason of this, however, Avas. OAving to a
strong breeze which obliged us to " reef«doAvn," the
frigate carrying top-gallantsails during the Avhole day.
When night set in, under its cover we altered our course;
and eluded the vigilance of the enemy, for in the morn
ing nothing Avas to, be seen from the mast-head. This
Avas the first chase ; and, although I had great confidence
in the judgment and ability of Captain N., as a schooner-
sailer, yet I had not so much in the sailing of the
schooner; but was informed by the captain that her best
play was before the wind. It Avas not long before. Ave
had a fair trial of her speed in that way ; for on the 25th,
at 8 in the morning, we fell in Avith ari English sloop-of-
Avar, about two miles to the windward. As there Avasuo
possibility of escaping her on a wind, it blowing a strong
breeze at the time, we kept away right before the Avind, .
so as to bring the sails of the sloop-of-Avar all on one
mast; in this way, we beat her easily Avithout setting

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. - 213
our squaresail. In this, the second chase, our confi
dence in the speed of the schooner became very much
strengthened. The Aveather iioav became boisterous, Avith almost
continual Avesterly-gales, and it might be said that Ave
Avere literally under Avater one half of the time. It Avas
a rare thing, even Avith a moderate breeze, to see a dry
spot on our decks Avhen under a press of canvass, and it
Avas often the-same thing below ; but, more especially,
the condition of the forecastle Avas such, that the men
Jiad usually to " turn in Avet, and turn out smoking."
We Avere now reaching up toward the Grand Banks,
and, as that Avas the usual track for outAvard-bouud
vessels, Ave expected to fall in with cruisers ; and. conse
quently, -kept a good look-out. In this we Avere not
mistaken; for on the-5th of November^ Avhile scudding
under a reefed foresail in a westerly gale, we fell in Avith
an English seventy-four, about a mile ahead of us, ly
ing to on the starboard tack. In order to get clear of
her, it Avas necessary to haul up, the schooner holding a
better wind than the seventy-four ; the latter soon drop
ped to leeward ; but another difficulty iioav arose ; a
frigate was seen broad upon the weather ' quarter, bear
ing down for us, under a press of canvass. It Avas
evident that our situation Avas a critical one ;' for, if Ave
bore>away before the Avind, Ave must necessarily close in
Avith the seventy-four, and receive her fire ; so the only
alternative, therefore, left us, was, to keep aAvay four
points, and, if possible, pass to the Avindward of tho sev-.
enty-four. Setting every rag of canvass that" the schooner
Avould bear, careening her lee gumvales to the water,
she became now so laborsome that it was necessary* to
throAv the lee guns overboard. This service was imme
diately performed ; and to our no small satisfaction she
bounded over the tremendous sea with ease, and her
speed Avas sensibly increased. It was not certain, Iioav-
ever, that Ave could pass to Aviifdw.trd of the seventy-
four,- — at least, it v/as riot probable that we should pass
her out of gun-shot ? and, to increase our troubles at this
20*

t- L'i LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
mncture, another sail was made on our starboard bow,
standing for us on the larboard tack. No alternative
was now left us, but to cross 'the boAVS of the seventy-
four, and take the chance of her fire. It was the Avork
of a few minutes, as we had closed in with her, arid it
became evident that Ave should not pass more than half
gun-shot off. The seventy-four, perceiving our predica
ment, kept aAvay ; but it Avas too late ; she was noAV on
our quarter. We received her fire without damage, and
in the next ten minutes had a reefed squaresail set, and
our noble craft was running off at the rate 6Y twelve,
knots. It became "iioav a stern-chase, for already had
the vessel to Avindward, which proved to be a sloop-of
Avar, kept aAvay, and under a press of canvass Avas bear
ing doAvn upon our beam. This was a hard chase.
for We soon altered the bearings of the frigate and
seventy-four ; but it was not until sunset that we brought
the sloop-of-war in our wake, about tAVo rhiles' distance
astern. The next morning, the gale had increased, and -,
the sea had risen to such a height, that scudding be
came dangerous ; it Avas, therefore,- determined to bring
the schooner up to the Avind. No evolution on board
of a vessel, especially in a sharp schooner, is fraught
Avith so riiuch hazard as bringing her to the Avind in a
heavy gale. The greatest care is necessary by Avatch-
ing the rolling seas, Avhich are generally three in num
ber, after which it is proportionally smooth for a few
seconds; occasionally, in these intervals, the Avind lulls;
, advantage must then be taken, such sail as the vessel
will bear must be set and Avell secured, and then she
should be brought to the Avind by easing her helm to
leeward. This was done Avith our craft in a seaman-,
like manner ; a balanced-reefed foresail Avas set, the
sheet boAvsed taut aft, and a tackle hooked on to ' the
eleAv, and it bowsed nearly amidships Avith the helm
tAvo and a half points to leeAvard. She rode in this Avay
nearly head to the sea," forging ahead two knots, and not
making more than tAvo and a half points ke-AVtty. This
was the first time that I had seen a craft of this descrip-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 215
tion hove to, and I was perfectly astonished ; for "she
rode as easy and safely as if she had been in a harbor ;
this easy motion" ho Avever, was OAving, in a good degree,
to the management of Captain N. Iu the hands of one
who does not understand managing a craft of this de
scription, they are the most uncomfortable, as Avell as
uneasy, vessels that float the ocean. '
The gale lasted tAA'elve hours, after Avhich it moder
ated, and Ave bore aAvay to the eastAvard ; the wind con
tinued bloAving until the 9th of November, when Ave
entered the famous Bay of Biscay. The Aveather iioav
became moderate, Avith a smooth sea, and Ave Avere all
elated with the prospect of reaching our port of destina
tion in safety. We were the more confirmed in this
hope, because, at the-closeof the day on the 13th of*
November, Ave Avere Avithin half a day's sail of Bourdeaux,
and fully expected, with a moderate breeze, to make
Cordovan lighthouse early next morning. Alas ! hoAV
soon are the brightest prospects frustrated! At sunset
that evening, it fell aAAray calm, and nothing Avas to be
seen from the mast-head ; not a breath of air or "cat's
paw " was felt during the Avhole of the night. The
conversation which Lhad, with Jack Evans, in the ship
Dromo, on the night previous to the action, Avas irre
sistibly brought to my recollection. It was a night
similar to this ; and, although it might have been a
Superstitious feeling, yet I could not shake it off, and a
secret foreboding agitated my mind, and kept it in a
state of the deepest anxiety and suspense. When the
morning- daAvn broke forth, conviction came, and sus
pense was at an*end ; for there lay a ship and tWo brigs,
with English ensigns flying at their peaks. Flight was
Uoav impossible, for it Avas a dead calm ; and resistance
was entirely useless, for we lay at the mercy of their
whole broadsides. Our ensign was hoisted but we
well knew, to our great, mortification, it must soon be
hauled down in unresisting humility.
The ship first opened her battery upon us followed
by one of the brigs. The rest is soon told. The ,

216

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

American ensign Avas struck, and in twenty minutes
they, had possession of this valuable vessel and cargo.
So strong was my presentiment of some coming disaster,
that I had taken the precaution, during the night, to
sew up in a flannel shirt all the money I had, consisting
of seventeen doubloons, and then put it on. It Avas
well I did so, for these vessels proved to be three
Guernsey privateers. The ship mounted eighteen guns,
with seventy men ; the two brigs each mounted fourteen
guns, with fifty men. After getting possession of the
schooner, they robbed us of almost every thing they
could lay -their hands upon. Our crew Avere distributed
among the three vessels ; the captain, myself, and tAvo
men, were put on board the ship. The schooner Avas
manned, and. ordered to the Island of Guernsey; after
which the privateers separated, to cruise on different
stations. The destination of the ship, from what I un
derstood, was to cruise on the coasts of Spain and Portu
gal. The captain and~myself received good treatment ;
for, after we had reported to the captain of the privateer
the loss of our clothing, he ordered a search to be made
foi them, and all were recovered, as they happened to be
on board of the ship. They were very much elated
with their success, and assured us that the first lipensed^
ship they fell in with, Ave should be released.
Three days after our capture, while standing on a
wind, the cry of " Sail ho! " was heard from the mast
head, bearing on the lee beam. The ship was kept off,
until the strange sail, could be clearly made out. It
proved to be a large rakish-looking schooner, evidently
American by the set of her masts, cut. of the sails, and
color of the canvass. It was_ immediately suggested
to us by the captain of the ship that there was another
fine prize, and I was requested to look at her with the
glass. I soon discovered that she, was a man-of-war of
some description, and intimated as much to him; he
Avas soon confirmed in this opinion, for. the strange sail
kept her wind, and manifested no disposition to get out
of the way. When the ship had gotten within, two

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 217
miles of the schooner, she' hauled her Avind and made
every preparation for action.
Both vessels were under a press of canvass, standing
on a Avind on the larboard tack ; but the schooner, ying
a point higher than the ship, gained up to aa iudward ;
and although she did not forge ahead- quite so fast as
the ship, yet she Avas not more than a mile and a half
astern, exactly in the wake of the ship, at sunset. Night
came on ; and under its cover the course of the ship was
altered, in ordef, if possible, to elude the one in pursuit.
I now perceived that . all on board Avere very much
alarmed, especially the captain. The crew, for the most
part, Avere a set of raAv greenhorns, arid the captain Avell
knew that no dependence could be placed in them. At
10 o'clock, the wind dying away to' a perfect calm, all
hands were at their quarters, and the strictest look-out
was kept. Our vessel noAV made sure that they had
gotten dear of the schooner, for the night was very
dark and cloudy ; but, to their great surprise, at half past
ten, there she Avas, not more than tAvo musket-shots off.
It was a night of deep suspense to all, and especially
to us. The captain of the ship was aAvare that the
schooner Avould not engage in the night; consequently
every advantage Avas taken of the wind to get clear of
her, but it Avas all'in vain.. At daylight, in the morning,
the schooner was about a mile astern ; the ship at this
time Avas under a,cloud of sail, but. it was soon perceived
that the enemy came up with her.
Capt. N- and myself were hoav ordered belovv, when
a running fight commenced, the ship discharging her
stern-chasers in quick succession, and the schooner dis
charging her forward division, which cut away the stem
boat and part of her starboard quarter. In half an
hour the contest was decided, most of the ship's creAV
having deserted their' quarters ; the British flag was
hauled doAvn, and she became, a prize to the Paul Jones
privateer, of New York, mounting eighteen guns, with
a complement of one hundred and twenty men, The
boats immediately came from the privateer, and the crew

LIFE ON THE OCEAW.

of the ship was sent on board the schooner. Now, a
scene of plunder and robbery Avas perpetrated,. by the
privateer's creAV, Avhich beggars all description ; every
article of clothing and stores, Avhich they could lay their
hands upon, Avere taken without any ceremony. The-
crew were a perfect set of desperadoes and outlaws,
whom 'the officers could neither restrain nor command.
Capt. N. and myself Avere noAV conveyed to the priva
teer Avithout our clothes, for Ave had shared the like fate
Avith the crew of the ship, by having our trunks broken
open and robbed of all their contents. *
The excitement being over, a prize-master and crew
were put on board of the ship, and she Avas ordered to
the United States. Capt. N. prevailed Avith the captain
of the privateer to let him proceed in her; but ah the
arguments I could make use of, to accompany him, Avere
fruitless ; so I concluded to make the best of a bad bar
gain, and Avas induced, by the persuasions of the captain
and the prospect of gain held out to me, to enter as prize-
master. The next'cruising ground Avas in the neighbor
hood of the Western Islands, to which, Avith all possible
despatch, we repaired.
It may not be oht of place here to present the reader
with a sketch of the characters, of the men* with Avhom
I Avas now associated. Capt. T., a man of about thirty-
five years of age, Avas a gentleman in his manners, yet
impatient of contradiction ; bold and fearless; generally
acted with great precipitation, and, consequently, -Avith-
cut the exercise of much judgment. Mr. B., the 1st lieu
tenant, was an educated man, a good seaman, cool and
intrepid, and was strongly marked with the protuberance
of cause and effect. Mr. J., the 2d lieutenant, Avas about
thirty years of age, an active seaman, with limited edu
cation, but Avas a smart and enterprising officer. ' Mr. G.„
the 3d lieutenant, was a young man who did not seem
to be designed for the perils of war or the hardships of
a sea life; he Avas amiable, but being limited in his
knoAvledge of seamanship, had very .little -confidence in
himself. I understood, however, that his courage was

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 219
undoubted. Mr. W., the sailing-master, was abort fifty
years of age, had formerly been captain-of a V\/est India-
man out of Connecticut, , a tolerably good seaman and
navigator ; but he was a Ioav, mean-spirited chap, a kind
of anomaly, possessing none of those noble and generous
qualities which characterize a sailor — avaricious to the
last degree, and Avould resort to the meanest acts to ac
quire gain. The prize-masters, six in number, (includ
ing myself,) Avere a set of jolly fellows, and believed
themselves to be superior in rank and talent to any on
board except the captain, because they concluded that
they Avould be installed into" t.he office of commander
before the cruise was up. Mr. C, lieutenant of marines,
Avas neither soldier nor sailor, had been a sort of coun
try lawyer, and would rather sit down to a good dinner
than face an enemy. In going through the drill exer
cise, he might appropriately be called " Captain Bunker,"
of the privateer. The surgeon very much resembled, to
my imagination, the apothecary of Shakspeare ; he Avas
someAvhat advanced in years, and had, in the days of
his youth, read physic in a doctor's office, and listened
to some half-dozen lectures in a medical college, and Avas
then dubbed M. D., and let off Avith a diploma, lancet,
and pill-box, to practise upon a credulous public. He
had obtained some little celebrity by the amputation of
a limb ; but as he could not subsist upon fame exclusive
ly, being well nigh starved to death for Avant of practice,
he resolved (to use his ovvn expression) to sink or SAvim,
by plunging into the turbulent scenes of Avar. His
usual remedy to a sick sailor, Avas a pint of salt water,
because, he said, other medicines were too costly to be
lavished' on a common sailor, and because, he added, it
was a safe and easy remedy, always at hand, and cost
nothing. On one occasion, the doctor unfortunately fell
from the gangway rail on the deck, and hurt' himself
very seriously ; a wag of a sailor hove a bucket over
the side, and drew up some water, and immediately pre
sented the poor surgeon with a tin-pot full,«sweariug^-it"
was the best medicine that could be given for. a wound

Ajifc IL Ul\ lilt, UILA.1.

or fractured limb, "because," he added, with abroad
grin, "it is safe and easy, and costs nothing."
And now for the crew ; but here description fails.
The English language is too poor adequately fo do them
justice. Imagine .to yourself, reader, a company of eighty
men, selected from the very elite and respectable por
tions of the loAvest sinks located in the " Five Points,"
" Hook," and other places of like celebrity in New York.
Here they Avere, a motley crew of loafers, highbinders,
butcher boys,-&c. &c. To be sure, there was, now and
then, a good and true-hearted sailor among them ; but,
" like angels' visits, Jhey Avere feAv and far between:"
As it may well be supposed, long confinement with such
a company as above described could not be an enviable
situation to a" man of taste; but the continual hurry-
scurry, uproar, and excitement, on board of a privateer,
leave but a short time for reflection ; and furthermore,
being creatures of imitation, we soon become insensibly
conformed to the daily habits of surrounding associa
tions. This was my case ; for, although my better judg
ment taught me to despise, this mode of Avarfare, — at
best, in my opinion, it is only a systematic method to
plunder unoffending men, — yet I soon became in some
degree reconciled to my situation.

221

CHAPTER XX.
CAPTURE OF PRIZES  CHASE  TERMINATION OF CRUISE, &C.
On the morning of the 21st of November, the priva
teer had reached her cruising ground, and on the after
noon of the same day, made the Island of Terceira, one
of the group of the Azores, or Western Islands. The
third day after 'cruising around those islands, a small
English brig, bound to Fayal, Avas captured Avithout re
sistance ; she Avas manned, and ordered to the United
States. On the afternoon of the same day, we took a
small English schooner bound to Terceira, the island
'being then in sight. We released our prisoners, and
putting them all on board this vessel, they steered away
for>the island. From the captain of the small schooner,
we obtained information that the Lisbon »and Mediter
ranean fleets of merchantmen, under a strong convoy,
had sailed from England. We lost no time, therefore,
after ridding ourselves of the prisoners, to get on the
Lisbon station, so that, if possible, Ave might intercept
some of the fleet. A few days, Avith a strong westerly
breeze, brought us up to our cruising ground. Three
days thereafter, Ave fell in with a large British brig, and,
after a sharp action of forty minutes, succeeded in captur
ing her. She Avas- from Cork, bound to Cadiz, with a
rich and valuable- cargo, consisting of Irish cut glass,
linens, <fcc. She Avas ihanned, and ordered to the United
States, where she safely arrived, and the vessel and car
go sold for nearly four hundred thousand dollars. Tliis
was the richest prize taken during the cruise, and caused
the most extravagant expressions of joy among the
crew ; but the cruise was not yet up. Entertaining
21

222

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

serious doubts as to the privateer's sailing, I Avas under
the impression that a smart-sailing man-of-Avar Avith any
chance Avould capture us, for she could not compete
with the letfer-of-marque Avhich I was last on board of,
in point of sailing. The next day after the capture o*
the brig, a large sail was made, broad off on tbe star
board bow. We soon came up Avith the chase, and slit1
proved to be an American ship bound to "Lisbon. Cap
tain T., suspecting that she Avas sailing under a British
license, made the most cj.iligent search for it, but for a
long time Avithout ^effect. At length, hoAvever, the an
chors Avere.unstocked, and, to our great satisfaction, we
found the license concealed between the upper and lower
parts of the anchor-stock. Of course, this settled her
business; she Avas a good prize, and we despatched her
to the United States — all of the creAV, except the offi
cers, entering on board the privateer.
At daylight in the morning, December "4th, we fell in
with the combined Lisbon and Mediterranean fleets:
they Avere far to leeAvard of us; consequently we had
the advantage of choosing our position, and harassing
them under coyer of the night; but we soon perceived
Captain T.'s»intention Avas to run into the midst of the
fleet in the daytime. Against this mode of • procedure
every officer on board remonstrated loudly; the captain,
hoAvever, was obstinate ; the privateer ran doAvn araidst
4he fleet, hauled up alongside of a large ship, and engaged
her at pistol-shot distance. ' Signals Avere pow made
by all the fleet for an enemy. The convoy, being in
the van, quickly perceived what Avas going on, and a
frigate and sloop-of-war Avere seen bearing doAvn upon
us under a press of canvass. No other alternative Avas
left but to run. The Avind being moderate, the privateer
was kept before it, dropping the frigate, but the sloop-of-
Avar gained upon us, and it seemed to be almost certain
that she would bring us^to an action ; but when Avith
in gun-shot, she let drive her boAv-chasers. By the im
pediment attendant upon her firing, together Avith her
yawing to bring her guns to bear, the privateer gained

LIFE" ON THE OCEAN. 223
about a quarter of a mile. By running the guns forward
and aft, the schooner was put in proper trim ; and it
.soon became evident that we Avere rapidly 'leaving the
chase astern. After running us about six hours directly
to leeward of the fleet, the enemy hauled her Avind, and
gave up* further pursuit. This unfortunate, headstrong
adventure on tha part of Captain T., Avas the cause of
destroying all confidence in him. If he had taken
advice, and kept a proper position to the windward, no
doubt, under cover of the night, Ave might have captured
tAvo or three of the fleet, and thus completed our cruise.
But, as it Avas, Ave ran into the most imminent danger
Avithout the least probability of capturing a single vessel.
A day or two after, a large ship was made to the
windAvard, having a main top-gallantsail set, and her
fore and mizzen top-gallantmasts doAvn. As Ave closed
in Avith her, some bales of cotton were seen lashed on
the quarter. I v/as sent aloft with, the glass, to watch
her movements, and soon ascertained that she was a
man-of-war in disguise, and reported my conjecture to
the captain, Avho made light of it at first ; but his tune,
hoAvever, soon changed Avhen he saw her bear up, and in
fifteen minutes she Avas under a cloud of canvass in pur
suit of us. The wind was blowing fresh on shore, and as
Ave had seen the land that morning, we kneAV that we were
not more than forty miles distant from it. It Avas now
aboilt 3 o'clock in the afternoon. . It appeared to be the
object of the frigate, in case we outsailed her, to run us
ashore. This Avas the hardest chase Ave had during the
Avhcfle trine I was on boaid ; no difference Was percep
tible in the sailing of the two vessels-. We Avere run
ning at the rate of eleven knots per hour; consequently,
in four hours, with the same speed, Ave should be high
and dry ashore. The days, however, being short at
this season of the year, our main hope was to elude the
enemy Avhen night came on. At sunset, the land Avas
full iu sight, distant about twenty miles; and as we
Avere running directly for it,- in tAvo hours Ave should
either be a prize' or a wreck, unless we could evade

-224 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
him by some stratagem. The greatest anxiety and
excitement reigned throughout the privateer. Thp crew
were packing up their traps, and the -officers manifested
the deepest » suspense : fortunately, the 'Aveather Avas
cloudy; and, as night shut in intensely dark^our only
chance was to profit by it. The lights were noAV all
put out, and profound silence enjoined. The frigate.
¦on account of the darkness, could not be seen. The^
privateer was luffed to on the starboard tack, every
sail loAvered, and nothing Avas to be seen except her
hull and poles. In about ten minutes, the frigate
appeared, under a cloud of canvass, about two hundred
yards frSm us, flying away to leeward like a race-hofse.
We noAV hauled on a wind to the eastward, and saw no
more of the frigate. Captain T. decided to make a dash
into the Irish Channel, to intercept the West India
fleet, which was destined to sail in a feAV days, having
made their rendezvous at Cork. We obtained this
information from the captured brig. A feAV days not
only brought us to our station, but it also terminated our
cruise, as Avill be seen in the sequel.
On the morning of December 14th, it blowing fresh
from the south-Avest, Avith thick, foggy weather, Ave Avere
in the midst of the West India fleet before we saw
them, they having sailed from Cork the day previous!
No better opportunity could be Avished for, to make
captures, than the oue before us ; the fog Avould some
times clear up, and then shut in thick, so that Ave could
select, any vessel we chose. Hauling alongside of a
fine large brig, Ave boarded and captured her in ten
minutes. A prize-master and creAV Avere put on board
of her, Avith orders to remain with the fleet until night,
and then make the best of their way to any port in the
United States. As I had succeeded in boarding and
capturing this vessel Avith only the assistance of five
men, I Avas promised the finest ship in the fleet -by
Captain T. The promise was some.Avhat. premature,
the fulfilment rather problematical. As the fog cleared
up, Ave selected -a large ship, and I of course got ready,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 225
and racked my prize creAV, to take possession of her
without further ado. The fog noAV set in so thick that
no object was visible five yards' distance, .and Avhen it
lifted, there lay a frigate on our starboard boAv, not more
than a musket-shot off. She quickly saw us ; but being
on different tacks, she stood on until she got under our
larboard quarter, then tacked, and gave us a taste of her
fonvard division, Avhich did us no other damage than
to cut aAvay two of the lee main-shrouds. In half an
hour, it was clearly ascertained that Ave outsailed the
frigate on a Avind. Captain T. now held a council, with
the officers, and proposed to bear up before the wind, as
that Avas the privateer's best sailing quality — adding, that
no doubt could be entertained but that we could beat
the frigate before a wind, and in the end, by thus
manoeuvring, Ave should save our prize. The strongest
objections were urged to this proposal, especially by the
first lieutenant, who declared.it to be his opinion that,
if the privateer was kept away, we should be a prize in
thirty minutes. All* opinions and remonstrances were
entirely thrown away upon the captain. Evor'* sa-il was
got ready, the helm put up, and in a few minutes slip
was under a cloud' of canvass before the wind. It was
not long before Captain T. saAV his egregious error ; for
it Avill be evident to every seaman, that we Avere now
running nearly in a line to meet the frigate. The latter,
quickly perceiving our mistake, kept her wind, and as
there was no time now to be lost with us, the helm Avas
put down, and the privateer brought to the wind ; in
the act of doing which, she gave us another division
of her eighteen-pounders, which cut away the fore-
gaff, the slings of the fore-yard, and riddled our loAver
sails, and, to add to the difficulty, our unfortunate ma
noeuvre gave the frigate the weather-gage of us — the
principal sail, too, had become useless from the- loss of
the gaff. The next discharge from the frigate cut
aAvay the riiain-topman lift. There being a heavy sea
on at the time, the main-boom got command of the
quarter deck, arid carried away the bulwarks from the
21*

226 LII5 ON THE OCEAN.
tafferel to the gangway. The frigate iioav overhauled
us without any vlifficirity, and opened a most' murderous
fire, vvith the marines. We Avere unalle to haul down
our colors, from the fact of the topman-lift having been
shot aAvay. Seven men killed, arid fifteen wounded,.
lay on our decks ; and notAvithstanding the frigate must
have perceived that we were so much cut up that we
had no command of the privateer, and that she lay like
a log upon the water, nevertheless, she poured -into us
her quarter deck carronades, which, striking us a-mid-
ships, nearly cut our craft in halves. It Avas about four
hours from the time we fell in Avith the frigate until the
time of our capture, and in about one hour after, all of
our crew were snugly stowed away on board of the
frigate. The prisoners were shoved downrinto the cable tiers ;
but the officers, -seven in number, were politely treated
with the soft side of a plank against the ward-room
bulk-head. We were robbed of nearly all pur' clothing,
and as roughly used as if we had been pirates. The
prize was manned, and ordered into Plymouth, -Avhere,
to our great satisfaction, she never arrived, having sunk
off the Land's End. The creAV, however, were saved in
the boats.
The next morning the cry of " Sail ho !" Avas heard
from the frigate's mast-head ; in three hours she was up
with the \ressel, and, to, our great mortification, it proved
to be the prize. brig Ave had taken from the fleet. When
possession Avas taken of her, the prize-master and nearly
the whole crew were found drunk. It appeared they
did not make sail on the vessel during the night, and,
on- being interrogated, the prize-master. was entirely ig
norant of the position of the brig. Great exultation was
now manifested by the officers of the frigate, and, to use
their OAvn expression, they had now taken the "Paul
Jones and his mate."
In fifty hours the frigate Avas at an anchor in Plym
outh harbor, and we were all put on board of a
pnson-shipf with the exception of- the captain, first

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 227
lieutenant and surgeon, Avho Avere entitled to parole.
Here we found already three hundred and fifty Ameri
can prisoners, Avho were crammed awajc on the tAvo
decks of an old condemned seventy-four, fitted up for
that purpose, and strongly guarded. We remained in
. this ship four Aveeks, during Avhich time the number of
American prisoners Avas augmented to six hundred ; it
became necessary, therefore, in vieAV of this daily in
crease, to send the prisoners to depots allotted for that
purpose. Accordingly, several drafts were ordered to
Stapleton, near Bristol, a distance of one hundred arid
thirty miles. It fell to my lot to be one of the number
composing these drafts, and I Avas not a little pleased,
for I considered that any prison would be preferable to
the unwholesome air, and close confinement, 'of a ship
into which five hundred human souls were crammed.
January 25, 1813. — The number q£ prisoners con
tained in each escort Avas one hundred, guarded by
two hundred foot soldiers and fifty dragoons. Our
march was severe, having to perform a distance of from
fifteen to twenty-five miles per day. Many of the pris
oners broke down from fatigue, consequently, had to_
be transported in wagons. Seven days brought us "to
our journey's end, Avhen we were put into a strong
prison, with three thousand French prisoners.
Our prospects now Avere indeed gloomy. As for my
own part, I had been buoyed up with the hope of being
exchanged, Avhich hope, however, v/as now at an end ;
and I had nothing to cheer my spirits but the very
pleasing prospect of a confinement during the remainder
of- the Avar, unless I could devise some plan to effect an
escape; besides, I had' been improvident with what
money I had, sharing it Avith my fellow-officers, so that
.all I had left, out of my seventeen doubloons, when I
entered this prison, was about forty dollars ; this sum,
at furthest, Avould not last over six months, especially as
the allowance from the British government Avas so small,
and miserably bad, that, Avithout other means of sub
sistence, no man could exist. We received but one.

228 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
pound and a half of black bread per man Avhich, when
pressed together, might be encompassed in a mail's hand.
This, with a half of a pound of raw, fresh meat — the
bones being always included in the weight — Avas the
whole allowance for tAventy-four hours. I have often
Aveighed my alloAvance of meat, after it was boiled, and
it never Avent beyond three ounces.
In three months after our entrance into this place, the
American prisoners presented a sad spectacle of wretch
edness and misery. Naturally improvident, and at the
same time restless, always planning schemes to effect
their escape, they could not bring themselves to any
species of labor ; many of them, too, coming from the
Avorst grades of society, with habits imbibed from those
haunts of wretchedness, soon lost, by gambling, what
little means they had. This Avas not all ; they sacri
ficed their clothing to this nefarious practice, and, now,
pinched With cold, and half starved for want of food,
and Avith no regular, mode of exercise, disease began to
make its appearance among them in its very Avorst
form. Many sickened "and died; others became almost
frantic with hunger ; and that most abominable vice,
theft, was perpetrated upon one another Avith impunity.
I have actually seen one hundred, or more, of these half-
starved~wretches, scraping out, from the piles of offal
thrown from the prison, .potato and turnip skins, and
whatever they could find to masticate, to satisfy their
raging hunger. Those Avho had money fared well, from
the fact that the French prisoners were allowed a market,
outside of the first Avail ; and as the Avhole of these men
were industrious, and brought themselves systematically
to some pursuit, they manufactured a variety of articles,
such as lace, straw plait for bonnets, borework of almost
every description, instruments of music, and miniature
ships, &c. &c, which Avere bought up by the country
people, or exchanged for their produce. Indeed, these
French prisoners had become so thoroughly reconciled
to their situation, (some of them having been here six
or eight years,) that their minds appeared to be Avholly.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 229
occupied with gain. I knew many of them Avho Avhen
peace Avas effected betAveen France and England, had
saved from otie to two thousand guineas ; and there were
some Avho did not actually Avish to leave the prison.
This depot for prisoners of war is'situated in Staple-
ton, a village about five miles north of Bristol. The coun
try around it is highly cultivated, and presents one of
the most beautiful scenes I ever Avitnessed. From the ,
prisons may be seen the magnificent grounds and castle
belonging to the duke of Devonshire. The buildings,
three in number, are capable of containing fifteen hun
dred men each ; the ground on Avhich they stand may,
perhaps, cover au area of a quarter of a mile. The
yard, in the form of a circle, is surrounded Avith a strong
wall — say fourteen feet in height — on the top of Avhich,
at intervals, are cannons planted, and a sentinel stationed
at each gun; outside of this wall runs a ditch, twenty
feet broad. Sentinels are so posted around the yard,
both day and night, that it is almost impossible to effect
an escape from the prison.
Three months had now elapsed since Ave came to this
place, and our hopes of being exchanged were less prob
able, from. the. fact that Commodore Rogers had detained
a number of English prisoners in close confinement, as
hostages for as many American prisoners whom the
British held in bondage, declaring that they were Eng
lishmen ; and of course such, when found fighting
against their country, must suffer the penalty attached
to the crime, which is death. This punishment, how-.,
evf.r, was^ never carried into execution, supposing, no
doubt, the American government would have retgfcfed.
From this time forward, there was no more exchange of
prisoners until peace Avas concluded.
As my funds were noAV getting short, if became abso
lutely necessary for me to turn my attention to some
pursuit which would afford a subsistence ; accordingly,
I commenced to manufacture straAv plait for ladies' bon
nets. Though riches co'uld not Aoav, in abundance
through this channel — with the most incessant toil, I

IjWIX U1X ¦£liE UUHlAn.

could not earn more than one shilling per day — yet it
* was sufficient to keep me in coffee, bread, &c, as long
as I remained in this place.
The sufferings of the American prisoners, wherever
they Avere cpnfined in England, were equal, if not
greater, than those at Stapleton ; and from this depot, as
well as from others, petitions were frequently sent to
our government, through the medium of Mr. Beasley,
who was the agent for American prisoners in England.
These petitions -were draAvn'up in the most respectful
manner, and set forth in strong terms the miserable
and destitute condition of the American prisoners, the
small quantity of daily food alloAved by the British
government, (in consequence of this scanty fare, many
had starved to death,) and speedy and immediate relief
was urgently prayed for. On the reception of these
petitions, our government lost no time in affording the
relief required, by empowering the agent todistribute to
each prisoner six shillings and eight pence, monthly.
This supply was indeed seasonable to many of our poor
felJoAV-sufferers. Now, the industrious and economical
could subsist tolerably Avell ; but there Avere yet many
among us Avho, no sooner than they received their
monthly alloAvance, Avould resort to the gambling-table
and lose it ell. Not many of this description lived to
see the"" United States.
When peace Avas effected between France and Eng
land, the French prisoners, of course, Avere liberated
and sent to France ; and, as there Avere but four hundred
American prisoners at this place — not being a sufficient
nuajher to employ a garrison — our destination was fixed
forWartmoor. This Avas a matter of joy to many of us,
because we contemplated that an escape wou^d not be
difficult ; but, on the other hand, this depot Avas infi
nitely preferable to Dartmoor. The prison buildings
here Avere far superior to those at Dartmoor, as Avell as
the country around them ; the facilities of a market for
the purchase of provisions, and for the saje of Avhatever
articles we could manufacture, were likeAvise much
greater here.

231

QHAPTER X" .

REMOVAL TO DARTMOOR  DESCRIPTION OF IT  PLAN TO
EFFECT AN ESCAPE. f
\
September 20, 1813. — The first draft, comprising one
hundred men, strongly guarded, marched out for Dart
moor, a distance of one hundred and ten miles, and one
draft Aveekly thereafter, until the whole number Avere
despatched. It fell to my lot to be in the last draft, and
I resolved, if possible, to profit by this march in making
an escape, at the 'first favorable opportunity. Accord
ingly, when Ave had^reached a distance of about fifty
miles, conceiving the place and time favorable, although
I had marched tAventy miles that day, I determined to
put my plans into execution that night, having bribed.a
soldier Avho would be on guard at midnight. The few
intervening hours Avere passed ih the deepest suspense.
At length the moment arrived, Avhen it was necessary
that I should exert all the courage and fortitude of which
I Avas capable. The gaining my liberty solely depended
upon the good faith of this soldier, because I should
have to pass-three sentinels, and, should he prove faith
less by giving a false countersign, detection Avould be
inevitable. The village clock struck the hour of midnight, anWfell
was Avrapped in profound silence. The prisoners, for fne
most part, Avere locked in deep sleep, and nothing Avas
heard but the exchange of " All's well," by the sentinels
who guarded an old barn, into which the prisoners Avere
crammed for the night's repose. SloAvly and silently
I passed along-to the appointed place of meeting ; judge
of my surprise, when reaching it, to find that double
sentinels had been stationed at the place selected to

32

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

meet the soldier before named ; he was not -there. The
countersign was- given, and the ansAver to it was, " Go
back ! or you are a dead man." All hopes of escape'
were now at an end ; the bribed soldier, no doubt, had
treacherously given me the wrong countersign, and, as
I supposed, informed the commanding officer of my in
tention." This most fatiguing and harassing march was con
tinued for nine days, during which many of the prisoners
broke down, and were so entirely disabled that it became '
necessary to transport them in wagons. So unremitting
was the vigilance kept over us during the remainder of
the march, after my project of escape had failed, that-
every effort to get aAvay on the part of the prisoners
proved ineffectual. At length, we arrived at Dart
moor ; and I think I shall not overstep the bounds of
truth, when I say , that a more miserable and wretched
spot could not have* been selected in the Island of
Great Britain, to erect a depot for prisoners of Avar, than
this same barren heath presented. In vain may the
eye exert its poAvers of vision to seek for shrub or
verdure, and in vain may the mind contemplate a scene
more melancholy than to see six thousand intelligent
brings confined in a circumference of about one half of
a mile, strongly fortified, and encircled by walls, ditches,
and palisades, with cannon so planted as to command
every part of the enclosure. It was, nevertheless, a
relief to enter even this place, bad as it was, Avhere we
might find rest for our wearied limbs and debilitated
bodies. But if the location of Dartmoor inspires the
nSfel with gloom at first sight, much more sensibly did
I reel the horrors of confinement, Avhen thrust into the
interior. There Avere about six thousand American
prisoners, who had been gathered from all the prisons
and- prison-ships in England, and, with the exception
of those Americans who had given, themselves up
from British men-of-war, and avIio at this time were in
confinement at Portsmouth, comprised all the- American
prisoners hoav in England. These, then, for the most

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 233
part, were a perfect set of outlaws and desperadoes,
having, no doubt, been selected from the n ost miserable
haunts of vice in all the seaports Avithi.i the United
States. It must not be- understood, hoAvever, that all
came under this description of character, for there Avere
some' among the number, an honor to the profession
of a seaman ; but, then, the loafers and rough-alleys
greatly overbalanced the better-disposed, so that the
laAv that "might gives right," Avas forcibly illustrated,
and the levelling system Avas put into effectual practice.
If a man avIio had heen an officer manifested a disposition
to keep himself aloof from these miscreants, he-Avas
almost sure to be mobbed, and if he had kept a taut
hand and good discipline' on board of his vessel, on en
tering these prisons, he was generally tied to the Whip
ping-post and flogged.
This state of things became so intolerable, that fre
quently the commandant sent in a file of soldiers to
rescue the officers from their unmerciful treatment.
These oritrages continued until those men who had
given themselves up from British men-of-war Avere sent
on to this place'. They Avere generally a noble set of
fellows,- men of principle, and true Americans — conse^
quently, friends to laAv and order, uniting with the
minority, effectually crushed all acts of injustice and
oppression. Competent men were now selected by the
majority to frame" a constitution and laws for the better
regulation of the Avhole. Judges, &c, were appointed,
and allegiance was SAvorn to the constitution and lavvs
by a large majority of the prisoners. After the adoption
of these measures, Avhenever the laws Avere infringeduir
violated, the culprit, or offender, was punished accordilg
to the enormity of the crirhe committed.
I Avas forcibly struck, when first entering these prisons,
Avith the miserable, squalid appearance of the prisoners.
The clothes given them by their captors Avere mostly
yelloAV, designed purposely, no doubt, to designate them
in case of escape. Emaciated from long confinement
and scantiness of provision, many of them ' dirty and in
22

234

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

tatters, they' presented to my mind a set of unearthly
objects, issuing from .the recesses of Panc'.emonium,
rather than a living mass of human beings. The con
duct and pursuits of these men were so strikingly
different from the French prisoners at Stapleton, that
my mind not only sickened, but I really rfelt ashamed
of my own countrymen. It must be conceded, hoAV-
ever. that they were continually planning scheihes of
escape ; consequently, they were restless arid uneasy,
and, instead of settling themselves down to any system
of government, or adopting any plan or occupation, —
such as carrying on the various branches of mediae
nism, for instance, — they spent their time with cards,
dice, roulette tables, <fcc. &c. Here and there, however,
throughout the prisons, might be seen stands, or shops,
for the purpose of selling coffee and various kinds of
eatables, and there were no small number of these
stands for the sale of ardent spirits, &c. There Avere
also q. number of schools, and it might be said that this
was almost the only reputable employment carried on
ahiong the prisoners. The monthly allowance, Avith-
proper care and management, Avould have been highly
beneficial ; but, as, it Avas, to many it proved a curse
instead of a blessing ; for, immediately on receiving it,
hundreds Avould resort to the gambling-table, and in a
feAV minutes would come off minus ; hundreds' more
Avould go to the rum shop, and their alloAvance would
be quickly swept aAvay. To me, the'day of distribution
Avas a day of terror, for the prisoners actually appeared
more like a set of demons, let loose from the regions of
darkness, than reasonable men. Every Avhere drunken
ness, fighting, and brawlings, might be seen throughout
the prisons and prison-yards, and I really dreaded when
the period' arrived for distribution, although I was at all
times much in Avant of this small pittance ;• indeed, it
became more necessary because rio^ market privileges
were allowed here as in Stapleton ; and, consequently,
little could be sold, even if it Avere manufactured. This
deprivation Avas a serious matter to many of the prison-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 235
ers besides myself, as I found that the " six and eight-
pence," Avith the Bfitish allowance, Avas by no means
sufficient to procure a moderate subsistence. It became
necessary, therefore, to. have recourse to some meaiis to
make up the deficiency. The occupation on Avhich I
fixed my mind to pursue, Avas that of Avashing the
prisoners' clothes, at sixpence per dozen. Although this
was not the most exalted profession in the world, yet it
was an honest calling, and as I Avas enabled to earn
one shilling per day, .it Avas amply sufficient, with
the other means, to hve as well as the prison could
afibrd. I had not been long at this employment, when I
received a letter from an intimate friend, Avho had been
in the counting-house Avith me before I embraced a sea
life. He had heard of my unfortunate capture and
subsequent confinement ; and, as he Avas connected Avilh
a mercantile house in London, he not only had the
poAver, but exercised the willingness, to supply me with
Avhat little means I might stand in need of, to render
my situation comfortable ; and this Avas the purport of
the letter received. It may be supposed that I lost no
time in embracing this offer ; for, although I had a suf
ficiency to eat and drink, yet I was nearly destitute of
clothes, having either lost them, or ha^ them stolen
from me. From this friend, I received a stated sum
monthly, and was enabled thereby to procure some good
clothes, besides a competency for subsistence Avith
out being compelled to labor. It may be necessary to
give the reader some proof of the restless character so
jeouliar to the American prisoners; and in order to do
this, I shall here give a minute description of the situa
tion of the prisons.
They AArere seven in number, built on the slope, or
rather at the foot, of a hilj. They were surrounded by
tAvo stiong Avails, tAvelve feet high, and about thirty feet
apart; between these. Avails Avas a ditch, tAventy feet
wide. The walls, as Avell as. the prison-yard, Avere
strongly guarled. Under each of' the_prisons was a

236 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
drain, cut about three fee}, in Avidth, and about the same
in depth. Water from the adjacent hills constantly ran
through these drains, and served the various purposes
of carrying off the filth and. offal, cleansing the prisbns,
washing clothes, cooking, &;c. When it rained, which
was not nnfrequent, the Avater ran through these drains
with great rapidity. I mention this trifling circum
stance, to show that, in the folloAving account, this
small affair Avas of material advantage to the prisoners. •
And now for the proof of the restlessness of their
character. As all hopes of exchange had long since been given
up, the prisoners unanimously agreed to form some
plan, for the purpose of effecting a general escape; it
was, therefore,_ decided to dig a subterranean passage
with a perpendicular hole~insicJ,e of one of the buildings
, The distance from the prison, in which the hole was to
be dug, to the outside Avail, was one hundred and ten •
feet. The plan was to dig twenty feet perpendicularly,
and then run the parallel passage sufficiently wide to let
two men pass abreast. This plan being matured, the
prisoners bound themselves under a most solemn oath not
to reveal the scheme, the forfeiture of which Avas death.
The Avork was to be done in the night, as there was
less danger of detection : the "turnkeys," &c, being then
asleep, no other watch Avas kept but by the sentries
on guard, as the prisoners were all locked up in the
prisons. One or two almost insurmountable difficulties
now presented themselves, viz., what could be done
with the vast amount of rubbish which must necessari
ly be dug from this cavern, so as to elude the vigilance
of the guards and turnkeys, who inspected the prisons
every morning. To put it into our chests and bagsAvould
not do, neither would it.be practicable to throAV jt down .
the common seAvers, on account of the large quantity.
The only safe plan, therefore, Avas to take advantage of
the heavy rains, and to throAV it into the drains before -
mentioned. The water floAved at these periods Avith
such velocity that it would force it all off into the outer

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 237
ditch. . Tlie Avork Avas noAV commenced, and soon the
perpendicular hole Avas finished. The parallel passage
Avas begun, Avhen another very serious and unforeseen
difficulty presented itself; the immense pressure of con
fined air Avithin the subterranean vault was so great,
that, with all our efforts to restore a natural 'circu
lation, Ave were unable to Avork more than thirty minutes
at a time ; and as we advanced in distance, the pressure
became greater, until it Avas absolutely necessary for our
safety, that air-holes should be opened to the surface.
This Avas a work of extreme hazard, because sentinels
Avere posted, about thirty feet from each other, all around
the prison yard. Detection, therefore, Avould seem to be
inevitable; the risk, hoAvever, must be attempted, or the
project abandoned. The first air-hole was commenced
about twelve feet from the commencement of the pas
sage, and extended to the surface Avithout discovery.
This mine was an immense undertaking, in vieAv of
all the difficulties wrhich surrounded it, viz., the vigilance
of the guards, turnkeys, &c, the apprehended treachery
of the prisoners, (for it could not ,be supposed that, out
of so many, all would prove true,) the great difficulty
of concealing the dirt, and another of no less magnitude,
which Avas, the frequency df encountering huge rocks,
that obliged us to diverge from the straight line, thus
increasing the Avork and, lengthening the time of our
escape. Forty nights, two hours in each, I recollect to
have exerted all my physical poAvers at this work, elated
almost beyond measure Avith the prospect of success,
(for, as yet, all had been kept a profound secret from the
enemy,) and as Ave had penetrated in our passage as
far as the inner wall, we reasonably calculated that,
unless we were detected, or that feome of our own men
should prove faithless, we should effect our object.
Alas! how little then did we expect that these buoyant
hopes Were .so soon to be frustrated, and that, too, by -
one who was among the most persevering in the labor,
and perhaps the most ardent in his feelings when this
plan was first projected ! Often did I Avork by his side,-
22* •

238 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. *
and often did we converse as tc the mode of operation
after we should have gotten c\ear from the prison. This
man was a native American, of respectable connections,
who, after he had sworn the most solemn oath not to
divulge our plans, basely betrayed us by informing the
captain of the prisons of all our operations, the distance
Ave had penetrated, and, in a word, given the particulars
of- every thing in' reference to the mine and the con
templated manner of our escape. For this most base
and treacherous act, he obtained his release, and a pass
port to proceed to the United States.
The first intimation we received of detection, was
being driven into the prison early in the forenoon,
and locked -up ; then a regiment of a thousand men
Avas-marched into theyard, and formed a hollow square
fronting on the line of excavation. The colonel of the
regiment, Avith a small guard,' entered the prison and
descended the perpendicular hole, passed into the pas
sage, and, after-examining Avith great care and minute
ness the entire work, he ascended, and publicly con
ferred a tribute of praise to men " who, under so many
discouraging circumstances, not only managed to keep
this gigantic work a profound secret, but Avho. by their
unremitting perseverance, tya.& carried on the work
nearly to it's completion." He declared, at the same
time, that such men were Avo'rthy of their liberty. The
Avork of destruction was commenced by the miners
connected Avith the regiment ; and after laboring tAvo
hours they came to the parallel passage ; after Avhich,
filling up the remaining part Avas an easy matter, foi
the ground fell in Avithout any difficulty. At four
o'clock the whole passage Avas filled up, and -our long-
cherished hopes of escape Avere entirely frustrated. A
solemn compact was entered into, by many of the pris
oners, that, in the everit of falling in with the base
informer in after life, they would take his life.
Shortland, the commandant of the prison, and who
it was said, Avas a broken-down post-captain stood no

LIFE ON THE C CEANi 239
torious for his many acts of tyranny ; and it was also
currently reported that the Admiralty had, by Avay of
ridding the service of so much inhuman barbarity,
placed him here as jailer to those confined Avithin the
enclosures of this celebrated depot.
After the discovery of this affair, this humane gentle
man restricted every privilege that Ave had previously en
joyed, such as forbidding the entrance and sale of fresh
provisions, vegetables, &c, as also by closely confining
the prisoners, and sometimes by stopping their customary
alloAvance. This treatment Avas continued at intervals,
as spleen suggested to his choleric disposition, during
the Avhole period of our confinement: notAvithstanding
repeated remonstrances were made to the American
agent, in reference to the conduct of Shortland, no re
dress could be obtained.
At length, the long-looked-for news of the probability
of peace reached our desponding hearts ; but when
information was received that commissioners were ap
pointed by the contending parties to negotiate a treaty
of peace at Ghent, and that the commissioners Avere ac
tually on the spot, the loudest and most extravagant
demonstrations of joy Avere exhibited throughout the
prisons. But on the reception of the news that the
treaty of peace had actually been signed by both parties,
the effect upon the prisoners Avas beyond all description.
The truth of it could hardly be realized. Some danced,
while others sang; some laughed, and others Ave pt, for'
joy ; many resorted to the intoxicating boAVl, and affirmed
that they would get. royally drunk ; fhis pledge Avas
kept to the very letter ; the -shops, or places where liquor,
coffee, <fcc, had been sold, were broken doAvn, and, for
a short time, like as in the days of old, all things Avere
partaken of in common, as they expected an immediate
release. But they were disappointed in this, for the
confinement was as close, and the treatment equally as
bad, as it had been before the news of peace arrived ;
and in consequence of the delay of providing cartels by
our agent, the confinement of the prisoners was pro-

"-44U m LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
longed months. This was mainly the cause of the un
fortunate riot and the subsequent massacre of the pris
oners, by the command of the commandant Shprtland.
For my own part, I was in some degree prepared for the
neAvs of peacG, by the correspondence held with my
friend in London ; and yet, when it .actually did come,
such Avere my feelings, — vacillating between hope and
fear, truth and fiction, — that it Avas some time before I
brought myself to the positive conclusion that it was
really true. In a few days, however, all doubts on this
subject Avere entirely dissipated, as I received a letter
from my friend, which informed me that he had obtained
my release from the Transport Board, and that an order
had been sent from that Board to release tAvo of us im
mediately, In this letter was enclosed a five-pound
bank note, to defray our expenses to London, also giv
ing his address. I lost no time in getting all my traps"
in readiness for departure.
The next morning,- M. and myself were called out,.
and passports Avere given to each of us by Shortland,
and, a couple of soldiers taking up our trunks, the turn
key conducted us outside of the prison Avails. We had
previously ordered a post-chaise, into which Ave both
entered, aud"drove off at a rapid rate for Ashburton, and
I believe neither of us gave " one longing, lingering look
behind," at Dartmoor prison. Ashburton is about tAvelve
miles east of Dartmoor, a small village, the allotted
location of prisoners" on parole. Through this town lifcs
the direct route to London. _ Here, then, we arrived in
about an hour and a half, paid off our postilion Avith
half a guinea, and remained -during the night, and the
next morning took seats on the top ofLthe mail-coach
for London.
The mail-coach driving at a rapid rate, Ave were, of
course, very soon at our journey's" end, and had but
little opportunity to make observations on. the highly
"cultivated grounds and beautiful scenery through Avhich
we passed. We were noAV in the. midst of the largest
metropolis in the world ; two strangers, just emerged

11*

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 241
from a prison-house ; and although I had freqjently been
in large cities, yet every thing appeared to be perfectly
novel, and I thought myself to be as absolutely green
as if I had never seen any thing in my life. This Avas
also noticed by more than myself; one chap, draAving
up alongside, and patting my cheeks, ,ver^ significantly
said, " Bang up, Johnny Raw, Avho made your coachee ? "
To which I replied in the most polite and agreeable
manner possible to my then state of feelings, by letting
him have a rejoinder under the left ear. This off-hand
reply took Avith the bystanders, for I heard some of them
say, " He's the clean stuff, anyhoAV." But we Avere not
yet rid of their tricks; for on calling ajiack, and giving
the driver the address of oUr friend, Ave both jumped into
the coach, and I suppose he must have driven us at
least six or seven miles round ,and about the city ; at
length he stopped at the residence of our friend, at which
place there was a lady Avaiting to receive us, as Mr. B.
had goue out. The coachman demanded, for his fee,
half a guinea; the lady inquired at what place he had
taken us up ; after I had informed her, she presented
him Avith a shilling, which he very meekly received,
and drove off.
From this lady we received the kindest treatment ;
she expressed great sympathy Avhen the relation of our
confinement Avas made to her, and, during our stay at
her house, she endeavored, by every act of, kindness
and attention, to atone, as she said, for thej injustice of
her countrymen, in. imprisoning men who, in all re
spects, she affirmed, were equal to Englishmen. This
was a great compliment ; but Avhen I learned that she
was born and educated at the Avest end of London, and
never had sufficient curiosity (although she waj- then
thirty-four years of age) to visit the eastern part of the
city, — I say, when I heard this from her OAvn lips, I
was not at all astonished at the compliment she be
stowed upon us.
My friend soon arrived, by whom we were most
cordially received ; we ate and drank at his table, and

'At'A LIFE ON THE OCEAN,
"slept soundly in his Avell-furnished room?. After I had;
given him a distinct narration of nearly all the scenes
and circumstances Avhich had befallen me since our
separation, we repaired to a "ready-made clothing
store-," where.in a feAv^minutes I was completely meta
morphosed — my* prison garb giving place to the cos
tume oi a London cockney. My friend informed us
that he had procured situations on board of an American
ship, which had been lying up in Russia during the
whole of the war, but had come to London immediately
on the news of peace ; and that she was now actively
loading in dock for the United States, and expected to
sail in ten days. " In a week, therefore," said he, "it is
necessary you should repair on board; during which
time," he continued, " I Avill endeavor to show you all
that is worth seeing in London." He Avas as good as
his word, for every hour Avas employed, apart from our
meals, in visiting the almost numberless places and
scenes which are calculated to astonish and delight the
stranger and traveller.
Qur week, expiring, we bade adieu to our kind hostess
and family ; and having exchanged our long clothes for
a complete sailor's rig, Ave jumped into a hackney Avith
Mr. B., drove to the London Docks, Avent immediately
on board of the American ship Boston, and, Avere intro
duced by Mr. B. to Captain Finley, as the tAvo young
men whtim he had engaged to work their passage to the
United States in his ship. The captain received' us
rather cavalierly, said he Avas glad that we had come
on board, for he Avas short of hands to get in the cargo.
He was a very queer-looking chap ; and although
dressed at me tip-top of the London fashion, yet his
clothes did not sit on him with a good grace, having
so much of the sailor about him. After hearing a few
very nngenteel epithets bestowed upon the_ mate, I was
inclined to believe that our situation on board would
not be the most agreeable. In the end, however, I Avas.
deceived ; for he' was a good sailor, and though rough in

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 243
the exterior, yet he used every man well that p« -formed
his duty according to contract. In a few days the mate
Avas discharged, not being competent to fulfil the duties
of his office : the berth Avas given to me, and I never had
any reason to repent of having accepted it. In a few
days the ship was loaded, and ready for sea.
We hauled out of dock, and I exchanged the parting
adieu with my worthy friend, Mr. B. The wind being
fair, we soon got out of the river and down to the north
foreland, Avhere we discharged the pilot, made all sail'
with a fine wind from the eastward, and stood down the
English Channel. Thus, after suffering tAvo years in an
English prison, besides the consequent perils and dan
gers incident to a state of Ayjarfare, I was once more on
my favorite element, in a merchant ship, homeward
bound, after an absence of nearly two years and a half. 1
It was a matter of some consolation that, amid the varied
scenes and circumstances through which I had passed,
my life and health had been preserved, and I trust that
my moral character had not deteriorated, and that' the
experience' Avhich I had "gained from the vicissitudes of
fortune would have a salutary effect on my future
course of life. Soon after discharging the pilot, I was
informed by Captain F. that it was positively certain
that we should be the second ship, if not the first, to
arrive in the United States after peace ; he having
- learned that- it Avould be ten days before any other
vessel would sail from England. Consequently, it was
necessary to improve every opportunity and carry hard
sail, (toiise his,OAvn expression,) and this was done to
perfection ; for although we had an exceedingly boister
ous passage, Avith many heavy and severe gales, yet
the ship was never hove to ; and on the 38th day after
discharging the English pilot, we had a Chesapeake
pilot on board, Cape Henry bearing west-north-west,
tAventy miles, distant. From the pilot we learned that
our ship "was the second arrival from England since
peace ; and that we* were anxiously looked for by the
merchants in Baltimore- Passing. Cape Henry lig"ht,

244

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

ancVent, ,.: ., the Chesapeake Bay with a fine leading
breeze, and every sail spread, we stood up the bay, and
arrived at the port of Baltimore after a passage of forty
days.

245

CHAPTER XXII.
LOSS OF PRIZE-MONEY  VOYAGE TO LONDON  NARROW
ESqAPE FROM SHIPWRECK, &C &C
I remained in the ship Boston until her cargo was
discharged, and then proceeded in her to Alexandria,
the port from Avhich she hailed and to which she
belonged, Captain Finley being the owner. Although
pressed' by Captain F. to remain in the ship, yet there
were tAvo prominent reasons Avhich made it absolutely
necessary that I should decline his offer. The first
was, to look after my prize-money and property, and
the second was, I did not like the employment. We
separated good friends, and I proceeded immediately to
Baltimore, and from thence to New York, the port to
which the Paul Jones privateer belonged, and where, of
course, the agent for the crew resided. Previously to
my arriving at this place, I had ascertained that three
of the most valuable prizes captured hy the Paul Jones
had arrived in safety in the United States, and that the
vessers and cargoes had been sold by the agent to g"eat
advantage. This was cheering neAVs, because I Avai at
this time nearly penniless, and I knew that my share of
the prize-money would amount to between nine ; id
ten thousand dollars. Judge of my feelings, when,
after- the strictest inquiry, I learned that the agent had
managed to get hold of all this vast amount of prop
erty, and then, by fraudulently conveying it over to
Other hands, had failed, and taken the benefit of the
insolvent laAv. Thus, by this most dishonest act, he
cheated one hundred or .more poor felloAvs out of their
hard \earnings — men, too, who had risked their lives,
and suffered for two years all the hardships of confi V
23 '

246 * LIFE ON THE OCEAN. *
ment in an English prison. Having ascertained that it
would be useless to institute a suit against this agent,
I gave up all hopes of -recovering any portion of my
dues. As there Avas another source from which I
fully expected to receive funds, viz., the schooner which
Avas left at NeAv Orleans^ at. the commencement of the
war, I immediately wrote on to those gentlemen whom
I had empowered to act in my absence. The answer
to this letter imparted to me the unpleasant intel
ligence, that I was again doomed to be the victim of
disappointment and the dupe of knaves. They had em
ployed the vessel to considerable advantage, after which
she was sold, and the proceeds received by them for
my account, so that they had actually .made money
upon my capital, and defrauded me out of the whole.
There Avas yet remaining one more resource, viz., that
which was placed in the hands, of Mr. G., of Norfolk.
This sum — say three hundred "dollars — on my making
application for, was remitted forthwith, principal and
interest, together with a trunk- of wearing apparel. By
the foregoing it will be seen, that Avithout these funds
(and 'they were earned prior to .the commencement of
the war) I should have been penniless, notwithstand
ing tAvo and a half years had passed away, sometimes
Avith hard fighting and many hair-breadth escspes, with
untold hardships, besides a long and most painful con
finement in an English prison. *
My'"intentions now Avere, first, to visit my friends at
the north ; but as I had heard of the death of my father
and of the marriage of my sister, -I concluded to return
to Baltimore, having settled in my mind to make this
city a location for future operations. From this place,
'then, I entered on my first voyage after peace. My
determination in this respect Avas the more settled, after
I had become acquainted Avith the peculiar constitutional
make of the southern people. I found them, in all
respects, to be of a different temperament from those of
the north ; they were evidently more social, and their
hospitality abounded almost to excess, especially towards

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 247
strangers ; and as I Avas myself naturally of a sanguine
character, these people, I found, were congenial to my
vieAvs and feelings, — consequently, I resolved to reside
among them. '
As before stated, I joined the ship C  , Captain G.,
bound for London, as second officer. It was not long
before she AA^as ready for sea, and I had made the neces
sary preparations for another voyage.
December 20, 1815. — After bidding adieu to the
family in which I resided, and with AAdiom I Avas on the
most intimate terms of friendship, Ave cast off from the
wharf, and stood down the river, Avith a strong breeze
from the north-west. 22d, at 7 A. M., discharged the
pilot, and Avent to sea AArith a north-west gale. This ship
had teen originally a French Guineaman, captured by
the English, and was after Avards taken by the Americans
during the war. She was an old ship, consequently
weak and in addition she had heen risen upon, and hav
ing uoav three decks, of course much of the Aveight of
her cwgo Avas carried above the Avater. She Avas there
fore v°ry crank and very leaky. The captain was an
old mm and an experienced sailor. The chief mate,
his nephew, had served his time with him, — a young,
active, and bold seaman ; the foremast-men, tAvelve in
numbtr, Avere all able seamen; nevertheless, Ave had as
much ,*s Ave could attend to during the passage, Avhich,
although short, yet was the most boisterous and se
vere oi any that I had yet experienced. Fortunately,
the wind Avas fair all the Avay, and we never shoAved
any thiag higher than double-reefed topsails, and it re
quired the labor of a Avatch at the pumps to keep her
free. In fourteen days and six hours from the time we
cast off from the wharf, we were to an anchor in Fal
mouth, England. We just arrived in time to escape a
long easterly gale.
January 15, 1S16. — Received orders this day to pro
ceed to London with the ship, and as the easterly gale
abated, and the Avind hauled round southward and
westAvard, we got under way, stood out of Falmouth

248 LIFE ON TEE OCEAN.
harbor, and proceeded up the British Channel. At si1i>
set it commenced to rain, and the weather Avas thick
and cloudy^ The different lights Avere seen as far
as the Bill of. Portland. At midnight lost sight of
the land, and it blew a gal« from off the French coast ;
close-reefed the topsails, and steered a course so as to
keep in mid-channel. At daybreak the ship was judged
to be off Beachy Head ; the weather being so thick,
the land could not be seen. The fore arid mizzen-
topsails AVere now furled, -and the ship he ve to. The
rain began now to fall in' torrents, and the heavy, dense,
black clouds rose Avith fearful rapidity from the north-
Avard over the English coast, when suddenly the wind
shifted from the south-Avest to north, and blew a hur
ricane. The mist and fog. cleared aAvay, and, to our
utter astonishment, we found ourselves on a lee shore
. on the coast of- France, off Boulogne heights. The gale
was so violent, that no more sail could be made. The
ship was so exceedingly crank, that Avhen she luffed up
on a wind, her -bulwarks Were under water. As she
would not stay, the only alternative Avas, to wear ; of
course, with this evolution we lost ground, and conse
quently Avere driven nearer every moment towards the
awful strand of rocks* The scene Avas now terrific;
many vessels Avere in sight, two of which Ave saw
dashed on the rocks ; with the tremendous roar of the
breakers, and ttijb howling of the tempest, and the heavy
sea, Avhich broke as high as the fore-yard, death appeared..
inevitable. There Avas only one hope left, and that. Avas,
that, should the tide change and take us under our lee-
beam, it might possibly set us off on the Nine-fathom
Bank, Avhich is situated at a d stance of tAvelve miles
north-north-Avest, off Boulogne harbor. On the even£of
reaching this bank, the safety of the ship and lives of
the creAV depended, as it Avas determined there to try the
anchors, for there Avas no possibility of keeping off shore
more than two hours, if the gale continued.
We were now on the larboard tack,1 and for the last
half hour it was perceived that the tide had turned, and

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. Vi4y
was setting to the northward; this was our last and
only chance, for the rocks Avere not more than half a
msle under our lee, and as it was necessary to get the
ship's head round on the starboard tack, which could
dnly be done by wearing, it was certain that -much
ground would be lost by that evolution. The anchors
Avere got ready, long ranges of the cables were hauled
ori deck, and the ends Avere clinched to the mainmast
below ; this being done, the axes were at hand to cut
aAvay the masts.
I have before remarked that Captain G. was an old,
experienced seaman ; and I never saw, before or since,
more coolness, judgment, and, seamanship, than were dis
played by him on this trying occasion. In this perilous
trial, the most intense anxiety was manifested by the
crew, and then Avas heard the deep-toned voice of Cap
tain G., -rising above tho bellowing storm, commanding
silence. " Take the wheel," said he to me ; and then
followed the orders in quick succession: "Lay aft, and
man the braces — see every thing clear forward to wear
ship — steady — ease her — shiver away the main-top
sail — put your helm up — haul in "the weather fore-
hraces, and gather in the after- yards. " The ship Avas
now running before the wind for a few moments direct
ly for the rocks ; the situation and scene were truly
awful, for she was not more than three hundred yards
from the breakers. I turned my head aside — being at
the helm — to avoid the terrific sight, and silently
awaited the crisis. I was roused at this moment by
Capt. G., who shouted, " She luffs, my boys ! brace the
^main-yard sharp up — haul in the larboard fore-braces — ¦
down Avith the fore-tack, lads, and' haul aft the sheet ; —
right the helm ! Steady, so — haul taut the weather-
braces, and belay all." These orders were given and
executed in quick succession. The ship was noAV on the
starboard tack, plunging boAvs under at every pitch.
Casting a fitful glance over my shoulder, I saw that we
were apparently to leeward of the rocks. Very soon,
however, it Avas quite perceptible that the tide had taken
her on the lee beam, and was setting her off shore.
23*

250 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. '
The gloom began now to wear aAvaj, although it was
doubtful whether We should be able to reach the, bank,
and, if successful, whether the anchors Avould hold on.
Orders were given to lay aloft and send doAvn the top
gallant-yards, masts, &c. The helm was relieved, and
I sprung into the main rigging, the chief mate going up
forward.- With much difficulty, I reached the main-
topmast cross-trees, and, ' when there, it was almost im
possible to work, for the ship'lay over at an angle of at
least forty-five degrees, and I found myself, swinging
not perpendicularly over the ship's deck, but at least
thirty feet from it. It was no time, however, for gazing.
The yard rope was stoppered out on the quarter of the
yard, the sheets, clewlines, and buntlines, cast off, and
the lift slackened, and then simultaneously from both'
mast-heads the cry was heard, " Sway away ! " The
parrel cut, the yard Avas quickly topped and unrigged, and
then -lowered away on. deck. The next duty to per
form was sending down the top-gallantmasts. After
much difficulty and hard work, this was also accom
plished; 'and although I felt-some pride in the perform
ance of a dangerous service, yet, on this occasion, I Avas
not a little pleased when I reached the deck in safety.
By this time, Ave had gained four miles off shore, and
it was evident that the soundings indicated our ap
proach to the bank. Tackles were rove and stretched
along forAyard of the windlass, as Avell as deck-stoppers
hooked on to the ringbolts fore and aft. " Loose the
fore-topsail ! " shouted Capt. G. ; " Ave must reach this
bank before the tide turns, or by morning there will not
be left a timber-head of this ship, nor one of us, to tell
the sad tale of our disaster." The topsail was loosed
and set, and the ship groaned heavily under the im
mense pressure of canvass ; her lee rail was under
water, and everymoment it Avas expected that the top
mast or the canvass would yieJi. The deep-sea-lead
was taken forward and hove : when the line reached
~ the after-part of the main channels, the seaman's voice
rose high in the air, "By the deep, nine ! " It was three

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. «0l
o'clock. " CleAV up and furl the fore-to isail ! " shouted
Capt. G. The topsail furled of itself, lor the moment
the Aveather sheet Avas started, it bleAV away from the
bolt-rope ; the foresail Avas immediately hauled up and
furled. Relieved from the great pressure of canvass, and
having uoav nothing on her except tlie main-topsail and
fore-topmast-staysail, she rode more upright., The main-
topsail was clewed up and fortunately saved, the mizzen-
¦ staysail was set. " Stand by to cut aAvay the stoppers-
of the best boAver-anchor — to let it go stock and fluke,"
said Capt. G. " Man the fore-topmast-staysail down-
haul ; put your helm down ! haul down the staysail."
This was done, and the ship came up handsomely, head
to Avind. " See the cable, tiers all clear — what Avater
is there ? " said Capt. G. The leadsman sung out in a
clear voice, "And a half eight ! " By this time, the ship
had lost her Avay. " Are you all clear fonvard there ? "
"Ay, ay! sir," Avas the reply. " Stream the buoy, and
let go the anchor ! " shouted Capt. G. The order was
executefl as rapidly as1 it Avas given ; the anchor Avas on
the bottom, and already had fifty fathoms of cable run
out, making the windlass smoke ; and, although the
cable was weather-bitted, and every effort was made
Avith the deck-stoppers and tackles to check her, all was
fruitless. Ninety fathoms of cable had run out. " Stand
by to let go the larboard anchor," said Captain G. ;
" Cheerily, men, let go ! " In the same breath he shouted
" Hold on ! " for just then there was a lull, and having
run out the best bower -cable, nearly to the better end,
she brought up. No time was now lost in getting ser
vice on the cable, to prevent its chafing. She was now
riding to a single anchor of tAvo thousand weight, with
one hundred fathoms of a seventeen-inch hemp cable.
T«he sea rolled heavily, and broke in upon the deck fore
and aft ; the lower yards Avere got doAvv. ; the topsail-
yards pointed to the Avind ; and as the tide had now ,
turned, the ship rode Avithout any strain on her «cable,
because it tended broad on the beam.
The next morning presented" a dismal scene, for there

252

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

Avere more than fifty sail in shore of us, some of whom.
Succeeded in reaching the bank, and anchored Avith loss
dt sails, topmasts, &c. Many others Avere dashed upon
the rocks, and not a soul was left to tell the tale of'theii
destruction. I shall not forget that, on the second day,-
a Dutch galliot Avas driven in to leeward of us ; and
although, by carrying on a tremendous jpress of can
vass, she succeeded in keeping off shore until 5 P. M.,
yet at sunset she disappeared, and Avas seen no more.
After our arrival in London, we learned that this unfor
tunate vessel was driven on the rocks, and every soul
on board perished.
The gale continued four days, at the expiration of,
Avhich time it broke. At midnight, the Avind hauled
round to the eastward, and the weather became so
excessively cold, that, although Ave commenced heaving
in the cable at 5 A. M., yet Ave did not get the anchoi
until 9 that night. Close-reefed topsails Avere set on
the ship, and Ave stood over to the English coast,' and
anchored to the AvestAvard of Dungeness. During tho
whole period of this gale, which lasted four days, Capt.
G. never for one moment left the deck ; and although
well advanced in years, yet his iron constitution enabled
him to overcome the calls of nature for rest ; and, not
withstanding the situation of the ship was perhaps
more critical than rriany of those less fortunate vessels
which stranded upon the rocks, yet his coolness, and the
seaman-like manner with Avhich the ship was handled,
no doubt were the means of our being saved.
January 22. — The next morning, we took a pilot on
board; but the wind- continuing to bloAv fresh from the
eastAyard, and Dungeness making a good lee, with the
wind at that point, we did not get under way until
January 27th, and then experienced fresh gales and
head winds, which prevented our reaching. Gravesend
until the 31st; where Ave exchanged- the' Dover pilot
for orfe belonging to the river, who understood his
business, and Avho took the ship up the river into' the
London dock in handsome style, on the 3d day of Feb-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 253
ruary. Thus it will be perceived that we were four arid
a half days longer from Falmouth to London, a distance
not exceeding javo hundred miles, than from Baltimore
to Falmouth, a distance of three thousand miles.
The cargo Avas discharged Avith all possible despatch,
and, as the, ship leaked badly,'she Avas taken into dry
dock, and, on her bottom being overhauled, some leaks
Avere discovered and stopped; after which' she Avas
hauled into the London dock, and entered,»for loading.
In this dock we remained for more than tAvo mouths, a
space of time Avhich passed more heavily and tediously
than any I had ever' experienced, by reason of the strict
regulations ; viz., the dock-gates were locked at 4 o'clock ;
all fires Avere then extinguished, and no fire was per- ,
mitted until daylight the next morning. Of course, at
this season of the year the days were short, it being
dark at 5 o'clock, so that there were about fourteen hours
in every twenty-four Avithout fire, in those long, dreary,
cold nights ; and there Avas no possible Avay of evading
the vigilance of those who kept Avatch. 1 embraced the
opportunity frequently to visit my. kind hostess, who
entertained me so hospitably Avhen I came to this place
from Dartmoor prison. Many cheerful hours Avere spent
in the society of this hospitable family. They frequently
pressed me to make their- house my home during my
stay in London, which offer Avas cordially accepted as
far as -was practicable apart from the duties of the ship.

CHAPTER XXIII
PASSAGE FROM LONDON TO BALTIMORE  VOYAGE TQ OPORTO
AND ST. UBES  DISASTER ON OPORTO BAR, &C
April 10. — We had now completed taking in our
cargo ; and every thing being ready for sea, we hauled
out of dock on the morning of the 11th, and stood doWn
the river Avith a fair wind. The river pilot was ex
changed at Gravesend for a Dover pilot, after which Ave
had light, baffling winds, and did not reach the South
Foreland until the 14th, Avhen the pilot Avas discharged,
sail was made, and we stood down the Channel with a
light, easterly wind. Not long after getting into sea-
Avay, the ship leaked as badly as ever, so that, after
passing the-Scilly Isles, fears Avere entertained that Ave
should have to put back, as it required one pump to be
kept going continually, apdin heavy Aveather both Avere
necessary to keep her free. Fortunately, however, we
had"but few gales ; and as we took the wind to the
northward, after leaving the Channel, we fell into the
middle latitude, from which it was almost impossible to
get either to the northward or southward. In this lati
tude, we had a long course of light, southerly Avinds,
veering frequently to the westAvard ; and during the whole
course of our long passage, which Avas ninety days, we
had but one gale, and the remainder was, a constant
succession of light, westerly winds, with but feAV excep
tions. We arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, July 7th, after a
most tedious and, unpleasant passage of eighty-seven
days, short of provisions and water, with a leaky ship,
and discontent and discord prevailing among the crew.
This state of insubordination rendered the situation of

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 255
the offioers exceedingly unpleasant, as the duties of the
ship must be- enforced at all hazards ; consequently,
frequent conflicts with the sailors were not unusual,
and when chastisement had not the desired effect;' Ave
found the surest method to bring them to their senses
was, to stop the provisions ; this generally succeeded.
¦ It Avas a matter of great satisfaction to me when we
arrived in Baltimore, on the 10th, after a passage of
ninety days from London.
I took up my residence in the family of Mrs. J., Avhere
I received every mark of kindness and attention, and
for whom I formed a strong attachment, and had reason
to believe it was reciprocated by them. This family
consisted of Mrs. J., four daughters, and two sons. The
tAvo elder daughters were probably, at this fime4 about
fifteen and seventeen years of age, and were what are
generally called handsome brunettes — pleasing in their
manners, and possessing all that good-humor and, vivacity
jwhich distinguish, them from the frigid austerity pecu
liar to the northern ladies. Through their influence and
introduction I soon formed an extensive acquaintance,
by Avhich my time not only passed off agreeably, but
flew, as it Avere, on golden wings ; and associations were
now formed that fixed the destinies of my after life.
Mrs. J. was a AvidoAv of about forty-five years of age : the
morning of her life had been peculiarly marked with
the sunshine of prosperity ; but the evening of her days,
and widoAvhood, Avere shrouded in the gloom of adver
sity ; ^reverses had taken place, and,, by one or two
mysterious acts of Providence, she was not only deprived
of nearly all her substance, but also of the partner of
her joys and sorroAVs. She bore these adverse provi
dences Avith becoming. Christian foititude ; for she feared
God, and, notwithstanding all these blighting discourage
ments, she did not give way to despondency or despair ;
but, feeling a just sense of obligation to her children,
she toiled day. and night' for their welfare. Providence,
accompanying .those efforts Avith its blessing, enabled her
to rear her children in great respectability. When L first

256

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

became acquainted in this family, and learned 'the cir
cumstances which have been related, it was not strange,
especially as my temperament was of a sanguine cast,
thaFI should take a deep interest in their Avelfare ; and,
Avhether I was Avorthy or unworthy of their faith, yet-.
great confidence was reposed in me by them ; and I
began to suspect that the strong attachment I had for
them might possibly eventuate in something nearer
than mere friendship. I Avas the more confirmed in this
by having, as it Avere insensibly, bestowed some marked
civilities and attentions on the eldest daughter, Avho
at that time had more than one admirer. Thus, then,
stood the situation of affairs, when application was made
to me to go as mate of the ship W. P., Captain S., bound
for Oporto, St..Ubes, and back to the United States. As
I had been on shore nearly two months and a half, and
the Avages and employ Avere good, I accepted the offer,
and immediately went on board, and took in a cargo,
which consisted of corn in bulk. In about a fortnight
the ship was ready for sea.
The day appointed- for sailing had arrived, and all
hands Avere ou board ; and after I had bidden adieu to
the interesting family with whom I lived, and for whom
I had the strongest attachment, next to my OAvn mother
and sisters, the ship Avas cast off from the Avharf, and in
a few minutes we were under a press of canvass, stand
ing down the river with a light Avesteriy wind. My
feelings at this time Avere peculiar, and such as I had
never experienced before Avhen leaving my native*land.
Certainly, when I left Boston on my first voyage, such
was the difference in my condition from a clerk ?in a
counting-house to a common Jack before the fnast, that
I could not help feeling some regret at.- the change —
especially as the tall spires of the city .receded in the
distance ; but then the change was of my OAvn seeking ;
consequently, ambition came to my relief, and soon
Jhose feelings gave place to the exciting scenes induced
by the novelty of the ship's duty. The case, hoAvever,
now, was entirely different. I had been eight years

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 257
following a sea life, and my relatives Avere far distant.
What bond was it that "had insensibly gathered around
my feelings, and caused so much regret, and, as I then
thought, unwillingness to depart ? Surely, thought I, a
new era must have sprung up in my existence ; and
although, at first, I was uiiAvilling to believe that any
serious attachment had been formed for any member of
the family of Mrs. J., yet conviction flashed over my
mind Avith all the" force of truth, and, revolving over
how these neAv feelings would terminate, I Avas aroused
from" my reverie by an order from the pilot to set the
topmast and top-gallant-studding-sails.
The ship Avas deeply laden, and moved heavily through
the Avater; but we had a fair Avind, and reached Cape
Henrylin tAvo days, where Ave discharged the pilot, and,
on the 28th September, 1816, took our departure from
Cape Henry, at 4 P. M., bearing north-west, distant four
leagues. As usual when leaving the land, the Avatches
were chosen, and as the manner of it has already been
detailed, I shall enter into no' further particulars. After
the Avatches had been chosen, Captain S. made the
folloAving speech to the crew : — "In the first place," said
he, " you will disinctly understand, that, no swearing
or fighting is allowed on board of this ship : be obedient
to the officers, and discharge your duty, and you will be
used well. You shall have the forenoon Avatch below,
and watch and watch in bad Aveather. Saturdays will
be allowed you to cleanse the forecastle, Avash and
mend your clothes, &c, as I shall "permit nothing of-
that kind to be done on the Sabbath day." I was
much pleased Avith this harangue, as it spoke favor
ably for the future treatment of the crew. In this I
was not disappointed. Captain S. was a native of
Nantucket, and had, in his younger days, followed the
Avhale fishery. He was kind and benevolent, moral in
his deportment, and a first-rate seaman and navigator.
Ha» Avas companionable and gentlemanly, and yet kept
up as good discipline as could be exerted on board of
a merchant ship. The second mate was 'a young man
24

Jjilt UJN IliK UUtAl'l.

of twenty, limited in his experience, though active and
foremost in the discharge of the duties devolving to/ his
station. The creAV, twelve in number, (including the
cook and steward,) were generally stout, able seamen ;
and, although somewhat refractorv, OAving probably to
the continual state of inebriation indulged in while on
shore, yet the firmness and decision of Captain S. soon
brought them to their senses, and- finer seamen, or better
disposed men, never were'on board of a ship.
My observations on the judicious conduct of Captain
S. induced me to believe that, by a proper course of
treatment to sailors, many of the eyils and hardships
experienced by seamen may, in a great degree at least,
be alleviated ; and although there are instances where
the best treatment, is observed towards a crew by the
Officers, nevertheless the basest ingratitude is sometimes
exhibited by sailors in return, — however, as a general
rule, I believe that good officers and kind treatment Avill
make a good creAV.
Nothing material transpiredduring this passage, except
that, Avhen Ave reached the length of the Banks of New
foundland, codfish were caught in great numbers — so
much so that, by corning them, they lasted us the
remainder of the passage.- In thirty-five days we ar
rived off the harbor of Oporto. Saw a number of
fishing boats, one of which came alongside, and from
Avhich Ave took a pilot to run us as far as the mouth of
the harbor ; here it became necessary to anchor, to Avait
till the tide served.
The harbor of Oporto is perhaps as difficult of access
as any in the south of Europe. A bar lies off its mouth.
The bottom is rocky, and has but tAvelve feet water at
low tide. The navigation of the river is exceedingly
difficult, having many shoals, with a rapid tide. We
lay off the bar thirty-six hours, and exchanged our sea
pilot- for tAvo river pilots; they brought with "them two
boats having a haWser and kedge in each ; the ends.of
the hawsers Avere passed in at each'boAv, and the boats
were stationed in the same direction. It was necessarv

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.' 259
to take this precaution, on account of the rapidity of the
tide .as Avell as the narrowness of the channel.
November 4. — The tide iioav serving, and the Avind
being fair, got under way, passed the bar in safety, and
entered the river. Here Ave found the utility of the
boats ; the channel being so narrow, and the tide setting
in every direction, made it necessary frequently to let go
the kedges, in order to cant the ship. The boatmen Avere
more active in working a kedge than any that I had
ever seen ; indeed, it is highly necessary that they
should be so, for on their alertness the safety of the
ship and cargo oftentimes depends. / We arrived off the
toAvn in safety, and dropped the ship into the pier, head
on ; made her fast, and ran an anchor.out astern, to pre
vent her from swinging. All necessary preparations
Avere made for discharging, such as rigging out a stage
from the bows to the pier, &c. It may be Avell to
remark, that every vessel coming to thjs port Avith corn
is obliged to retail the cargo. This regulation is a good
one, because it affords an equal chance to persons of
.limited means to cope with those whose means .are
abundant. When the hatches Avere opened, the in
habitants flocked on board in great numbers, especially
the women, Avho, as I understood, Avere the only persons
that carried on the baking business ; and it was a mat
ter of the most perfect-astonishment to see those Avbmen
carry from three to four bushels of corn on their heads
a distance of half a mile, and, for the most part, up a steep
hill. These Avomen are rather of Ioav stature, Avith a
broad chest, and in all respects very stoutly made.
They are a most hardy race, being a mixture of the
Moor and Portuguese. They appear to have iron
constitutions ; and, although laboring incessantly in all
kinds of weather, they never shrink from the most
severe toil.
Oporto lies in the parallel of 41° 11' north latitude,
. and 8° 38' west longitude. It cam ot be seen from sea
ward ; but when in the harbor, its lofty buildings and
tall spires present a fine, commanding appearance — es
pecially as you have, at oue view a sight of riekrly the

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

whole city, it being built on the side of a_hill ; hut, like
all otlier Portuguese cities, the streets are narrow and
dirty, and the interior of many of the houses compels
one to belieA*e that misery dAvells there. This opinion
is much strengthened from the fact, that the streets
SAvarm with beggars of- every description, from the
priest, in his canonical robes, doAvnto the squalid, misera
ble wretch, whose loathsomeness and importunity often
times oblige one to turn away with the greatest disgust.
There, too, may be seen, at almost every bend and corner
of the streets, a mendicant friar Avith a small picture of
the Virgin. Mary, or of the Savior upon the cross ; this
is presented to every one that passes by, and the
greatest importunity is made by the priest for alms in
the name of the Virgin, or of the Savior, as the case
may be. If the person addressed be a Portuguese, he
is obliged to give something, or kiss the image ; and
should a foreigner be importuned, which is not often
the case, they generally give a few pence, to get clear of
these miserable men. But, of all. the impositions which
are carried on, none appear to me to savor so much of
injustice and oppression as the exaction of tithes. On
board of our ship there Avere four priests stationed, who
obliged every person purchasing corn to deliver unto
them a tenth part. I have seen these priests, in many
instances, wrest from the poor people — who perhaps were
not able to purchase more than one bushel — their quota
of com, notwithstanding the poor wretches would plead
for exemption in the most pitiable manner ; nevertheless,
these miscreants Avere inexorable. This, was also the
case Avith the poor fishermen, who, after great toil and
exposure, had succeeded in obtaining a quantity of fish ;
yet they were not privileged to dispose of any until the
priests had selected their part, which in every instance
were the best fish. Away, then, thought I, with a
religion which countenances so much intolerance or
oppression ! The spirit of Christianity does not inculcate,
neither do its heavenly precepts teach, the doctrine, to
grind the face 6f the poor. And how little, thought I,"

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 261
do 6 iv countrymen appreciate the blessings of civil and
religious ^iberty, and the superior advantages avI ich
they enjoy over the greater part of the nations of
Europe, especially those who are under the dominion
of Catholicism.
In tAventy-six days the cargo was all sold, the specie
on board, the ship ballasted, and ready for sea, being
noAV bound to St. Ubes for a cargo of salt. We had the
same pilots and boats who brought us into port. Drop
ped doAvn to the mouth of the river in company Avjth an
American bark, bound also to St. Ubes. The weather
being boisterous, and the tide not serving, Ave lay two
days at anchor; at the expiration of which, got under
way to cross the bar. This Avas in opposition to the
judgment of Capt. S., because at the time there were
"neap tides," the weatheY was squally, and the wind
scant, and probably there would be barely sufficient
water to carry the ship over the bar. Now, as Ave had
specie to the amount of.fourteen thousand dollars, and
the pilots were not much better than Moors, Capt. S.
was fearful that they had ^ken this opportunity to cross
the Oar with a view that the ship might strike, and in
that case, they would most certainly get a heavy haul at
the specie. On reaching the bar, the wind headed off,
and the ship beat violently upon the rocks, breaking all
the pintles of the rudder except' the upper one. By
dint of great exertion and management of the sails, We
got her over the bar, and"ca*ne to an anchor. The rud
der still continuing to hang on, we secured its head as
far as practicable, and concluded to make the best of
our way to St. Ubes, in preference to going back to
Oporto, especially as the captain of the bark agreed
to keep company in case of accident.
When three days out, we experienced a heavy gale ; -
but, to our great satisfaction, the rudder continued in its
place. After the gale had moderated, hoAvever; and the
wind had -fallen to nearly a calm, (there being consider
able swell at the time,) the pintles all gave way, and
down went the rudder. We had taken the previous
24*

'i'o'i LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
precaution to reeve a stout rope through the rudder-
head ; and as the casing was. wide, the rop» ran out
freely, and by this means we saved it. A signal noAV
was hove out to the bark, which was still in sight;
she came up and took us hi tow ^_ after which, the rudder,
although of immense weight, was hoisted on deck.- On
examination, it was found that the composition pintles,
four in number, were broken off; the only one remain
ing was of iron, which hung between the water's edge
and' the head of the rudder. As itmiay be of importance
to some of my readers, I will describe the manner in
which Ave proceeded, in order that the rudder might be
re-hung to steer the ship to her destined port.
In the first place, the iron pintle was taken off, and
the bearding of the 'rudder above the lower pintle Avas
cut away, so as to fit the iron pintle in its .place; then
two square holes were cut in the forward part of the
rudder, through which was rove a large rope, with a
topsail-sheet knot in each end ; at the head of the rud
der, a large ringbolt Avas driven. These preparations
being made, it Avas hoisted out, as well as the boat ;rthe
ends of, the tvvo large ropes"Vere then taken in at each
gangAvay, and led to the Avindlass, and, to our great
satisfaction, although there Avas a considerable swell,
the first attempt that was made, (after Ave had hoisted
the rudder up the casing by sheers,) Ave succeeded in
hanging it ; after which, the ropes at the windlass were
hove taut, so as to secure the heel to the stern post.
Straps Avere fitted to go over the rudder-head, and
secured to the 'deck, in order to keep it in its place ;
the tiller was then shipped, and Ave found that she
answered' her helm the same as ever. The hawser
was now cast off from the hark, all sail Avas made,
with a fair Avind, and in two days we arrived safely at
the port of St. Ubes.

263

CHAPTER XXIV.

RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES  VOYAGE TO THE WEST INDIES
<  SUPERNATURAL APPEARANCES ON BOARD.
" By the details in the preceding chapter, it will be
seen, that it would have been impossible to.have ship
ped the rudder in r sea-Avay if it had been one of
the patent kind ; but as this was an old-fashioned one,
and the casing being large, little difficulty was expe
rienced in the whole operation. Another great object
Avas attained : if the ship had been toAved into port, of
course they Avould have claimed a salvage of at least ten
or twelve thousand dollars ; as it Avas, however, a small
compensation of three hundred dollars Avas alone award
ed to the, bark, — so that, in view of all this, the old-
fashioned method of completing the rudder and casing
is preferable. The rudder was again unhung and
hoisted in ; the carpenter fitted moulds ; and Captain S.
proceeded to Lisbon, and got a set of pintles and braces
cast, which were fitted on to the rudder, and it was
again put in its place.
We now commenced taking in a cargo of salt, and it
was a matter of astonishment to see with what dexterity
and accuracy the Portuguese Isalt-heavers hove it on the
deck. Our rail was at least ten feet from the Avater's
edge ; notwithstanding, they appeared to work with as
much ease as if they were heaving it on a level. Six of
those men will do more/work in a day, at heaving salt,
, than twenty, sailors ; this fact Avas established by a bet
during the time we lay there. In a few days we com
pleted taking in our cargo, and on the 7th of December
got under way, made alL sail, and stood to sea, home
ward bound.

264 LIFE ON THE OCEAN,
The port of St. Ubes lies in tne latitude of 38° 32' north,
and longitude 8° 50' westT It has a fine harbor, where
^vessels may lie Avith the most perfect security, it being
"nearly land-locked, and the entrance is very narrow.
St. Ubes is an excellent port for shipping, as' refresh
ments -of all kinds maybe had in abundance, and at
very low rates ; as a proof of this, our ship, with a com
plement of fourteen men, was supplied with fresh fish
for twelve and a half cents per day ; and fruit, especially
• grapes, may be obtained in great quantities The grapes
here are the largest, and most delicious that I have seen
in any part of the Avorld^
The town of St. Ubes is small, and at this period con
tained about eight thousand inhabitants. The trade is
inconsiderable, as it has no other export but salt. ' Busi
ness can never augment, in any great degree, in this
place, because it must remain entirely eclipsed by Lis
bon, which is only about sixty miles distant from it.
* We continued our course southwardly, and" on the
14th of December saw the fine island of Madeira, bear
ing south-south-east ten leagues ; from this period," we
had a fresh breeze until Ave reached the parallel of 27°
north. This being Avithin the limit of the trade winds,
and as they were no aa^ fresh and fair, we steered away to
•the westward. In a few days, however, the trade Avinds
became very light, and continued so until we had run
our westing up. After hauling the ship to the north
ward, the weather became boisterous, and on reaching^
the coast of America, Ave had long and severe north-west
gales. These head winds^ together with the light trade
winds, lengthened our passage, and it was 61 days be
fore we arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, which was on
the 7th day of February, 1817; and it was not until, the
16th that we arrived in Baltimore, making a passage of"
70 days. There is no class of persons, perhaps, who
have greater enjoyment than seamen, when they arrive
in port after a long and boisterous passage, especially if
it be in the winter. Indeed, it' is only by the depriva
tion of the social comforts of home, with its additional

-LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 265
blessings, that they can be properly realised" and enjoyed.
Who, then, is so well calculated as the seaman to ap-.
preciate those attractions, deprived as he is, for the most
part, of that which makes life agreeable ? confined to
the narroAv limits of a ship's deck, and obliged to breathe
the air of a forecastle ; at the same time his living is
generally of -the coarsest kind, and his associations
bounded by the few who belong to the ship ; — I say,
with -all these discomforts, it is not to be wondered at
that a sailor is the happiest man on earth when he comes
on shore. It is very certain that many sailors circum
scribe their enjoyments to acts "of the most disgraceful
character ; there are, however, strong and cogent reasons
for this conduct. In the first place, they are generally
considered an isolated class of beings ; society Avill not
receive or take them by the hand ; and, therefore, they
become dupes to designing men, Avhose interest it is, if
possible, to keep their senses blunted,- in order to filch
from them their hard earnings ; and by their constant
application to the intoxicating bow], Avith other scenes
of debauchery attendant upon this indulgence, they are,
thereby, placed among the lowest and most wretched
ranks of society. I have known a sailor to be caught in
the trap of 'one of those designing knaves vvhen he first
came on shore, Avith a good chest of clothes, and' a hun
dred dollars in his pocket ; to be kept nearly sense
less with rum for three Aveeks, at the expiration of
Avhich his money, as well as his clothes, were all gone,
and the poor, unfortunate felloAv was obliged to ship ;
and, to make up the catalogue of his miseries, the
mouth's advance was taken by his landlord, and then he
was dragged like a dog or an ox on board, in a s_tate of
insensibility ; and it often happens that they are five or
six clays at sea before they come to a state of perfect
consciousness, when, for the first time, they learn the
name of the ship and captain, and whither she is bound.^
Once more I Avas surrounded by the family "with
whom I had resided previously to my embarkation on
the voyage thus detailed. With what emotions of

266

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

pleasure does the youthful heart vibrate, especially that
.of a sailor, when love and friendship are- reciprocal.'
Toils and privations are forgotten ; and when dwelling on
the rapturous present, he looks forward with uncloirded
vision for, happiness to be enjoyed, in the future. .The
light and buoyant spirit, ever animated by the fair side
of hope, contemplates this round world as one vast thea
tre of bliss, on which there are countless resources of
felicity within its grasp : the car of prosperity, too, rolls
along unimpeded, nor* once dreams of change. Hap
pily, the morning or spring-time of life dwells with
fervent ardor upon the brighter and gayer scenes, Avhich
Nature hath bountifully prepared for its enjoyment ; fo.
soon, alas! does the blighting mildeAv of winter roll
along, with its concomitant attendants, — pain, afflic
tion, and Avoe, — irresistibly reminding us that "all is
vanity here below."
Three weeks had uoav passed away almost unob
served since I came on shore, and each successive day
I found a stronger interest gathering around me for this
family; and those feelings Avhich I had' striven to drive
from my mind on the last voyage, in reference to one
particular branch of it, I not only poav <"ound had taken
deeper root, but also conceived it'nec-dssury to make an
open confession of my attachment. To my great de
light, I learned that the ^attachment was mutual : satis
fied with this explanation, and having bound myself by
an obligation Avhich could be severed only by death, I
felt it necessary to use every exertion to reach the head
of my profession.
I Avas poor, as it may well be supposed, having lost
every thing during the Avar; and as tAvo years only had
transpired since that period, of course it may well be
conceived that I had not accumulated any great amount
.. of wealth ; besides, I had resolved never to unite myself
to a lady unless I could, at least, render her pecuniary
situation quite as advantageous as it Avas Avith her rela
tives."* With these vieAvs, then, it did not seem likely
that a union could take place in less than two years.

LIFE ON THE PCEAN. 267
About this" time application was made to me, by the
same oAvners, to go out as mate of the brig O  ,
Capt. O, bound to the West Indies, Avith an assurance
that, on our return, I should have a berth on board of an
East Indiaman. Noav^ as the voyage Avas short, and as
I did not Avish to lose time, for the reasons before men
tioned, I readily embraced the offer.
In a feAV days the brig Avas ready for sea; and as,my
private matters were arranged satisfactorily, I bade all
ray friends adieu, and embarked, on the 11th of March,
1817. The creAV being ajl on board, and the Avind fair,
though light, Ave cast off from the wharf, made sail, and
stood down the river. We had not proceeded far, when
the wind came ahead, -and we were obliged to beat.
Our craft was a clipper of the first stamp, very sharp,
and heavily rigged ; consequently, her best sailing was
upon a wind. Capt. C. Avas what sailors sometimes
call "an odd kind of a Christian." The predom
inant trait in his character was indolence ; consequent
ly, he Avas not much of a disciplinarian ; and yet,
Avhen roused, (and this could only be done by some
flagrant act of disobedience,) he Avas a perfect lion.
Usually, however, he Avas good-tempered, mild, and
easy, — constantly depending on his officers' to .carry on
the details of the vessel. The creAV consisted of ten
men and a boy, all told. We continued to beat down,
Avith a wind fresh from the southAvard, and came to
an anchor at 8 P. M., in the outer roads of Annapolis.
Voyages to the West Indies, ordinarily, do not elicit
much interest ; and I did not intend to fatigue the reader
with a detailed account of this one, but for the reason
that there were circumstances connected with it which,
to many, may savor strongly of superstiticri ; neverthe
less, they did transpire, and, to me, Avere perfectly unac
countable. Take the following as one amcng the more
prominent : —
I stated that the brig was anchored in the outer roads
of Annapolis, distant one mile and a half/ from the
nearest shore ; the tAvo boats (all that belonged to the

*^68 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. i
brig) were stowed on deck; the. night was moonlight,
perfectly clear, and cloudless. I mention these circum
stances, because the truth of the folloAvipg narration
depends, irisome degree, upon them. At. 8 P. M., the
anchor watch was set, and, after the usual orders were
given by the pilot, we all turned in. About midnight, I
Avas aroused from a sound sleep by hearing a voices-
calling upon Capt. C. to come immediately on deck. Tt
proceeded from the sailor who had the Avatclv A second
call was giv«n more earnestly than the first, begging
Capt. C, for God's sake, to come on deck* as there Avas
a Avoman, dressed in black, who had inquired for him.
Believing the sailor to be half drunk — as Avas generally
the case, at that period, Avhen vessels left port — J drove
him away ; but he persisted in his importunities for
Capt. C. to make his appearance. By this time Ave all
roused up, and^ proceeded pn deck, the sailor pointing
out the place where he had seen and talked with the
wbman. After the most diligent search, however, no
sign or trace of the supernatural being was found, and,
bestOAving a severe reprimand on the seaman, we once
more turned into our berths. About 2 A. M., we Avere
again roused by another sailor, for the same purpose ;
this was a perfectly sober man, a resident of Baltimore,
Avith a family. He gave us the same account as the
former; said he could not be mistaken, for he saAV the
Avoman plainly, and heard her inquire for Capt. C. ( The
creAV, being now all huddled together on the forecas
tle, corroborated his testimony. The most scrutinizing
search Avas again made, but/ without effect. There
could be no deception practised on us by the seamen,
because the boats were on deck in their places, and the
first sailor, Avho had called on Capt. C, had no inter
course previously with the remainder of the creAV. I
was determined to know if there Avere any grounds for
the truth of this alarming sight to the seamen ; so I
walked the deck during the remainder of the night, but
saAV nothing. The next morning the wind Avas fair,
and we commenced to get under way *> but the sailors

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 269
<jame aft, in a body, and begged Capt. C. to give them
their discharge ; that they Avould give back their month's
advance, and their clothes and bedding to boot — stating
that they could not go out in the vessel, as they Avell
kneAV that she Avould never get back again. This Avas
ridiculed by Capt. C, and they became very importu
nate .in their demand. , The naturally easy temper of
the skipper became much roused; and, as Jack saw (to
use an old saying, "If you tread on a worm "he will
turn ") that he Avas not to be played Avith, they walked
sullenly fonvard, manned the Avindlass, hove up the
anchor, and, in a few minutes, the brig Avas under a
cloud of canvass, standing down the Chesapeake Bay.
We had a fine run down, discharged the pilot on the
13th of March, and stood to sea.
The second day after leaving the land, it blowing
fresh, and being in the Gulf Stream, the brig became
very laborsome, straining so much thatrAve Avere obliged
to keep one pump constantly going : before night the
top-gallantmasts, yards, rigging, &c.,Avere all sent doAvn
on deck and secured. It bleAV a strong gale, and every
sail was furled except the main and fore-topmast-stay
sails. At 6 P. M., the rain fell in torrents, and heavy,
black clouds rolled up from the north-Avest, Avith fre
quent claps of thunder and sharp flashes of lightning.
Between the hours of 6 and 8, in the last dog-watch_
the supernatural being again appeared to the tAvo men
Avho first saAV her Avhile at anchor, they now having the
Avatch on deck, and the look-out forward. I had charge
of the Avatch myselfat this time, but as the night Avas
¦intensely dark, nothing could be seen, except at intervals,
by the flashes of lightning ; so that it was not sur
prising, as I Avas standing aft, that I did not see thjs
unearthly figure. It was, • however, a source of the
greatest alarm, and I could perceive, notwithstanding
Captain C. affected great unconcern, he < nevertheless
could not sleep, any more than the creAV. The gale
increased, and the sea rose to a tremendous height :
We expected every moment, from the appearance of the
25

5S/U LIFE- ON THE" OCEAN.
weather, a shift of the wind. At rriidnight, precisely,
the solemn visitor was again seen on the forecastle, but,
as before, neither Captain C. nor myself were permitted
to behold it. In about twenty minutes after- this appear
ance, the Avind shifted suddenly to the north- Avest, and
it blew a perfect tornado^ The brig Was thrown nearly
on her beam-ends. Being pressed by the two staysails,
the axes Avere got in readiness to" cut away the" mast;
but before this was executed, the staysail sheets gave
way, and the violence of the Avind blew the sails aAvay
from the bolt-ropes. The brig, being now relieved from
the pressure of canvass, righted so far ai to feel the action
of the helm, which she quickly answered, and, after a
few rolling seas had washed oyer the quarter, she round
ed off before the wind, and in a few minutes she v/as
scudding at the rate of eleven knots. In this disaster
we lost all of our spars, boats, and caboose-house; fortu
nately, the caboose, being well secured to the deck, was
saved, and no lives were lost. The violence of the gale
was such, that, in about tAvo hours, the heavy south-east
swell went down, and the brig scudded Avith great se
curity. The heavy, dense, black masses of clouds Avere
driven off by the violence of the gale, and settled away
to the south-east, and, at 4 A. M., the sky was perfectly
clear; the moon shone brightly, and the sea became
following and regular, presenting a very different scene
from that which Avas exhibited at midnight.
Once more the crew became comparatively cheerful,
and Avhen the morning light broke forth, the gale had
moderated. Double-reef topsails Avere set, and Ave steered
aAvay to the southward.
Nothing material transpired during the remainder of
the passage. The weather Avas unusually fine, and yet,
by no threat, or importunity, could any sailor be induced
to go aloft alone in the night ; in fact, it was the univer
sal opinion of the crew that the brig Avas haunted, and,
of course, it was a theme of controversy during the
passage. I recollect one night, Avhile crossing the trade
winds, having the middle watch on deck, that I over-

i.ife on The ocean. 271
heard the following dialogue by. tAvo seamen on the
main deck. " Bill," said an old salt to another, that
happened to be the same Avho first saw our lady visitor,
" did you look at the old man's phyzog that morning
when Ave Avent aft to get our discharge ? " " Yes," said-
Bill, "and it looked, for all the world, as if he had been
frightened out of his seventeen senses. I'd like," con
tinued he, " to be out of this craft ; and I'll tell you Avhat,
by the Avay, she's a little too small to carry me back, if
ever these pins get foothold of shore." " I'll bet a
month's wages," returned the other, "that this craft, or
our long slink of a skipper, don't reach Yankee-land
again." "Avast there!" said Bill; " belay that slack
rope ; look over the side here, and you won't see a
bubble ; and yet she's going seven knots by the log,
and there's not wind •enough to fill an old Avpman's
night-cap. I say, messmate, you'll not have enough
coming to you for a single cruise, for you know Ave've
had one month's advance, and at this rate of g6ing we
shall get back — " Here he stopped short, and- then, as if
the supernatural appearance Avas before him, resumed
in a serious tone, " that is, messmate, if. ever she does
get back." The-conversation Avas then carried on in a
lower and more serious tone. " That was a sad lught,"
continued Bill, " when this craft like to have turned the
turtle with us." "I jist thought as much ih the first
dog-watch," said the other; "so, you know, as it was
my first bunk below, and thinks I to myself, if Ave've
got to go to kingdom come, it's no time for a fel-
Ioav to be catched napping." "I Avas much of the
-same way of thinking," said Bill, "and so Ave kept the
deck together, or Ave might have had a bit of a hoist out
of our bunks. But, somehoAV or other, I don't much
like that old skipper of ours, and I'm thinking, if he was
out of this craft, we. shouldn't have any more. visits from
that lady in black." " She is an unlucky craft anyhow,"
said the other ; " there was poor Ben Billings fell from
the topmast-head longside of the wharf, and never
spoke a word aftenvards — and then I heard old Swipes,

272 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. ;
our cook, say; the otlier day, that she lost hot a of her
topmasts the first voyage." '
These and similar conversations Avere continued for a
time", and in conclusion they concerted a plan to effect
their escape when Ave should arrive in the West Indies.
We had a short run out, and arrived safely at the
Island of Martinique. Here Ave purchased a large boat,
and sonie~spars, of a French ship ; but as Ave did not
find a sale for. the cargo, we proceeded Avithout delay to
the Island of Guadaloupe, where Ave arrived in about
thirty-six hours, and anchored in the bay of Point
Petre. The cargo was immediately sold and dis
charged, and Ave commenced taking in a return cargo
of sugars. It is well known that Point Pefre is one of
the most unhealthy ports in the West Indies : it is
almost entirely land-locked, and- is situated on the lee
ward part of the island ; consequently it has none of the
exhilarating influence of the Avholesome sea breezes
which bloAV perpetually in these latitudes. The yellow
fever, cholera morbus, and dysentery, prevailed, to an
alarming degree, and therefore our men Avere deterred
from putting their previous plans of desertion into execu
tion. The brig Avas now about half loaded, and as yet the
epidemic had not visited us ; but the mortality Avas great
among the shipping in the harbor, and it Avas not
unusual, to see tAvo or more corpses carried on 'shore
every morning. At length, hoAvever, the fatal disease
made its appearance among our creAV, in connection
with the dreaded reappearance of our supernatural
visitor. It Avas reported by tAvo of the crew that, on
the night previously to the fatal malady having gotten
among us, she Avas again seen on the forecastle. There
wjre six, myself" being one of the number, that were
seized with yellow fever and cholera morbus. The
lever raged Avith great violence, and three of our men
were confined ten or twelve days,* to one' of whom it
proved fatal; the rest, 'with myself, were soon relieved.

273

CHAPTER XXV.
CONCLUSION OF THE WEST INDIA VOYAGE  SAIL FOR LCW»
DON, BATAVIA, &.C.
Every exertion was noAV made by Captain C. to get
clear of this port, for it might Avell be called a vast
charnel-house. To Avhatever point the vision Avas di
rected, you might have seen the sad remains of some
one being c%nveyed to the silent repository of the dead,
and on board of any vessel that was visited, the ear
would be saluted Avith either the groans of the dying,
or some one raving under the scorching fever.
April 13. — This morning Avas ushered in with" clear
and perfectly calm Aveather. The brig being noAV ready
for sea, it became necessary to tow her out of the
harbor, and, Avith the assistance of three other boats
^belonging to American vessels, we succeeded in reach
ing the offing at ten A. M. I can- safely say that I
never felt as much gratification in my life, on leaving
any port, as I did on this occasion ; this feeling ap
peared to be general among all hands. Indeed, the fear
and dread of our supernatural visitor seemed to give
place to a universal sense of satisfaction in getting
clear of Point Petre, and once more inhaling the health
ful influence of the sea breeze. The crew were gen
erally weak and much debilitated, and it Avas neces
sary to proceed Avith caution until they had gained
some strength and vigor from this change, which be- '
came more and more visible every day. We had a
constant succession of fair winds; consequently, had a
fine run up to the coast; and as neither accident nor
disaster befell us, the idea of our visitor appearing agaia
seemed to be banished from the minds of the crew.
25* \

274 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
On the morning of the 26th, we were in ten fathoms
water, and judged ourseh'es in the .latitude of Cape
Henry. The Weather being thick, and exceedingly
threatening, of course we could not see the land. At 9
A. M., the Avind shifted suddenly to the north-west, and
"blew a gale, insomuch that we were obliged to heave
to on the larboard tack. At midnight, we found our
selves in the Gulf Stream ; and as the gale did riot
moderate until 5 P. M. the next day, the current had
set us so far to the eastAvard, that we did not get into
the Chesapeake Bay until the 2d of May. In this gale,
the fore-topsail, jib, and trysail, were blown from the
bolt-ropes ; the brig had become strained very much
with her heavy cargo ; and it was a matter of no small
consolation to us all when we made her fast to the
wharf on the 4th of May.
Thus ended one of the most unpleasant, and, at the
same time, the most extraordinary voyage that I ever
made. But in reference to the voyage, the most inex
plicable coincidence yet remains to be related. When
we sailed from Baltimore, the Avife of Captain C. resided
in Nantucket; on our return, he found a letter awaiting
him, conveying the sorroAvful information that his wife
was dead. Comparing the period of her demise Avith
that of the first appearance of the lady in black, while
lying in Annapolis Roads, the time exactly corre
sponded. With these relative facts, then, 1 shall leave
the reader to form his oavh opinion as to the possibility,
or probability, of supernatural appearances.
The East Indiaman, on board of which I Avas prom
ised a first officer's berth, I found, on my arrival, Avas
nearly ready for sea ; consequently, I repaired on board,
and assumed the duties of my station. She was to
'proceed to London Avith a cargc. of flour, and from
thence to Batavia, and back to Amsterdam as the port
of discharge. Having very little time to spend on
shore, I need not say that every spare moment Avas
given to the object Avhich had the -largest share in my
affections. It was at this period that our mutual vows

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 275
were plighted; but as,- in my judgment, it Avas neither
expedient nor proper, on account of my pecuniary cir
cumstances, to consummate the nuptials, our union Avas
deferred until my return.
May 14, 1817. — The ship being ready for sea, and the
creAV all on board, Ave cast off from the wharf, made all
sail with a fair wind, and stood doAvn the river. Every
thing Avith Avhich I was iioav surrounded, ou board of
this ship, indicated, to say the least of.it, as pleasant a
voyage, and as much happiness, as ordinarily falls to the
lot of a seafaring life. She'Avas about four hundred
tons' burden, considered a fast sailer, strong, tight, and"
completely fitted out for an East Iudia voyage. Captain -
R. Avas somewhat advanced in years, an educated man,
and a scientific navigator ; in a word, in him Avere com
bined all the qualities which constitute a gentleman.
The crew consisted of three mates, carpenter and sail-
maker, eight able seamen, and four boys, with a cook
and steward — amounting to tAventy in number. When
proceeding down the bay, the following conversation
took place betAveen Captain R. and myself in the cabin.
" Mr. L.," said he, "I am uoav sixty years of age, and
have been buffeting salt Avater up\vards of forty years ;
and, as yon may suppose, I am not able to undergo.
much exposure or hardship. I shall therefore implicitly
confide to your management and care the duties and
details of this ship; Avith this sole exception, that I
expect to be consulted in any and every emergency ;
and I also shall direct her courses during the voyage.
I shall uphold you in enforcing good discipline ; but as
long experience, and consequently much, intercourse
with seamen, have taught me that kind words and
good usage generally make a valuable creAV, I expect,
therefore, you will observe this kind of treatment to
wards them. My usual custom is, to give watch and
watch, and alloAV them Saturday to wash and mend
their clothes, to cleanse the forecastle, &c ; so that, as
far as practicable, the Sabbath may be observed, as it
ever ought to be, a day 'of rest." In thirty-six hours

276 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. j
we reached the Capes of virginia, discharged the pilot,
and Avent to sea Avith a fine Av^terly wind.
At 10 A. M., May 28th, at meridian, Cape Henry bore
west-north-Avest, distant four leagues ; at night, the
Avatches were chosen and set, and the regujations of the
ship Avere delivered to the -crew — the substance of
Avhich Avas the detailed conversation held with Captain
R. in the cabin. Nothing .unusual transpired, during
the first part of this passage, to interrupt the usual
monotony of a sea life. I had the satisfaction, hoAvever,
to find 'that Ave had a fine creAV of able seamen, and
that the officers Avere young men of education, with
whom I Avas on terms of the strictest intimacy. Up to
June 11th, Ave had a constant succession of strong
Avesteriy winds ; at this period, however," the weather
became exceedingly boisterous, which obliged us to
scu'd under close-reefed topsails. An occurrence took
place this day, June 12th", which shoAvs a remarkable
coinciderice ; viz. : At meridian, heavy,1 black clouds
arose in the northern board, the wind being at this
time about Avest-south-west, blowing a heavy gale, and
the shi p, Avas under close-reefed fore and main-topsails, and
reefed foresail, Avhen it suddenly shifted to north, and
ble.AV so violently that, before we could get our sails
furled, the topsails were torn from the bolt-ropes. For
tunately, however, it did not last long, or the ship must
have run under. I mention this as a coincidence, be
cause, in the same latitude and longitude; on a former
voyage, a tornado of the same character Avas experienced,
and also, as in the present instance, the fore and main-
topsails Avere blown away.
In twenty-five days from the Capes Ave arrived in
the British Channel ; and no power of lescription can
portray an adequate idea of the serenity of the weather.
As far as the eye could reach, vessels of all descriptions
were seen, some upon a wind, others before the Avind,
many stretching up and many standing doAvn the Chan
nel ; but more especially, when Ave drew up toward the
" Fore Lands," it vas a matter of astonishment to behold.

t,IFE ON THE OCEAN. 277
tho number and variety of vessels bound to London,
the greatest emporium of commerce, perhaps in the
Avorld. July 9. — We took a Dover pilof, and had a fine run
up to Gravesend; here, as usual, Ave exchanged him
for a river pilot. These men, as I have before observed,
arejirobably the best pilots in the world — perfect mas
ters of their business; they assume the entire responsi
bility, and I have never seen a ship handled in a more
seaman-like manner than by those men. .
July 11. — We eutered the London Dock, and after
the customary forms of entering, &c, commenced to dis
charge* the cargo. Nothing worthy of note or comment
'transpired, until the cargo was entirely discharged, the
ship ballasted, with every other necessary preparation
for an India passage. It was about this time that vve
received a visit from the Duke of. Wellington, the.
Marquis of Wellesley and lady, and'R. Patterson, Esq.
and lady ; Mr. Patterson being a son of the owner of the
ship. The ladies Avere both Americans, and daughters
of R. Caton, Esq., of Baltimore. I mention this circum
stance to show that there was nothing strange or un
accountable in the visit to our ship by these- persons of
distinction ; nor do I think it worth while to give a
description of them, as it would be foreign to the general
object of this work. Suffice it to say, that the utmost
good-humor and sociability prevailed among them;
and Avhen about to leave, in addition to distributing
not a few bank notes among the crew, our venerable
captain had a pressing invitation to dine with the noble
dijke. July 24. — The specie was taken on board, and we
hauled out of dock, made sail, and stood down the river
Avith a fair 'wind. 26th. — Discharged the pilot off Do
ver, and proceeded down the Channel. 28th. — The Liz
ard lights bore north-north-east, five leagues distant,' from
whence we took, a departure, being the last land seen.
29lh. — Once more Ave were upon the broad ocean,
" where sky and water meet," under a press of sail, with a

278 LIFE- ON THE OCEAN.
fair Avind, and, what is always to be desired, a fine, strong
ship, Well fitted out, with a good'crew, all in high spirits.
As "the ship is now fairly at sea, 1 shall pause, to relate
a circumstance, Avhich may be deemed trivial, but its re
sults to me have been of the most momentous character.
After the regulations and discipline of the ship were es
tablished, on our departure from the United States, for the
first time during the whole period of my sea life I saAV
a Bible, which had been put on board by some agent of
the Bible Society, for the use of the crew, withthis in
scription, viz., " The Word of God, presented by the
Bible Society, for the use of the officers and creAV of the
ship William." My feelings Avere penetrated Avith a deep
sense of gratitude for this little offering. "Ah ! " thought <
X, " is it possible that men, who have no interest at stake,
should care for the well-being, and I may say the sal
vation, of poor, neglected seamen ? " and, as if roused from
a profound reverie, "all those religious precepts and teach
ings, and especially.those Avholesome admonitions which
Were so carefully bestowed on me, by my relatives, in the
days of my youth, Avere irresistibly brought up to my
recollection in their most glowing form ; and then memo
ry portrayed, Avith the strongest coloring, the exposures,
dangers, and perils, of tlie past, peculiar to my vocation.
How often had my life been' suspended upon a nine
or twelve-thread rattling ! how often, too, when on the
high and giddy mast, the howhng wind proclaimed
the funeral dirge of a companion, whose grasp was
severed by its fury, and he swept into eternity ! and
then, again, while at the cannon's mouth, the enemy's
deadly shot had stricken down the youthful seamen,
who bid fair for long and happy life ; and then, too,
the heavy, roaring surf, with itt, dashing foam, sAvept
with unrelenting fury one from my side who was
the partner of my toil ; — and then, again, the constant
exposure upon the fickle element ; a seaman's life is
ahvays bounded, bei ween time and eternity, by a tAvo
and a half, or three-inch plank, — to say nothing of j the
hurricane and tornado, the merciless pirate, .and, the

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 279
often exposure to pestilential climes. These'andmany
other perils passed in-- review before me. yet from them'
all. thus far, I had been delivered. Overpowered by
these reflections, I resolved to lead a different life, and
although the " Word of God" was always a part of my
sea-stock, yet I had long shamefully neglected its pe
rusal. With many other officers, I had long been of the
^opinion, that severe treatment and hard labor Avere the
best means to establish good discipline on board of a
ship ; but my vieAvs in this respect, hoAvever, noAV began
to Avaver. In considering the character of seamen, I was
led to believe that they were generally men of as much
character as any other number of men which could be
selected on shore Avith the same education ; and that
their peculiarities and habits arose principally from pri?
vations and their seclusion from social intercourse with
society and domestic. life. There is also another feature
in reference to the condition of seameri — that is, the*y
are unlike any other class of -laboring men; for' while
a Avorking-man on shore receives his pay daily or
Aveekly, a seaman receives the whole amount of his
Avages in one sum, when the voyage is finished. Nat
urally generous and improvident, with a large sum of
money in his possession, he soon becomes the dupe of
unprincipled men, (of whom there are numbers ready to
take advantage of his unsuspicious nature,) and he is
speedily stripped of his hard earnings, which necessarily
cuts short his time on shore, and obliges him* to reneAV
his vocation at sea. ,
As no period of my sojourn upon the ocean was more
favorable for impressing upon the minds of seamen the
necessity to respect their own moral characters, espe
cially as I had the approbation of Captain 1., who, as I
before stated, was a man of> high moral Avorth, I re-
solved to put into operation Avhat I had contemplated in
their behalf. To do this, great caution and firmness
were necessary, to maiiitain the discipline of the ship.
In the first place, then, I pointed out to them the

280 LIFE ON THE OCEAN
enormity of using profane language. This was tne
first prohibition ; and, by the officers' rigidly observing
Nthe interdiction, it was not long before this miserable
practice Avas almost entirely banished from the ship.
My next object was to dissuade them from the per
nicious indulgence of drinking grog. " It is OAving to
this," said I, " that you are looked upon as the most de
graded class of beings in society, and Avhen . on shore
you are excluded from all the pleasures of, society and
the endearments of domestic life ; jt is drinking grog
that places you on a level with the loAvest and basest
of our species ; it is drinking grog Avhich filches your
hard earnings from your pockets; and Avhile your senses
are benumbed with this worst of poisons, you become
the prey of sharpers, and those avIio smile at you, but
at the same time are, Avithout remorse, inflicting .upon
you the greatest injury; thus you are dispossessed of
your means, and necessarily obliged, with but b'ttle
intermission, to be constantly upon the ocean ; so that,
by persisting in the evil practices of drinking and
carousing, in connection with your exposures and
hardships at sea, you soon become diseased. Look
around you, and Avhere will you find a sailor advanced
in years? To be" sure, Captain R. is an aged man;
but then it has been fair weather Avith him for many
years ; there are nearly tAventy of us belonging to this
ship, and Jack Saunders is the oldest man, (with the
exception of Captain R.,) and he has scarcely arrived
to the age of forty. Noav, I ask, Avhere are all the old
sailors ? Why, I will ansAver that question : many of them
go to Davy Jones's locker ; and many others, for the
reasons before mentioned, soon contract disease, and a
premature old age and broken-down constitution are tho
consequences, and then they are laid up in ordinary,
and becoine useless hulks.- It is not long, however, be
fore the disease which has been induced by grog and
severe exposure proves fatal, and then poor Jack, per
haps friendless and unknown, is stoAved away in Potters'
Field." I ' then endeavored to show them the worth and

life on ti t :a.is, 281
value of seamen, as being tl .« great conrjectirig link
Avhich unites nation to nation ; and without Avhom com
merce could never be carried on, and a navy, which is
the defence and bulwark of our country, could never be
maintained. These and many other arguments Avere
Used; and, although two or three became- converts to
-total abstinence, yet the others conceived the disuse of
grog to be so great a privation, that every argument
proved ineffectual to induce them to relinquish it alto
gether. At this period, it Avas the universal practice to
alloAV sailors a glass of spirits at dinner, and generally, in
cold and Avet weather, an extra. Iain clearly of the opin
ion that many of the difficulties Avhich have arisen at sea
have been OAving to this custom, for there has been more
than one instance, Avhich has come under my oavh
experience, Avhere sailors have saved up their allbAv-
ance of spirits, in order (to use their oavu expression) to
have a bloAv-o,ut. It Avas generally the case on those
occasions that their conduct became mutinous, and
veiy serious consequences followed. Among our creAV
'there was a fine specimen of a noble and true-hearted
sailor; Jack- Saunders Avas an able seaman, a first-rate
sailmaker, and a good carpenter; he was always the
first on deck in his Avatch, and no man Avas ever out to
the Aveather-earing before hi:n ; he Avas one of those
generous-hearted souls, Avho v.-Ji.id never fill his main-
topsail when he .saAV a shipmate in distress. But poor
Jack had a particular fondness for a glass of grog,
although he Avas as steady as a clock at sea, for the
plain reason that there was no grog to be had ; conse-.
queutly it could not be othenvise. I conceived a strong
desire to be instrumental in changing this man's habits,
and placing him in a.condition to Avhich he Avas entitled
by his Avorth and merit. It seemed, therefore, to be ne
cessary first to gain his confidence, and then appeal to
his moral feelings. It was not difficult to surmount the
first intention ; but, in reference to the second, hoAvever,
it required much time to uproot his preconceived notions ;
still I was certain that perseverance could even effect
this. f 26

282

CHAPTER XXVI.
ARRIVAL AT BATAVIA  RETURN VOYAGE  SICKNESS OF CREW
 I'UT IN AT CAPE OF GOOD HOPE  PROFLIGACY OF SEA
MEN ON SHORE, &C -
And now to return to the ship. Every thing seemed
to conspire to make this voyage pleasant and agreeable;
the Avind bleAv fresh and fair ; and Ave sailed along the
southern coast of Europe and the north-east coast of
Africa, passing along to the eastAvard of the Cape de
Verd Islands, and, with the exception of tAvo days of
calms and heavy rains, (of which Ave took advantage to
fill up all our water-casks,) Ave had a strong north-east
trade Avind-, and crossed the equinoctial line in 25°
west longitude, in twenty-eight days . from London.
Without any cessation, the north-east trades gradually
hauled round to the soutliAvard, and gave us a fine run
across the south Atlantic. In this passage, Ave saAV the
Island of Tristan d'Acunha. " The Aveather here became
soineAvhat boisterous and heavy, and continued thus
until Ave reached the parallel of 3S° south latitude, and
34°«east longitude ; then the Avind hauled round to the
AvestAvard, with steady, strong gales, and, as Ave had
nearly 100° of east longitude to run,Ave continued to
steer in this parallel of latitude, say 38° south. With
few exceptions, there Avas but little intermission of the
Avesteriy gales until avo had passed the parallel of the
Islands of St. Paul and Amsterdam, and had reached
10;3° east longitude, at.Avhich time Ave hauled away
to the north Avard, and, after experiencing some light,
baflliiig Avinds. and squally Aveather, Ave succee'ded in
gaining the limits of the south-east trade Avinds; of
course the position of the ship Avas such as to males

' LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 283
*
these Avinds fair, so that when they came, the best pos
sible use Avas made of them. On the 14th of October,
we made Java Head, bearing east-south-east 20 miles.
Entered the Straits of Sunda at 10 A. M., and, after a
tedious passage of four days, anchored in Batavia Roads,
having made the passage in eighty-four cays from
London. Capt. R. proceeded on shore, and gave up the entire
details- and management of the ship to me. The un-
healthiness of Batavia is well knoAvn, and it is necessary
to use great caution in order to preserve the health of
the crew. To effect this, they Avere kept as much as
possible from exposure to the sun and night air ; conse
quently, they Avere never permitted to go on shore in
the boats ; a creAV of Malays being hired for the purpose
of pulling the boat off and on. On entering this port,
Ave immediately spread aAvnings fore and aft the ship,'
and, as is. customary on India voyages, she was stripped
to her girtlines ; the rigging was all overhauled, together
Avith every mast and spar. This being done, the most
favorable opportunity Avas embraced (say when the
sun Avas obscuredf to get the ship rigged- again. By
observing the most prudent care with the creAV, they
continued in a healthy condition Avhile we remained in
port. This was OAving principally to the fact of our
having a large quantity of water remaining from our
London stock, and Avhich Avas used by the crew during
the Avhole of our stay, having taken the precaution, at
the same time, to fill up our water-casks when Ave first
arrived; so that, by the time we Avere ready for sea, it
became purified of itself, consequently Avas used* with
out the usual bad effects of Batavia Avater. .Another
precaution was also taken which added much to the
health of our men, viz., the entire disuse of ardent
spirit, and the substitution of coffee, in its place. While
the yelloAv fever and dysentery raged, producing great
mortality among the crews of shipping lying in port,
Ave did not lose a man, neither Avas there any of thu
crew off duty during our stay here.

LIFE ON '1'ML UU1AH.

December 30. — We had now finished taking in our
cargo of coffee, and the ship .being all ready for sea,
Capt. R. came on board, January 1st, 1818, at Avhich
time Ave got under Avay, made all sail, and stoooS doAvn
the Straits. This being the season Avhen the little
monsoon changes, the passage through, these Straits
was A'ery much retarded by severe squalls, attended
Avith heavy rains and frequent calms. The heat Avas
almost insufferable ; so much so that Ave were obliged
frequently to anchor, in order to keep the men from
being exposed to the intensity of the sun's ray6; and,
incredible as it may appear, nevertheless, I have known
Fahrenheit's thermometer to range from 100 to 105
degrees in the shade. Nine days elapsed before we
got clear of the Straits, and then -our troubles com
menced ; eight of the crew' were attacked Avith fever
and dysentery, and the remainder of us were much de
bilitated and Aveakened, which is always the case with
northern constitutions by long exposure-to the heaf in
tropical climates. Nor did I escape from that terrible
malady, the dysentery, Avhich reduced me nearly to the
last stage of hfe ; and, although every means proved in
effectual for ^restoration Avhich kindness and medical
treatment could suggest, I Avas at last relieved by a
very simple remedy, proposed by the generous-hearted
Jack Saunders, before mentioned. Thirty-seven days
passed away without any material alteration in the
health of the creAV, and it became necessary, for the
safety of the ship and the lives of our men, to put into
some port ; it was, therefore, decided by Capt. R. to go
into Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope.
On the 8th of February, 1818, the carpenter, Avho
had lingered until this time with dysentery, expired.
This circumstance, produced universal gloom through
out the ship, particularly as there Avere seven others
Avho lay at the point of death. Fortunately, hoAvever,
for us, the Avind Avas fair, and on the 13th we made the
Cape, and entered Table Bay on the 14th, where Ave
anchored in twelve fathoms water, one mile and a hall
from the shore.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 285
•
li r;ay be remarked that vessels can only ride Avith
safety in this bay during the summer months, Avhich
correspond to our winter, as the Avinds usually blow from
the north- Avest at this place in the Avintar season. These
winds have the whole sweep of the south Atlantic
Ocean, Avhich causes the sea to run so heavily, that an
chors and cables are of no use Avhatever. In these
months, vessels harbor in False Bay ; hoAvever, even in
the summer months; the violence of the south-east winds
is so great, notAvithstanding they bow off shore, that
vessels are obliged to ride with all their yards arid
topmasts struck, and every anchor ahead.
As soon as we got our ship snug, the sick were all
taken on shore, placed in comfortable quarters, and the
best treatment and medical advice were procured for
them. In about a Aveek they were all pronounced to be
out of danger. The Cape of Good Hope may be con
sidered as wholesome a climate as any part of the Avorld.
As Cape Toavii is situated on a considerable eminence,
and the adjacent country being mountainous, conse
quently the air is very pure, and the atmosphere salu
brious. The toAvn is remarkable for its cleanliness ; the
streets are wide, and, although the buildings are neither
large nor magnificent, yet they immediately impress the
traveller with the idea of neatness and comfort. At. the
precincts oT the tOAvn, oh the eastern part, is situated
the Company's garden, the size of which is about four
square nines, and constructed in the most tasteful and
fanciirii manner, after the Chinese style; At the extreme
c"d of these gardens is a menagerie of nearly all de-
scnj nons of Avild animals found in Asia and Africa;
the most singular of those which I saAV Avas an ourang-
outang, measuring six feet four inches in height^ when
erect. The vineyards are large- and flourishing ; the
grape is cultivated to great perfection, from whicl. ^s
extracted wine in great abundance, it being almost the
only article which is exported from the Cape. A most
singular phenomenon exists respecting these vineyards,
or those called the Constantia vineyards, (the grape
26*

286 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
of which produces a very rich and delicate Avine,) Avhich
are only tvvo in number ; it seems that no other spot
(even if the Constantia vine is transplanted) hi the
Cape colony will produce the Constantia grape, and
yield therefrom the same kind of wine. It has been as
certained that, by transplanting the vine, it will entirely
degenerate into the ordinary kind of grape. Refresh
ments of all kinds may be had here, and in great abun
dance, especially beef and mutton; the latter -may be
purchased at low rates, and forms the principal article of
live stock for shipping ; here, too, perhaps, is the finest
fresh Avater in the Avorld. All these advantages con
sidered, it must be conceded that this port is among the
best in these seas for homeward-bound East Indiamen
to refresh and renovate a relaxed and debilitated crew.
We remained here eighteen days, at the expiration
of Avhich period our men, being all convalescent, Avere
taken on hoard. ,
v On the morning of the 5th March, Aveighed anchor,
made all sail, and stood to sea Avith a fine south-east
trade wind. Having supplied the ship Avith plenty of
fresh stock and vegetables, and the Aveather being. ex
ceedingly fine, it Avas not long before the creAV were
restored to their usual health and strength. Having
mentioned, in a previous part of this • narrative, on a
former voyage, the uninterrupted steadiness of the winds
and Aveather, 1 will here merely state that, for twenty-
five successive days, the wild continued to blow steadily
at south-east, so that we earned studding-sails on both
sides during the whole of th's period, and crossed the
equinoctial line the 26th day from the Cape, in 22° west
longitude. Nothing material transpired during our run across
the north-east trade Avinds, until we arrived at the 34°
north latitude, and then Ave had the winds variable, gene
rally from the westward, until Ave reached the British
Channel ; Avhere we took a strong eastwardly gale, Avhich
continued to blow with unremitting violence for thir
teen days, when it abated, and we. took an English pilot

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. * 287
for the North Sea, and in three days arrived at the port of
Amsterdam. June 10, 1818. — We immediately commenced dis
charging cargo, Avhich was completed in about ten days,
and ascertained, to our great satisfaction, that the ship
Avould make a splendid voyage for the owners.
This being the port of discharge, according to the
articles of agreemeut, the crew were entitled to their
discharge and wages ; they all agreed, however, to go
.home in the ship, provided they could have a Aveek's
"liberty, and their •full amount 'of wages. Up to this
period they. had conducted with great propriety, and
perhaps they were under as good discipline as merchant
vessels generally are ; and, as I felt an unusual interest
for them, in view of their good conduct, especially for
Jack Saunders, I endeavored to persuade them to re
main on board, well knowing that in such a place as
the Helder, if they were in possession of their wages,
they Avould probably get rid of the whole before Ave left
the port. My persuasion proved ineffectual ; they per
sisted in their exactions, and of course there -was no
other alternative but to pay them off, and give them
their desired liberty. It fell to my lot to be paymaster.
Each one of them had from one hundred and tAventy to
one hundred and fifty dollars due him. When Jack
Saunders's turn came, 1 felt particularly anxious to retain
one hundred dollars of his money, being assured, if he
once got on a cruise, such Avas the generosity of his
nature, that he would be quickly relieved of his store of
cash. It was of no aArail, however, and off they all
started for a cruise. This was about- 1 1 o'clock. The
next day, I perceived poor Jack Saunders, about half-
seas over, rolling down the dike toward the ship. It
was with difficulty he got alongside, being so drunk ;
and, with the help of the cook and steAvard, he was
hoisted in and placed in his berth, where he slept for
nearly eighteen hours. A more ludicrous figuie I never
saw, and a more improvident sailor never existed. It
seems, immediately after he was paid off, he repaired to

28? LIFE ON THF OCEAN.
the shop of a Jew, and purchased a complete suit from
head to foot', for which he paid a most exorbitant price.
The hat Avas of the most ordinary kind, and the clothes,
as a sailor would say, Avere made of Nantucket broad
cloth, viz., three threads to an arm-full. The remaining
part of his dress Avas nearly of the same description.
To crown the whole, he purchased of this villanous
JeAv a pinchbeck watch, for which he paid twenty dol
lars, which, hi reality, was not Avorth two. To this
watch was attached a chain about a foot in length, made
of coarse black hair, at the end of which was a key, not
for the purpose of winding the watch, but actually a
door key ; and as a finish to this beautiful collection
of symmetrical proportions, connected Avith the key was
a large, rough, cornelian stone, Avhich -served as a seal.
His next step was, to hire a dance-house exclusively for
himself, ready furnished Avith some half-dozen girls, tAvo
fiddlers, and a bar-room par excellence. The remainder
of the narration I received from poor' Jack. It seems
that, after carousing the Avhole night, he Avas not only
bamboozled out of all of his money, but, in the morn- ¦
ing, he Avas very unceremoniously kicked out of doorsr
Making his Avay to the ship as Avell as he could, he fell
into a mud-puddle,*and lay there until he Avas helped
out of the difficulty by two men, who placed him on the
dike where I first saw him bending his way toAvards the
ship. His hat -was much crushed, and, as a sailor Avould
say, " Avas full of cable-tier pinches ; " his clothes Avere
mud from top to bottom ; and, not having any suspenders
on, the bight of his shirt stuck out about four inches
betAveen the trousers'and jacket. ' The immense long
watch-chain hung dangling nearly doAvn to his knees ;
altogether, poor Jack Avas completely metamorphosed.
When he turned out in the morning, I inquired of him
hoAV he felt-after his carouse. .1
" Pretty light, sir," replied he, slapping his pockets,
'for they have eased me of all my whack."
"What!" replied I, "all gone?"
"Not quite," returned he; "I've got something to

IP 1115'

I

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 289
*
show for it ; " pulling out his Ava'tch with the ^copious
trappings attached thereto, and handing it to me, saying,
" A pretty little time-keeper, sir." I examined the watch,
and the result was, that the case was made out of a piece
of stout tin washed over, and the internal works bore a
pretty strong resemblance to the case.
In three days the men were all on board ; and with
the exception- of two, they had all spent their Avages ;
but, unlike my protege, Jack, they had nothing to show
for it. I have, been thus particular m noticing this
occurrence in full, to show the improvidence of sailors,
and to shoAv that very little can be effected to -advance
their moral character, unless they can be impressed
with the absolute necessity of total abstinence from all
intoxicating drinks.
June 25. — The ship being noAV ballasted and ready
for sea, advantage Avas taken of an eastAvardty wind.
We cast off from the Helder, and proceeded once more
through the " kyk down " channel, on our homeward
passage to Baltimore. We had a fine wind through'
the North Sea and down the English Channel, and on
the morning -of the first of July took our departure from
the Lizard light, it bearing north-east and by east", five
leagues distant. At meridian the Island of Great Britain
had the appearance of an irregular dotted line upon the
Avide surface of the ocean ; and at sunset, the blue'
speck, which had claimed our attention for some hours
past, had sunk in the distance, and once more we were
rolling over the broad Atlantic toward our native land.
Order .and regularity being again restored, I embraced
a favorable moment to present to the minds of the
crew the evil consequence of improvidence, as well as
the indulgence of that worst of all practices, viz., the
inordinate use of ardent spirits. I pointed out to them
the ruin that must inevitably ensue to soul and booty by
persisting in. its use; and by appealing to their present
condition, I showed them that, after nearly a year and a
half of toil and privation, they were returning home pen
niless, and all for the single gratification of what they

290 LIFE ON THE O'CIM.
called the pleasures of a cruise ; the sum total of which
was combined in sAVilling gTog to drunkenness. The
force of these appeals seemed to make a deep impression,
and the fact staring them in the face of returning to the
United States, after so long an absence, without means,'
and' that they would necessarily be obliged to embark
speedily again, Avas a source of mortification which
sometimes wrought them up almost to a pitch of frenzy
and madness. I had abundant reason to believe, how
ever, that this was. a salutary lesson, as most of them,
having seen their error, assured me they had sworn off
forever from drinking liquor. How far these resolutions
were kept after they got on shore I knoAV not, but
while on board they were true to their promise.
We had a fine run across the Atlantic, with uniformly
good Aveather, and on the 6th of -August, 1818, took a
pilot on board, and entered the Chesapeake Bay. The
wind being fresh from the southward, we had a fine run
up, and on the 8th, once more let go -our anchor in the
port of Baltimore. *

291

CHAPTER XXV11.

MARRIAGE  TAKES COMMAND OF THE SHIP WILLIAM  VOY.IOS
TO LISBON  HEAVY "GALES. , -
1 was once more on terra firma, surrounded by my
friends, and her t,o whom my vows Avere plighted, and
Avith whom I expected shortly to be united in the holy
bonds of matrimony. To this event I looked forward
with unmirigled feelings of pleasure — with those de
lightful anticipations of enjoying that happiness Avhich
is only consequent upon domestic and connubial life.
No obstacle noAV presented jtself to prevent its consum
mation: on the contrary, I had reached the acme of my
profession, having been appointed to the command of/
the Ship in Avhich I last sailed ; and my pecuniary cir
cumstances and prospects were such as to justify the
important step which I was about to take. Considera
tions of this nature induced me to hasten the period of
our nuptials, as the ship to which I had been appointed
was' already taking in cargo, and was destined to sail in
the course of two weeks. ' Accordingly, as no objections
were raised, the marriage ceremony was performed on
the 18th day of August, 1818.
I had now entered upon a new course of life ; conse- '
quently, obligations and responsibilities multiplied with
the change ; and although I was in possession of all
that happiness Avhich .1 had long contemplated, yet a
shade of gloom would often pass across my mind at the
idea of being so soon separated from the object who
Avas as dear to me as life itself. Then, again, the pre-
cariousness of ^seaman's life, with its constant exposure,
produced a feeling very opposite to that buoyancy of

292 LIFE ON THE OcAn.
spirit which had so strongly marked my character
when embarking on former voyages. However, that
moral feeling which had of late gathered around my
character now excited me to _ action and diligence; be
lieving that I saAV my accumulated responsibility in its
proper light, it was a neAV motive to stimulate my ex
ertions, in order to sustain with becoming respect the
domestic and social relations of life. With these views,
therefore, I oheerfully renewed my engagements, and
' entered upon the duties of my new station as com
mander of -the ship William.
On the 30th of August, she had completed talcing in
cargo, and was ready for sea ; and on the 1st of Sep
tember, after exchanging painful adieus, under feelings
that can be better imagined than I can possibly de
scribe them, I hastened, with tremulous steps, on board
the ship, and, the wind being fair, in a very few minutes
Ave Avere under a press of canvass, standing down the
river. I shall forbear entering into a tedious detail in refer
ence to the duties connected Avith a ship on leaving
port, as they have been often described in the foregoing
part of this work. Being now invested with the entire
control and management of this ship, and as I had seen
the good effects produced by a course of mild and kind
treatment, connected with an unrelaxed state of disci
pline, to the sailors, by Capt. R., on the last voyage, I
determined to shape my course, in future, in a similar
Avay. As soon, therefore, as the usual duties were over
on leaving the land, such as clearing the decks, setting
the watch, &c, a set of rules and regulations was drawn
up, and given to the crew, prohibiting all profane Ian
guage, fighting, or wrangling ; no unnecessary work
to be done on Sabbath days ; and that, in the room
of the usual allowance of ardent spirits, they were
to have coffee, tea, and sugar ; — they were also tq have
the forenoon-watch beloAv at all times, and watch and
watch in bad Aveather, and Saturday was alio wed. for
washing and repairing their clothes, &c. Implicit obe-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 293
dience to the commands of the officers would at all
times be required. Every feature of these rules seemed
to be well received by the creAV, Avith the exception of
the grog ; they chose rather to relinquish the coffee, tea,
&c, than have their alknvance of spirits withheld ; td
this I assented, Avell knoAving that, to deprive a sailor of
his alloAvance of grog by coercive measures, would not
only prove the intended effect abortive, but would also
be a source of grumbling, and perhaps mutinous conduct,
during the voyage.
In the first part of this passage, a little difficulty was
encountered to restrain the seamen from the use of pro
fane language, OAving principally, hoAvever, to the fact,
that^a pernicious example was set them by the officers.
By frequent appeals, however, to their moral feelings,
and strict adherence to the undeAriating course adopted
in this respect, its use was soon banished from the
ship. This being the month when the sun crosses the au
tumnal equinox, we had a constant succession of heavy
squalls and gales since our departure from Cape Henry ;
and as the ship was deeply laden Avith corn, almost be
yond her bearings, every seaman Avill know that she
must have been laborsome and very uneasy. On the
morning of the 24th of September, the Aveather was
dark and cloudy, and it bleA\r a gale from south-south
west, with a heavy, rolling sea. The top-gallant yards,
were sent down and well secured on deck ; the topsails
were close-reefed ; and the mizzen-topsail, jib, and spank
er, wei-e furjed. At 4 P. M., the gale increased, Avith heavy
showers of rain, attended with severe thunder and
lightning. At this time, the fore-topsail was furled and
the foresail reefed, and the ship was brought to the wind
on the starboard tack; before night the appearance of
the elements was awful in the extreme ; heavy, dense,
black clouds rose up to the northward, and were driT~n
furiouslyalong until they met with the impetuous south
east scud, Avhen the 'frightful concussion broke upon the
ear with peal on peal of roaring thunder, while the light*
27

294

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

ning's horrid glare played around the masts and rigging,
and, as if impelled by some demon of'destruction, threat
ened to envelop the noble ship in one vast sheet* of
flame. While memory holds its empire, I shall never
forget that night. At midnight, wore round on the lar
board tack, furled the main-topsail, and foresail, and set
the storm-staysails. Such was the deafening roar of
the elements, the bellowing thunder, and the terrific
blasts of wind, which ever and anon came howling o'er
the angry deep, that it was'impossible to be heard, with
a speaking trumpet, half the length of the ship. At 1
A. M., the dense pile of black clouds lifted their enormous
masses from the horizon from north to west, presenting
a long streak of clear, blue sky;- at the same moment
was heard a_ heavy-roaring peal of thunder, attended by
a sharp flash ofy-lightniug ; then came the" sudden and
awful change of wind from north-h'orth-Avest.
The gale struck the ship with furious blast, and threw
her down, tAvo feet of her main deck being under water.
To add to the horror of this awful scene, the forward
-bulk-head broke away below the loAver-deck beams,
which drove the immense body of corn into the fore-
peak ; at the same time, the planks which formed, the
casings of the pumps started from the joists to which
they were secured with spikes, and the corn found its
way into the pump-well, which was soon filled up as
far as between decks. The violence, too, of the first
blast, split the mizzen-staysail, and it blew from tho
bolt-rope. The only sails she now had on her were
the fore and main-staysails ; consequently, having no
after-sail, she fell off,"and brought the sea a-beam. For
tunately, however, the Avind had not blown sufficiently
long to make a dangerous sea. It Avas nevertheless a
perilous situation,* and it became absolutely necessary
for the safety of the ship either to take in the fore-top
mast staysail, or to get tarpaulins in the mizzen rigging,
so as to -keep her up to the wind.. We Avere soon,
however, relieved from the necessity of taking in the
staysails ; for at this moment, on came a terrific gust of

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 295
wind, and the staysails were blown to pieces. The
ship, being now SomeAvhat eased from the pressure of
the canvass, righted so far as to bring Tier deck out of
water. The tarpaulins Avere accordingly secured in the
mizzen rigging, and with this she lay for a short time
comparatively well. But Avhen the morning light broke
forth, the gale, as .if with maddening fury, seemed to re
double its violence. No longer was the ship capable of
resistance, and the only alternative for her safety, and
the lives of the creAV, Avas to get her before the wind.
This Avas the more unavoidable as she strained exceed
ingly in her upper Avorks, and was now leaking con
siderably : imperious necessity, therefore, demanded that
some plan should be executed to get the corn from
out of, the pump-well, so that we might work them,
and free the ship. The sea had risen to an alarming
height, and every seaman will know the danger of
keeping the ship off in such a moment as this. It was>
however, the only alternative. Four men were sent on
the fore-yard to slacken doAvn the gaskets of the clew
of the foresail, and two men were sent into the mizzen
rigging to cut away the tarpaulins. All being now
ready, the starboard head-braces were hauled in, and
the after-yards squared ; the helm then was put to
weather, the fore-tack was bowsed taut, and the tar
paulins were cut away. For a moment the ship shook
violently, but presently she began to fall off. When
about four points from the wind, a heavy sea came
rolling on with frightful rapidity. The vessel 'could
not clear it. I saw an awful crisis at hand, and shout
ed for every man to secure himself as best he could.
The immense weight of water fell on board, knocking
the launch out of the chocks, and sweeping away spars,
Avater-casks, and the starboard bulwarks from the .gang
way to the fore rigging. She was now before the Avind,
anl, like an impatient steed when chected, dashed
along at the rate of ten "knots, sometimes careening
on the top of .a mountain ' wave, and then plunging
into (he fearful abyss Avhich threatened to swallow her

296 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
up in its merciless chasms of Avhifling commotion.
Four hours of extreme peril and intense anxiety passed
away, and not till the sun had crossed its meridian did
the gust become less violent. At 3 P. M., it moderated;
and the gale, though severe, was not dangerous, as the
sea became regular and following.
Thus far it had been impossible to do any thing in
reference to getting the corn from the pump-well. A
barricado was now erected* and the pumps were hoisted
out ; then one man was lowered down Avith a sack, by a
girtline, from the main-top.. The sack was filled Avith
corn, then drawn up, again let doAvn, and so on in this
Avay we continued to clear the pump-well; but the
progress was necessarily slow. The leak was soon
discovered and stopped, and at the expiration of seven
hours the ivell Avas entirely cleared, the pumps were
lowered into their places, and the ship wa§ pumped out,
.having made but two feet and a half of water during
the whole of the gale.
. The next object Avas to secure the forward bulk-head ;
this labor, however, was deferred until the next morn
ing, when the gale had moderated sufficiently, so as to
get sail enough on the ship to keep her steady. The
bulk-head was secured as strongly as practicable, and
the severe" disasters Avhich Ave had received were now
repaired ; but the loss of the corn which had been
pumped out, and the balance having shifted, it gave the
ship nearly four streaks' list to starboard — so that, when
we* arrived in Lisbon, she was as much careened as
-when carrying .sail in a hard gale. I had no reason to
regret having established the course of treatment and
regulations, with the -creAV, Avhich have been stated at
the commencement of this voyage ; on the contrary,
every man did his duty cheerfully and in a seaman-liite
manner; and had it not been for the ability and exer
tions of the seamen, the ship could not have been saved.
October 6., — Came to an anchor abreast of Belham
Castle, the place appointed for vessels 'subject to quaran
tine restrictions ; and as aur ship was of that number,. cf

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 297
course we had to comply with the existing laivs, which
were more rigid with vessels laden with grain, because
the importation of this article Avas much greater from
' the Mediterranean than from all other ports. To , this
fear of the plague and other contagious diseases, so prev
alent among the Mediterranean islands, being intro
duced, may be attributed the strict regulations alluded to.
We were not permitted to send the letter-bag on shore
until three days after our arrival, and even then the
letters undenvent a most ridiculous process before they
were delivered to their respective owners. After all, tlie
Avhole modus operandi of executing these regulations was
a mere faree : for instance, grain seems to be the great
bugbear; nevertheless it is landed, and taken up to the
city, immediately after its arrival, — thereby incurring
all the risk their obnoxious laws endeavor to prevent ;
and it would appear, therefore, that* this perplexing
delay is intended mainly to make additional expense.
Nothing worthy of note transpired during our stay.
The corn Avas all discharged while in quarantine ; and
• after a tedious delay of thirty days, the ship was per
mitted to go up to Lisbon, where we remained ten days,
¦and took in a cargo of Avines and salt.
November 17. — We took advantage of the tide, and,
the wind being fair, got under Avay, made sail7and stood
down the river: At 2 P. M., discharged the pilot, stowed
the anchors, unbent the cables, coiled them down below,
and executed such other work as is usual when ves
sels leave port. At sunset, the rock of Lisbon bore east-
north-east, distant ten leagues ; and, as the dusk of
evening closed in, the only visible appearance was a
long dark-blue line upon tie surface of the ocean,
stretching north and south as far- as the * extent of
vision. I determined to make the southern passage,
believing it could be effected in less time, and at much
less risk, in the Avear and tear of the ship, and also
much more to the comfort of the passengers and crev.
Accordingly, we kept away to the southward, to reach as
quickly as possible the limits of tin north-east trade
27*

298 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
winds. The moon this night rose ivith -unusual bril
liancy, and occasionally might be seen- a bright st- r or
planet in the azure vault above ; the wind was fair,
the sea smooth, and the ship was running along at the
rate of eight knots, with stridding-sails set below and
aloft. It reminded- me of one_ of those beautiful nights
in the Pacific Ocean, described in the foregoing part
of this work, when 1 was before the mast, and when,
too, my old messmate, Jack SaAvyer, and myself, spun
out many long yarns in the foretop. Nearly ten years
had rolled aAvay- since that period; but the exciting
scenes, and the manyhappy hours, of that voyage, will
long live in my memory. - How different was now my
situation ! . I had passed through the various gradations
of a sea life, and Avas hoav the commander of a fine
ship; and yet it would be difficult to say which "was
the happier period of my life. Now yon moon shone
as resplendently, yet the sight did not produce those
exquisite feelings of pleasure and gratification that it
had done on my first voyage, Avhen a boy. The ship,
too, was now bounding over the trackless deep like •
some creature possessed of life and animation, present
ing one of the most magnificent sights in creation ; •
and yet even this had lost much of its interest ; and
although being homeward bound, which to a sailor is
always a source of pleasure, song, and merriment, yet to
me it was measurably lost, because of the important
trust and accumulated responsibility with which -I was
now surrounded.
Although that buoyancy of spirit consequent upon
youthful ambition had passed away, yet the more staid
and energetic firmness of capability had taken its place
and I felt a degree of pride in the reflection that it was so,
and notwithstanding the deep responsibility Avith which I
was invested, that it should even produce greater anxiety
in regard to the duties which fell to my lot ; another aiid
greater source of happiness was, that steady enterprise
arid perseverance would one day place me in a condi
tion to be enabled to relinquish the hardships of a sea

LIFE ON THE; OCEAN. , 299
life, and enjoy all those social and domestic comforts
which are only to be found in the endearments of home
and society.
November 23. — Saw the Island of Madeira; and as
Ave ranged up towards the centre of it, the wind being
off shore, we enjoyed the balmy odors of its fragrant
trees and flowers, which were sent off by>the sweeping
land breeze. The weather was unusually fine, the
wind fair, the sea smooth ; which, together with the
delicious odors fron>the land, conspired to make up one
of those delightful days at sea, tending to produce a
kind of forgetfulness of its perils and its hardships.
At sunset, the island bore north-east tAvelve leagues -
distant, from Avhich we took our departure, and soon
reached the parallel of 26° north. As we experienced
a fine north-east trade wind, I chose this latitude to
run doAvn the westing. Nothing Avorthy of note or
comment transpired to intercept the monotony which
is usual on shipboard Avhen a long series of fair winds
prevails. December 19. — Being in the longitude of 66° west,
we hauled to the northward, and soon perceived strong
indications of change in the climate. The weather
now became squally, with frequent gales-. On the
27th, crossed the Stream, and, as the wind blew" a
severe gale from the north-east, the ship was hove to on
the starboard tack, Avhen she" was judged to be inside
af the. Gulf. This was a fortunate circumstance, as the
gale blew with incredible fury for twenty-four hours,
so that the ship was driven by its violence to within
tAvelve miles of Cape Hatteras shoals, when the gale
broke.' On the 30th of December, being in ten fathoms of
water, off, Cape Charles, the wind again blew a heavy
gale from the north-east, and no alternative wras left but
to try to run the ship into the Chesapeake Bay, at the risk
of being driven on a lee shore, and losing the vessel ; for
no pilot had 2ome onboard, although lights had been
hoisted, and guns fired, during • the whole of the pre-

300 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
ceding night, to attract their notice. The position of the
ship was now critical. It blew a hard gale, the rain
fell in torrents, and nothing could be seen ten yards
from the deck ; and, to add to this perilous situation, we
had only nine fathoms of water. Just at this moment,
Providence favored us ; the rain ceased, the mist broke
aAvay, and we caught a glimpse of Smith's Island. It
Avas, indeed, hut a glimpse, for it immediately shut in
thick again; but it Avas enough for our purpose. Close-
reefed topsails were put on the ship, and I shaped a
course, from the bearings of the island, to cross the tail
of the middle ground in five fathoms of Avater. Here,
again, I experienced the great benefit arising from kind
treatment to a ship's crew. " .This was an hour that re
quired all' the firmness, seamanship, and activity, a crew
could muster to their aid, and, I can -safely say, with
ours there Avas no flinching ; for every man did bis
duty with alacrity, and in a seaman-like manner. In
about thirty minutes, I found all was right ; the sound
ings indicated our approach to .the middle ground, and
present! y we struck bottom in five fathoms, as contem
plated by the bearings of the island. , In a short time,
the luavy mist which had obscured the view from all
surrounding objects cleared away, and Cape Henry
lighthouse was seen directly ahead ; still no pilot-boat
was visible, and, as it continued to blow hard, 6f course
the greatest anxiety prevailed -throughout the ship. In
this critical juncture, I determined to hazard the risk
of running her into Hampton Roads ; fortunately, how
ever, when the regular soundings on the Horse-shoe were
obtained, a pilot-boat was discovered coming down the
bay. In a few minutes, to our great relief, Ave received
a pilot on board, ran the ship into the Roads, and
anchored. The next morning, at daylight, got under
way, and stood up the bay Avith a fine breeze from the
southward ; and, on the 4th of January, 1819, anchored
in the harbor of Baltimore, miking tlie passage in forty-
eight days from Lisbon.

301

CHAPTER XXYIII.
VOYAGE TO BATAVIA — BURIAL AT SEA.
The strong and powerful feelings consequent upon
the meeting of near and very dear friends, after a sepa
ration of nearly four months, being over, I not on y en
joyed the quiet repose of home, but also the society of
her Avho was now the companion of my life and fortunes.
Though much separation Avould, of bourse, be our lot,
from the nature of my avocation, yet there was now an
object in Avhom I could repose.with perfect confidence,
and also unite in those sympathetic feelings so dear to
the human heart.
Never, during the whole period of my life, did time
pass so happily, and I may say so rationally, as on the
present respite from the toils upon the ocean. No cloud
presented its dark shadow, no sorrow gave a shade of
gloom, and no blighting disease laid its withering spell
on our cheerful hearth-side, to mm1 the bliss of social in- '
tercourse and mutual love. These were halcyon* days
swiftly passing on the wheels of time, destined shortly,
however, to be interrupted. It was about 'this period
that I assumed the command of the ship Edward, be
longing to the same owners.
Two months and a half having gone by almost im
perceptibly, the ship to which I had been transferred
was once more completely fitted out for an East India
voyage. The duties of -supercargo being committed to
my charge, created an amount of responsib'lity which
never had before fallen to my lot, and the importance of-
the trust was a sour:e of considerable anxiety to- me

302 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Here, too, was a voyage before me of not less than one
year, subject not only to the perils of the sea, but also to
the pestilehces of the torrid zone ; for it must be knoAvn
that I Avas once more bound to Batavia.
On the 20th of March, specie, amounting to one hun
dred and forty thousand dollars, was taken on board ;
and, every thing being in complete readiness, I bade
adieu to my companion arid friends, and once more
found my way to the quarter deck of a gallant ship.
The wind being fair, in a feAV minutes the Avell-known
song at the windlass Avas heard, and then the hoarse
voice of the first officer calling out, " The anchor is short
apeak, sir; lay aloft fore and aft, and loose the topsails
and., top-gallant sails." These orders were quickly
obeyed. The sails Avere sheeted home, and hoisted to
the mast-head, and the yards Avere braced so as to cant
the ship's head to starboafid. And again the long-draAvn
song was heard at the windlass, the anchor was rapidly
hove up to the bows, and in a feAV minutes our gallant
ship was standing down the river under a press of can
vass. It was one of those peculiarly bland days Avhich
frequently mark the premature advance of spring, but
which, at the same time, are the precursors of a coming
storm. The day was clear, and the gentle south-western
breeze brought- Avith it the mildness of latter spring ;
these, together with the genial warmth of the sun, pro
duced an unusual degree of heat for- this .period of the
season ; nor was the foliage and verdure unmindful of
this premature warmth, for on either side of- the river
^ might be seer* the springing bud, of various hues, swelling
3ut ; and grassy plains spreading forth their delightful
green, — on all of which the eye might rest unwearied '
with pleasure. These sights along the river's banks
afforded to the mind a relief Avhich tended to dissipate a
part of the gloom induced by the certainty of a yeai's
absence. And yet this was but a transient respite.
Every passing object — the numerous craft, and jolly
boatmen, with light hearts and cheerful song, plying gayly
towards a much-cherished home, from which we weia

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 303
now fast recedirfg — called up more strongly the pangs
of separation. - Nought could now be seen, by keen
affection's glance, of that home Avhich, but three hours
ago, Ave left, except a dark-blue spot ; and even that,
perhaps, Avas but a fantasy of a highly-wrought imagi
nation. On coursed the gallant bark, nor heeded sighs,
nor tears, nor sentimental pangs, as the increasing
breeze sAvelled the Avhite canvass, and impelled her
more rapidly down the Chesapeake Bay. Blow on, ye ,
winds ! nor slacken your force, nor alter your course,
until half this round world is circled, and our bark is
safely moored off Java's spicy isle. In thirty hours,
, we reached Cape Henry, and, although the Aveather
was thick and threatening, with light northerly winds,
yet the pilot was discharged, and we stood to sea.
On the 22d of March, at sunset, heavy clouds rose up
from the north-west, and gave strong indications of a
shift of Avind. • Every" sail was furled except the -close-
reefed fore-topsail. It v/as fortunate for us that we took
this precaution, as the heavy' north-wester struck us at
9 P. M., and blew with great violence for thirty-six hours,
carrying us to the eastAvard of the Gulf Stream."
March 25. — This was a black day in our calendar.
One of the young seamen, while in the act of loosing the
. main-top-gallantsail, fell on the main deck, dislocated his
shoulder, cut his head and mouth, and 'Avas' so much
bruised, that he did not speak for eleven days ; but, by
great care and attention, in three weeks his bodily
health was perfectly restored. .This was but the com
mencement of our troubles on this voyage. My first
officer, although a good sailor, was a man of np charac
ter whatever ; therefore he could neither be rriade a con
fidant nor companion. The second officer, although a
young man of good education, was neither sailor nor
officer ; consequently Avas unfit for the berth. The creAV,
which consisted of six able seamen and four aj prentices,
all nearly equal to able-bodied men, Avere.very refrac
tory ; two of them having been old man-of-Avar's meu.'
The -cook and steward were both good colored men,

304 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Of co irse, it may be supposed that, with a crew and offi
cers of the above description, it required no little firm
ness and decision of purpose to establish and maintain
a good state of discipline ; arid, indeed, this Avas not
thoroughly accomplished until the homeAvard-bound
passage ; it .Avas then effected through the agency of
sickness and death, as will be hereafter stated. Although
every privilege was allowed, consistent with the duties
of the ship ; and although every care was taken with re
gard to their food and diet, as well as to the comfort and
cleanliness of the forecastle ; and further, no man Avas
flowed to be called out of his name — yet, notAviths.tand-
ng all these regulations and care to their welfare, there
A^ere some of the sailors who never manifested a«y thing
slse but the basest ingratitude. After this, the ship was
sxceedingly laborsome, steered badly, and scarcely a
day passed, in heavy weather, that a spar, or some of the
rigging, was not carried away. After a passage of one
hundred and four days, we arrived- in Batavia, and an
chored in the roads. Here were a number of American
as well as other vessels, waiting for cargoes. As soon as
the necessary precautions were taken, such as getting
awnings fore and aft the ship, sending down the yards,
masts, rigging, '&c, so as to screen the sailors from the
heat of the sun while at work, I repaired to the shore,
and. procured a creAV of Malays to mari the boat — a pro
ceeding always necessary for the preservation of the
health of the ship's crew in Batavia. It is customary
for masters and supercargoes to take up their residences
about three miles in the country ; this is done for the
preservation of health, and is attended with but little
extra expense, for every person doing business is neces
sarily obliged, from the intense heat, to have a carriage
always at his command.
' From the captain of a Newburyport ship, I learned
that Mr. P., my mate, had sailed with him on the last
voyage, and that he had been detected in embezzling
the cargo, as well as guilty of forgery. It was necessary,
herefore, as there was no alternative but to keep him,

LIFE ON, THE OCEAN. 305
to use great precaution, and keep a good look-out upon
his conduct. Consequently, I took a memorandum of
all my provisions, stores, &c, and obliged him to ren
der a strict- account of all the expenditures, and Avhen-
ever the least particle of any portion of the cargo, was
sent off, a receipt for the same was always required.- In
this Avay, I managed to keep him tolerably honest. We
lay here nearly tAvo lfTonths and a half. The crew, with
the exception of one man, Avho Avas placed in the hospi
tal, Avere kept in good health. I had completed the pur
chases and shipping of the cargo, and the ship Avas-now
ready to proceed on her hom3ward-bound passage ; but
as the seaman avIio had been sent to the hospital Avas
considered dangerously ill, another Avas shipped in his
place. On the 23d of September, 1819, we got under Avay
from Batavia Roads, and stood down the Straits of Sunda.
In passing Anjer Roads, we were boarded by a boat
belonging to the United States frigate Constellation,
which lay to an anchor in the roads. From her we
received despatches, as well as many hearty good Avishes
for our safe and speedy passage. The weather now be
came very squally, and we did not succeed in getting
clear of the straits until the 28th ; and t'ius our troubles
had not only commenced, but .from this time they began
to multiply upon us. We had no sooner succeeded in
gainiiig an offing from the straits, than four of the best
seamen Avere taken down with fever and dysentery.'*
The remainder of the crew were otherwise much debil
itated and weakened, from the excessive heat always pe
culiar to these climes. Day after day rolled aAvay Avith
out any material alteration, except that one and another
were alternately struck down Avith disease. We had
succeeded in reaching the length of the east end of •
Madagascar, when our condition, as regarded the health
and strength of the crew, Avas truly deplorable ; they
were all completely overcome, and I shall not foiget a
scene which took place on a beautiful moonlight night,
about this period. The ship Ava-3 running along at the
28

306

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

rate of seven knots, with studding-sails set beloAV and
aloft ; nought was to be seen save a brilliant moon per
forming sloAvlyand silently her majestic rounds, with
here and there a bright star or planet, which seemed to
vie with each other in sparkling -refulgence, arrd the.
blue sky, Avhich appeared to meet and kiss the fathom
less waters'; not a sound was heard except the dashing
foam on the ship's bows, as she bounded o'er the wave,
or the low tones of the debilitated seamen on the fore
castle, recounting some ghostly tale or bewailing the
aondition of their sick shipmates. It was a moment
when every other thought and reflection Avas hushed
and absorbed in the sublimity and grandeur of the
whole, scene. Looking upward and around, I neither
saw, felt, nor contemplated, any thing but the poAver and
immensity of God. A solemn stillness pervaded the
ship, interrupted only, at intervals, by the Ioav groans of
the sick and dying ; for the life of poor Jack Brown —
and a better or truer sailor never handled a marlin-
spike — was fast ebbing aAvay. I had exerted all my
skill in the administering of remedies, and ev§ry possi
ble care was taken of him, as Avell as the others ; but his
strength had sunk under a violent dysentery. At eight '
P. M., I repaired to the forecastle as usual, to bestoAV
some little kindnesses and, nourishment to the sick. I
found poor Jack Avith his face towards the side of the
ship, breathing hard.
" Hoav do you do how, Jack ? " said I. With great
difficulty, and with my assistance, he turned his face
toAvard me, and, after the fatigue occasioned by this ex
ertion, he said, in a Ioav, holloAV voice, —
" Captain, I am a dying man ; " and after another
strong effort, he continued — " I have a mother noiv liv
ing in England, God bless* her ! I have been a sad fel-
Ioav, sir ; — she taught me to read the Bible, and say my
prayers, and gave me much good advice ; and she often
would say to me, 'Don't forget J he advice of her Avho
never forgets to pray for you.'"
Here the big tears chased each other in rapid succes-
ion from the dying eyes' of poor Jack.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 307
"0 my mother!" exclaimed he; "could thy dying
son live but to make amends for all the pain and
suffering he has given thee ! O, could I but receive a
mother's blessing before I die ! "
Nature at this moment gave Avay, and he sank ex
hausted on the pillow, under the great effort he had
made. The scene Avas too much for me ; I found the
muscles of my face, and especially my eyes, relaxing,
and involuntarily turning aAvay from the berth, would
have given him some spiritual consolation, but, alas, I
Avas not at that period competent to do so. After a
pause of a few minutes, he recovered himself, and
beckoned me again to his side. Putting my ear near
to his mouth, he begged, in a low, tremulous tone, to
be placed underneath the forescuttle, so that he might
look upon the blue sky, and behold the stars ; the re
quest Avas immediately granted him, and he was placed
in the chosen position, and for two hours steadfastly
gazed on the heavens, occasionally repeating the be
loved name of mother. At 11 P. M., his sight failed,
and nature Avas Avearing aAvay apace ; the dim light
Avas flickering in the socket, in readiness to expire at
every moment. - A feAV minutes before 12 o'clock, he
made a slight movement, as if to speak. I again placed
my ear near to his mouth : he murmured out, " O my
mother!" These were his last words; for, just as the
bell' tolled the hour of midnight, the spirit of poor Jack
took its everlasting fiight.
Then you might have seen a gathering group of
sailors around his cold remains, subdued and broken in
spirit, eager to perform the last sad offices to a departed
t shipmate. Poor Jack! he was washed, shaved, and
dressed in his best suit; and carefully, though strongly,
seAved up in his. hammock, and neatly lashed with
close hitches, sp as to secure the body in its naval
shroud ; after which it Avas taken on- deck, and laid in
the launch until the time of burial. The next day, the
sun rose into a perfectly clear and cloudless sky, and
«ver the broad expanse of Avaters nothing. was to be

308 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
seen but an unruffled sea, and now a ad then a sea
gull, or a Mother Carey's chicken, skimming the swell
ing surface — the only proof that we were not alone in
creation's expanse. There was an air„of profound sor
row and melancholy reigning throughout the ship.
Here lay the cold remains of poor Jack ; and in the
forecastle languished three others so ill, that we knew
not what hour they Avould share the fate of their de
parted shipmate. * It was indeed an hour of sadness,
when the ship was hove to, to perform the rites of bu
rial. All hands that were able to come on deck took
their stations forward of the gangAvay ; they were all
tidy, and dressed in their best rig; the stars and stripes
Avere run up half-mast ; the corpse, with a bag of shot
tied at the foot of the hammock, Avas placed on a board
at the gangway, after Avhich, thirteen minute guns Avere
fired, and then commenced the reading of the funeral
service of the Episcopal Church. It Avas a moment
when all the finer feelings of the soul were brought into
play ; the stout hearts and rigid muscles of men who
had never flinched, in storm or battle, gave way in sym
pathetic Avoe. There was a moment's pause as I came
to the period preceding the sentence — " We c'ommit his
body," &c. I involuntarily ceased reading as I heard
a deep groan from an old sailor. The sentence was
^finished, a deep splash was heard, and the body of poor
Jack sank beneath the blue wave, there to rest until the
sea shall roll its millions to the shore.
After this mournful ceremony Avas over, all sail was ,
again made, and Ave stood on our course, Avithout know
ing, however, how soon the same melancholy duty
would have to be performed to some other inmate of
the ship.
The. weather continued fine and the wind fair; and
as I Avas much worn down with the fatigue of the last
few days, and especially as I felt an unusual degree of
sadness, I concluded to turn in, hoping thereby to get
my mind relieved, as well as my body refreshed. The
scenes of this day had made a deep impression on me,

LIFE ON THE OCEAlff. 309
and I deeply reflected upon the necess ty of being pre
paid for the solemn and awful event, to which I had
been an eye-Avitness. I conceived, also, that I Avas not
only master of a ship, hut, being the head of. a family, I
was called upon, at least, to set an example* that should
be Avorthy of imitation. With these feelings I laid me
down to rest, and soon fell into a deep sleep, from which
I was roused by a tremendous noise and crash, as if the
ship had run high and dry upon ledges of rocks. I sprang
on deck ; and, to my inconceivable astonishment, the
main-topmast Avas gone close by the cap, and there, was
the topsail, topmast studding-sail, top-gallant-sail, and top
gallant-studding-sail and royal, with yards, masts, and rig
ging, all fallen forward, carrying away the light spars in
their train, and splitting the fore-topsail into a hundred
pieces. Here, uoav, was work for a Aveak and debilitated
crew ! However, it Avas no time for flinching. Every man
on board, that was able, set to with a will. Such, how
ever, was the enfeebled, condition of the crew, that it
Avas six days before we got the wreck cleared away, and
another topmast aloft, and the sail set. As we were-
mow on Lagullas Bank, the light spars were riot sent up,
especially as the late 'fatigue had broken down the
crew, both in body and spirit. Eight men were noAV
sick and off duty, and it nearly became a matter of
impossibility, to. work the ship. In this sad. predica
ment, we fell in with a large ship, Avhich proved to
be an English East Indiaman, bound into the Cape of
Good Hope. Seeing our distressed condition, she bore
downy.-and very humanely offered to render us any
assistance we might Avant. I cheerfully accepted the
offer; and said, if they Avould put half a dozen men
on board of my ship, I would endeavor to work her
into the Cape also. The men were sent on board
immediately, and in two days Ave were both safely
anchored in Table Bay. Our sick,""six in number,
Were all takan on shore and placed in comfortable
quarters, under the 'care of an eminent 'physician. But
as it was his opinion that the men would not be suf-
28* -

810 LHFE ON THE OCEAN.
ficiently recovered to go on board in less than six weeks,
I concluded to pay them off and ship others in their
place, and proceed without delay on my voyage. This
Avas accordingly done ; and, after filling up our Avater-
casks, and laying in a good stock of fresh meat and
vegetables, we weighed anchor, made all sail, and stood
to sea, with a fine south-east trade wind, on the 13th
of November.
- .1 pause here in the narrative, to pay a tribute of
gratitude to Captain Wells, of the English East India
ship Warrington. In every respect he acted as a gentle
man ; and, but for his kind interposition and promptness
in timely assisting me with his men, it would not have
been possible for us, in our debilitated condition, to have
worked the ship into the Cape. And further, I could
not press upon him to accept any remuneration for the
great assistance he rendered to us. His generosity and
unaffected humanity proved him at once to be a whole-
souled sailor and a gentleman at heart ; and as such
I shall ever remember him with gratitude.
As usual at this season of the year, the south-east
trade winds blew fresh and steadily at one point, and
nothing of great importance transpired, to interrupt the
usual sameness of a sea life, in fine weather arid a long
course of fair whjds. During the passage down to the
line, I discovered,' for the first time, a defect in my sight:
I believed, at first, it was temporary — owing, perhaps, to
some obscurity of light in the cabin ; this, however,
proved not to be the case. The defect was real, attrib--
utable to the fact, that I had measured the distances of
celestial objects, in order to determine the longitude-, with
an inverted telescope. This Avork being often repeated,
of course it Avas laborious to the organs of vision ; this,
together with much exposure in hot climates, affected
the optic nerve. The diminution pf sight, however,
at this period, Avas so trivial, that I felt but little alarm
at ulterior consequences.
On the 18th of December, we crossed the"equinoctial
line, in 35° west longitude, and it Avas with great pain

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. ' 311
that I ascertained as truth.what I had some time ccnjec-
tured, viz., that the sailors whom I had shipped at the
Cape were English man-of-war's men, exceedingly mu
tinous in their conduct; and, Avhat was still Avorse, I found
that the mate was partially leagued with them. It was,
hoAvever, fortunate for me, that I had a passenger from
the Cape, a young Englishman, stout and active, and of
great muscular strength. In him I could place the
ntmost reliance; he promised to 'stand by me in every
emergency. In consequence of the unofficer-like 'con
duct of the mates, matters continued to go on worse and
worse ; until, at length, the disrespect, and ignorance of
duty, of the second mate, authorized me to break .him,
and confine him to his state-room. Thence for ivard,
from indications shown by the men, I was every day in
expectation that an open mutiny Avould break out. In
this event, I could rely upon none except my young
English friend, and the cook and steward. Of course,
there Avould be a fearful odds against us. ' I was not
disappointed irrmy conjecture. It seem! that the 25th
of December (Christmas) was the time set apart by them
to have a bloAV-out, as they called it, having saved their
allowance of grog, for a number of days, for this express
purpose. My usual custom was, to have no work done'
either on the fourth of July, or Christmas-day, but that
which was actually necessary — such as making or ta
king in sail, bracing the yards, &c. ; so that on this day,
after the decks Avere washed and the sails trimmed,
the men were given to understand that all unnecessary
work would be dispensed with. Every thing- was
quiet until the hour of dinner, at which time the grog
went round ; and, as a consequence, boisterous mirth in
creased very soon to confusion, and the noise became
so great that it was necessary to put a stop to it. About
this period the Avind hauled, and I ordered the mate for
ward, to turn the hands up to trim the yards, set stud
ding-sails, <fcc. He went, and quicklyreturned with the
answer, that they refused to do their duty : 1 saw that
the crisis had now arrived. Arming myself, therefore,

312

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

with a. brace of pistols, — the young Englishman doings
the same,— and giving the cook and steward their orders,
I jumped forward^ and ordered th<j men on deck. They
all rushed up in -a body, and, with oaths and impreca
tions, swore they Avould do no more work until the
second mate was put on duty. I once rriore ordered them
to brace yards, and on their refusal I fired a pistol over
their heads, when they immediately rushed to the quarter
deck ; but here they were met by my friend, the Eng
lishman, and the cook and* steward, with handspikes.
I discharged my second pistol, which took effect in the
fleshy part of the arm of one of the villains, and disabled
him. My friend had discharged both of his pistols
without effect ; not so his fists, for they were better than
any pistols ; whenever a man came within the reach of
his arm, he was sure to be knocked down. The cook
and steward played their part well, so that in about fif
teen minuted the mutineers . begged for quarters ; and
thus Ave completely subdued the mutiny without the
aid of the chief mate, who, during the whole of this law
less riot, stood a silent and quiet spectator on the quarter
deck, purposing, as I supposed, to join the victorious
party, whichever it might be. The men now were quite
humbled, and returned to their" duty with submission.
They promised, if this affair was overlooked,-that, for the
future, they would give no occasion for a repetition of
the same punishment. Ih reply, I stated that their
behavior and good conduct should govern me in my
, future course towards. them. During the reriiainder of
the passage they conducted themselves with propriety,
and although Ave encountered intense cold weather, and
many hard gales, yet every man did his duty cheerfully
without murmuring* or flinching. On the second day
of February, 1820, Ave took a Chesapeake pilot, and en
tered the bay with a fine southerly Avind, which carried
us up. On the 3d, at 2 P. M.,-.let go our anchor-in Bal
timore harbor, after a most tedious and unpleasant pas
'sage of one hundred and thirty-three days. i . -.
?'* . *

i; H)w.mKr

313

CHAPTER XXIX.
INDIA VOYAGE CONCLUDED  VOYAGE TO NEW ORLEANS iHD
LIVERPOOL  CONDUCT OF CAl'TAIN B., &C.
. It may be well said that a sailor's life is a continued
scene of excitement. When the vessel which carries
him over the trackless deep leaves the land of his birth,
and the objects of his .'.flection and solicitude, then fol-
Ioav She pangs of separation. When homeward bound,
there are a thousand emotions of pleasure -springing
up in his bosom, Avhich none but a seaman can realize.
Fair Aveather and foul, storms and calms, all conspire to
keep his jnind in an uninterrupted state of agitation.
Thus, when on 'shore, unless immersed in what he
terms pleasure, he is quickly satiated, and sighs again
to be rolling over his chosen element.
Scarcely had. the greetings of affection (after an ab
sence of one year) subsided, and the usual and custoiri-
_ary salutations of friendship passed away, ere I was
again summoned to get the ship in readiness to proceed
to Amsterdam, without delay, with the same cargo. It
may be supposed that, after so long an absence, it was no
ordinary trial so soon to part Avith my family and friends ;
but a sailor has no command of his time, nejther can he
choose sugh voyages as would be most agreeable to his
inclination. If this were the case, one half of his days
would be spent on shore- Avithout employment.
The ninth day after my arrival from the East Indies,
I Avas again in complete readiness for sea^ with an entire
new creAV.
On the 13th of February, after exchanging the most
painful adieus with my family and friends, with a heavy
heart I found myself on the ship's quarter deck. The

314 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
topsails and topgallant-sails being hoisted to the mast
head, the fasts were oast off, — in a feAV minutes she was
rapidly sailing over the smooth Avater, doAvn the river,
with a fresh Avesteriy* Avind. In two days from this
period, we were clear of the land, scudding aAvay to the
eastward, with a heavy north-west gale. It may be suf
ficient to say, in regard to , this passage, that Ave had an
uninterrupted continuation,of gales, high seas, and heavy,
boisterous weather ; our decks Avere swept, the long
boat Avas stove, many of the' sails were split to pieces,
the fore-topmast and fore-yard were sprung, and the
jib-boom carried away close to the cap. Such Avas the
extreme state of the weather, it being intensely cold
withal, that we had to subsist on raw provisions for
many days : the sea making almost a continual breach
over us, it was impossible to cook, or keep a fire in the
caboose. In tAventy-five days, to our great satisfaction,
we got soundings in the chops of the English Channel,
at which time the weather moderated; and in twenty-
six hours we took a North Sea pilot, off Dover. The
wind continuing fair, Ave passed the Goodwin Sands,
and in four days Avere safely moored alongside the Hel-
der, in the port of Amsterdam. After the usual forms of
entry, &c, were made, we commenced to discharge our
cargo forth Avith, Avhich was all completed, and the ship
ballasted and ready for sea, in sixteen days.
On the 11th of April, ^got under way from the Texel
Roads, (having lain to ah anchor Avind-bound for eight
days,) and stood to sea. We had not proceeded far
down the North Sea before the wind hauled round to
the westward, bringing fresh gales and rain, which
lasted eight days ; after which the wind veered to the
eastward, and gave us a fine run down the Channel.
On the 22d of^April, at meridian, a departure was
taken from the SciUy Isles, and at sunset they bad quite
disappeared, and once more we were upon the broad ex
panse of waters, bounding over the blue ocean towards
our much-loA-ed home. My mind had now become
more deeply impressed than ever with the nature of mv

LIFE. ON THE OCEAN. 315
perilous occupation, liable every moment to be launched
into eternity. Of late, I had made a constant practice
of reading the Scriptures ; and by the light they reflected
upon my mind, I saw evidently that my condition was
unsafe, because I felt and believed that I was a sinner,
and, as such, was justly exposed to the wrath of God.
Then, again, the vast amount of goodness, forbearance,
and long-suffering, Avhich had been extended towards
me by the Author of my being, all strengthened the, be
lief, that I was the most ungrateful of men. These and
similar exercises brought a renewal of. that deep convic
tion Avhich I had experienced on a previous occasion,
and "I resolved, if I was spared, to lead a new life. These
resolutions once formed, I felt comparatively easier in
mind, especially as I had latterly, and more particularly
on this voyage, endeavored to impress on the minds of
the crew their moral responsibility to God and to them
selves. It was a source of much satisfaction to see the
men generally engaged on the Sabbath day in reading
the Scriptures, tracts, &c. The general deportment of
the crew, on this passage,' Avas vastly different from that
of any other set of men with whom I had been connect
ed during the last fourteen years ; and, without relaxing
in the least in the discipline of the ship, the seamen
uniformly obeyed every command cheerfully, and dis
charged their duty promptly.
The winds inclining to. hang to the northward and
westward, I resolved again to. make the southern' pas
sage ; and nothing material transpiring to contribute ad
ditional* interest to the narrative, I shall pass over the
remainder of this passage, Avithout givii g a monot
onous detail, and Avill carfy the reader along with
me to the Chesapeake Bay, Avhich Was entered on the
second day of June ; afterwards, Ave had light, baffling,
Avesteriy .winds, which obliged us to remain at anchor
three days, affording a fine opportunity to paint, clean,
and strip the ship of all her bandages, so that we might
enter port in ship-shape order.
On the 5th, the wind coming in from the southward,
we weighed anchor, made all "sail, and stood up the bay,

316 LIFE ON THE OCEAN
In tAventy-six hours she was made fast alongside the
wharf in the port of Baltimore, making t.ie passage in
fifty days. Thus was the East India voyage closed ;
and thus, also, Avere my services closed in this employ,
for the following reason, viz., I had neglected, at the
commencement of the voyage, to, have a written agree
ment in regard to the compensation I should have for
transacting the business. Of course- I was entitled to
commission ; but the owners thought proper to substitute
the sum of five hundred dollars instead of the regular
commission allowance, which would have amounted to
three thousand five hundred dollars. These, then, are
the reasons why I left the employ. Possibly it would
have been for my interest to have remained, especially
as it Avas not generally known whether the merchants
had displaced me, or whether I had left them of my own
accord. *
-I was not very anxious to embark again immediately,
for, as it will be seen, I had been ^constantly employed
for the last tAvo or three years, and it was but natural
that I should feel a strong desire to remain on shore
Avith my family for a short time, to enjoy the social
and domestic comfort of which seamen are so long
and so frequently deprived. Circumstances noAV tran
spired which are not necessary to relate, but which
called upon me to use every exertion, not only to sustain
my reputation, but to maintain the socialrelations that I
was bound to uphold. To remain idle was not very
congenial to my temperament, or my peculiar situation at
this time ; consequently, employment Was sought for,
but not so readily obtained, because I had a weight of
interest exerted against me by my former employers,
which at length obliged me to accept of a first officer's
berth, Avith a promise of command at the expiration of
one voyage. Accordingly, I repaired on board the ship
H., and discharged the duties.d< solving on my station,
such as* taking in cargo, &c. The destination of this
voyage was as follows, viz., from hence to New Orleans,
and from thence to Liverpool ; to return to Orleans, and

l:jfe on the ocean.

317

from thence to Baltimore. The ship being in complete
readiness, Avith creAV and passengers all on board, we
sailed on the 2d of November, 1821.
I should have passed by this voyage in silence ; but
as there are circumstances connected Avith it different
from any which have been related in this narrative, I
shall give as brief a detail as the nature pf these cir
cumstances will 'admit, and, in doing so, I shall en
deavor to divest myself of all prejudice, either to the
captain or creAV. Having a fine, fresh north-west' wind,
we soon ran doAvn the Chesapeake Bay, discharged the
pilot, and went to sea, November 5th. By this time I
had an opportunity to make my observations on those
with whom I was to be associated for at least eight
months; and the result was not of the most pleasing
kind. Captain B., an Irishman by birth, was about fifty
years of age ; and although he had folloAved the sea- for
many years, yet he Avas not a sailor. Proud and over
bearing, he endeavored to keep his officers at a distance ;
and as to the sailors, in his estimation they Avere but
little elevated above the brute creation. The height of
his ambition appeared to be in painting, scrubbing the
decks with holystones, and employing the steward in
some trifles, such as cleaning brass, tins, &c. He Avas
exceedingly vain of his oavii person, which was short
and thick, — stooping very much, from disease in the
back ; with a broad, Irish .face, large nose, and eyes that
seemed ready to pop out of his head, and a mouth
which, Avhen spread, occupied nearly the diameter of
his beautiful face; his legs were' short, and his feet
might be fitly compared, for beauty and symmetry, to
those of a Liverpool dray-horse. "Clothed Avith a little
brief authority," he exerted it on all occasions ; and his
chief delight appeared to be to make the situation of the
officers and crew as unpleasant, as his ill-temper and
disposition could suggest. As a proof of this, immedi
ately after leaving the land, the creAV were put on an
allowance of provisions and water, with orders to keep
all hands at work during the whole day. He endeav-
29

318 life on the ocean.
ored to ape the gentleman, with the passengers ; but it
was with such an ill grace, that he failed in the attempt,
and he was despised by them. I shall leave him for
the present, and say something in relation to the second
officer, and crew. Mr. N. was a young man, just out
of his time in seamanship ; Avas not above mediocrity ;
indolent in disposition, exceedingly illiterate, knowing
noUhow to govern himself or command others. The
seamen, generally, were disposed to be obedient ; but the
ungenerous and unfeeling treatment of Captain B. in
duced a spirit of insubordination and murmuring, so_
that it Avas not without great difficulty that I managed
to have the unjust orders of Captain B. executed. We
had not been many days at sea before I discovered that
our noble commander knew Very little about navigation >
— in fact, he had run the ship ten degrees to eastward
of the Hole in the Wall, when in its latitude, so that
the ship' was hove to, three nights in succession, with a
fair wind and fine weather. The passengers now be
came exceedingly uneasy; and, as the owner's son Avas
on board, he requested me to take a lunar observation,
saying that he would take all responsibility on himself.
I complied Avith this request, and determined the ship's
position, Avhich was found to be correct Avhen-we made
the land. It may be supposed, after this, that the pas
sengers had no more- confidence in the abilities of Cap
tain B., as a navigator; for, upon all occasions, I Avas
consulted, Avhich, by the -way, proved to be most unfor
tunate, for all the malevolent passions of this little great
man Avere levelled at me. But he soon found his vitu
peration Avas entirely harmless ; and when he ascertained
that he could effect his purposes of revenge in no other
way, he accused me of drunkenness. This foul slander
Avas easily rebutted, for he Avas proved to be a liar by
the passengers and his own steAvard, and the most sov
ereign contempt fell upon himself.
Immediately after our arrival at NeAV Orleans, in con
sequence of the cruel usage towards the creAV, Jhey ah
deserted. I demanded my discharge ; but to this the

life on the ocean. 319
owner's son (who was the consignee) Avould not listen,
assuring me that, if I Avould perform this voyage in the
ship, I should have the command on her return: wifh
this assurance, I consented.
She was loaded Avith cotton, for. Liverpool, and sailed
January 7th, 1822. . After the most extraordinary short
passage of twenty-four days, we arrived in Liverpool
Dock. During the whole of this passage, Captain B.
and myself did not exchange a, single word together,
'except as he gave some order pertaining to duty, which
Avas answered by the simple monosyllable of yes or no.
The men were used more like galley-slaves than free
men. Besides working hard all day, they were frequent
ly called up tAvo or three times in their watch below at
night, having continual gales and heavy weather to con
tend against. As in New Orleans, so it was in Liver
pool, for we had not been in dock more than twenty-
four hours, before the ereiv all deserted. The ship was
discharged, but did not obtain a homeward freight until
March. Among other things which came on board
Avith' the stores and furniture, were six holystones,
three of which had iron rings at both ends, and weighed
nearly two hundred-pounds each. Upon examination, I
ascertained that we had. barely beef and pork enough to
last forty days ; this Avas reported to the Captain, Avhen
he replied that it was all-sufficient.
March 3. — We hauled out of docky had a fine run
doAvn the Irish Channel, and steered aAvay to the south
ward^ for the Antigua passage. The Avhole time I spent
on board of this ship, thus far, had been, as disagreeable
as can well be imagined ; but the past could bear no
comparison with Avhat followed. Eight days had scarce
ly' elapsed since our departure from Liverpool, when the -
sailors were put on short allowance of beef and pork;
add to this, all hands Avere employed two days in the
week holystoning the decks with those immense stones J
before mentioned, that required six men to drag them
about. On field-days ill the spars, water-casks, &c.,' were
unlashed, and the de , s scrubbed in their places ; and,

320 life on the ocean.
to make ap the climax of drudger-y, as usual, all hands
were kept at work during the entire day: It may Avell
be supposed that my situation was not the most agree
able in the world; but a seaman can . fully conceive
Avhat kind of a time I had of. it, being necessarily
obliged to enforce the orders of Captain B. Although,
from my heart, I pitied the men, yet I was often com
pelled to resort to severe chastisement, in order to get
the work performed'. In a word, to sum up the charac
ter of Captain B., he was cruel, overbearing, mean, and
dastardly. When, according to his calculation, Ave, were
lb make the islands which form the Antigua passage, he
was again far out of his reckoning, and hove the .ship
to, four nights, with a fair wind. At length he humbled
himself, and asked me to take a lunar observation. I
complied with this request, and, according to the result,
we made the land, and arrived at New Orleans after a
passage of forty days. As the ship was to proceed to
Baltimore forthwith, I determined to remain in her,
although it might be at the expense of my feelings and
comfort. As a proof that I have not exaggerated, in
reference to the character of Captain B., and his general
treatment to his men, it may be sufficient to say, that,
immediately after Ave made the ship fast , alongside the"
levee, at New Orleans, every sailor, left the ship.
On the 12th of May, cast off from the wharf and
dropped down the river, and in thirty hours I was again
on the broad ocean, homeAvard bound. „ Nothing mate
rial transpired during this passage. In fourteen days we
arrived in Baltimore, and made fast alongside the wharf.
I am happy in being able to state, that, during a life
of fourteen years upon the ocean, — and of course I have
sailed Avith many commanders of various temperaments,
— the conduct of this last man Avas a manifest exception
to all the others ; and it Avould be no marvel, if such
Avere the general character of sea captains, that mutiny
and insubordination Avere the general characteristics of
Sailors. This, hoAvever, is not the case; there are many,
very many, honorable exceptions; and I have never

. LIFE CN THE OCEAN. 321
known. a commander, who was a good seaman, to be
tyrannical and overbearing. Capt. B. Avas immediately
discharged upon our arrival, and the command was
given to me. In consequence, however, of the yellow
fever raging violently at the time, the ship remained at
the wharf unemployed during the Avhole summer. In
the month of October, I assumed the command of the
ship Chauncey, four hundred tons' burden, and bound
to the Pacific Ocean. It will be seen that my»stay on
shore was of longer duration than it had been for many
years ; and as domestic cares had by this time beguri to
multiply* I found more difficulty to sever those strong
associations which entwined around the affections of
mutual love. How much is there in a sailor's life which
acts upon him as so many sources of sorrow and disqui
etude, — especially if he be united to one that is capable
of appreciating a sailor's love, and one, too, that is a
sharer and sympathizer in all his joys and sorrows, and
can feel for his perils and hardships ! This, then, Ava»
exactly my position; and notwithstanding I had been
privileged to remain Avith the objects of my affection
nearly four months, yet, as the time approached for sep
aration, I felt more deeply the anticipated privation
which I was called upon to endure. The ship requiring
many repairs, — such as calking, sheathing, coppering,
tfcc, — consequently, she was not ready for sea until the
first of December, at whicht time her lading was all.
completed, and she wgis in readiness for a two years'
voyage. Letjne digress here, to give some account of
the ship, her oAvners, and the supercargo, in order that
the circumstances connected with the ensuing voyage
may be better comprehended. As before stated, she
was about four hundred tons' burden, originally built
for a privateer; but,- as peace was proclaimed before
she was fitted out, she was risen upon Avith heavy up
per works, her iron fastenings Avere drilled out, and she
Avas refastened Avith copper, &c. The ship Avas very
sharp and very weak, her upper works being too heavy
for the lower frame. Her principal oAvner Avas a Scotch-
29*

322 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
man, proverbially close and penurious, as may be seen
from the following account : The crew of the ship
consisted of nineteen souls ; he made a calculation for
ninety days' passage from hence to Lima, Avith the cus
tomary allowance of beef, bread, and pork, for each day.
This amount was stowed so as to be at hand when
wanted; but the remainder of the provisions for the voy
age Avas, according to his orders, stowed underneath
the cargo. Remonstrance was useless. The supercargo
Avas a young German, a relative of one of the owners ;
he. had procured a greater part of the cargo on consign
ment ; he spoke the English language badly, arid did not
understand a Avord of the Spanish. The hour for sail
ing drew nigh,, and, Avith a heavy heart and painful
emotions, the last intervieAV Avas now about to take-
place. It was short and sad, for already the topsails *
and top-gallant-sails were at the mast-head ; the keen
north-west Avind blew piercingly ; blue Peter, at the
mast-head, fluttered, and the stars and stripes Avere quiv
ering in the breeze. The time for parting at length
came. For a moment I faltered ; but in the next might
have been heard the melancholy accents of bidding
adieu. I hurried out, saw nothing, heard nothing, and
felt nothing, until I found myself on the quarter deck
of the ship Chauncey. All were on, board; the single
fasts Avere slipped, and anon she Avas sailing rapidly
doAvn the river. «
IiL,tAVO days we anchored at New Point Comfort, the
Avind being to the eastAvard, with dark, threatening
weather. Here we had a fine opportunity to fill up our
water-casks, and to procure a good stock of fresh pro
visions. As the wind continued a-head for several days
the spars, water-casks, and boats, were all well secured ;
the chafing-gear — such as battens, mats, leathers, &c.
— Avere seized on in their respective places, and the ship
was now completely bandaged for a lor g cruise.

323

CHAPTER XXX,
VOYAGE '- HIE PACIFIC— * DANGEROUS LEE SHCM  AND PROV
IDENTIAL ESCAPE
Before leaving our anchorage, I had a fair opportunity
of ascertaining the character of my crew ; which consist
ed of eight able seamen, a carpenter, six young men
(all of respectable connections) as ordinary seamen, cook,
and steward ; first and second officers, with myself and
. supercargo'; being tAventy-one in number. Thus far, I
had reason to be well satisfied with them. In prosecut
ing this voyage, I put in execution what I had long con
templated. I took no liquor of any description on board ;
and, Avith the exception of a fe%- bottles of wine belong
ing to the supercargo, I had reason to believe that there
was none fore arid aft the ship ; in the place of which,
hoAvever, I alloAved the men tea, coffee, and sugar, and
they were all well satisfied with the substitute. As I
had now the entire command and control of this shir),
I determined to institute such regulations, and observe a
moderof treatment to the creAV, that would make their
time to pass as happily as the nature of a sea life would
admit. My first officer was an educated man, and a
good sailor ; the second officer was an able seaman,
nardy and rough, active and always ready to execute
- the commands of his superiors. Before we got under
way, the watches were chosen, and the rules and regu
lations for the discipline of the ship were made known
to the crew.
On the morning of December 7th, the wind sprang
up from the north-Avest, and by the time we got the
anchor weighed, it blew a strong gale. The ship's head
was canted to starboard, and Ave rah down to the Capes

324 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
under a reefed foresail. It Avas with much difficulty
and great hazard that our pilot got on board of his boat,
and at 10 A. M,; Ave passed Cape Henry lighthouse,
scudding, at the rate of eleven knots, under reefed fore
sail. At meridian, it continued to bloAV violently ; and,
as it is customary in every Avell-regulated ship either to
sound or. pump the vessel out, the carpenter Avas now
ordered to sound the pumps ; to my great surprise, he
reported that there were tAvo feet of Avater in her. This
was a source of great mortification, especially at the
commencement of a long voyage ; and the more so, be
cause there is no circumstance' that causes more distrust
and discontent among sailors than a leaky ship. It now
became necessary to keep one pump coustantly.going in
heavy weather, and every hour in moderate Aveather.
By dint of a little tact and management, pumping 'soon
became a matter of course Avith the seamen, and was
performed as cheerfully as any other part of the ship's
duty. As a passage similar to the present has been de
scribed in the first part «f this work, I deem it advi
sable not to sAvell these pages with a -repetition of un
necessary detail. Permit me, therefore, to transport the
roader from a sight of Cape Henry lighthouse, with a
.-.ard north-wester bloAving, over different oceans and
varied climes, and through all sorts of Avindsand weather,.
calms and gales, to a position off the Falkland Islands,
near Cape Horn, after the very short passage of sixty-
four days. All noAV Avas- on the tiptoe of expectation,
believing that we should double this, boisterous Cape
without much difficulty. I had, hoAvever, taken the
precaution to get the ship snug, and in perfect readiness
to encounter adverse weather in this region ; and, in my
opinion, this is what every good seaman 'ought to do;
for no sooner was the ship's head pointed to the south
west, off Staten Land, than it commenced to bloAV ino-
lently from west-south- Avest. The ship Avas put on the
starboard tack, and it blew so tremendously that noth
ing mdre than storm-trysails and- double-reefed, foresaid
could be carried. Now our troubles began to mu' tiply

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 325
upon us. For thirteen days it continued t,> bloAV an
incessant gale from west-soiith-Avest tosonth-west, with
high seas and sevSie hail-squalls : during the whole
time, neither sun, moon, nor stars, Avere seen; in addition
to this, we had now been out nearly eighty days, and it
became necessary, for the reasons stated at the corii-
mencement of this voyage, to reduce the alloAvance of
provisions ; and, Avhat Avas still worse, Ave had lrjst near
three hundred gallons of fresh water by the bursting of
two casks ; so that each man's allowance Avas now re
duced to half a pound of salt beef, or- pork, three quarters
of a pound of bread, and three pints of water, per day.
To be sure, we had' plenty of beans, peas, and rice;
but then there Avas no fresh Avater to cook them in.
Thus Avere we reduced to this scanty alloAvance at a
time Avhen Ave stood most in need of nourishment and
sufficiency of food; and this state of things, too, was
brought about by the cupidity and avariciousness of one
of the owners. From the closest calculations I could
make in reference to the position of the ship at this
period, — having had no opportunity to get observations
either of sun, moon, or stars, — I judged her to be to
the westward of the Avesternmosl point of* land off the
Cape ; but on the morning of the 26th February, while
lying to on the starboard tack, under "the trysails, in a
hard gale from the south-Avest, land was seen four points
on the Aveather bow and two points on the weather
quarter, while the whole ice-bound coast of Cape Horn
stretched along on our lee-beam.
Thus we were nearly land-locked, on a frightful lee-
shore, in a heavy gale. of wind, with a leaky ship. The
land on the weather bow proved to be the Island of
Diego Ramirez, that on the Aveather quarter, St. llde-
fonso Rocks, and that on the lee-beam was the coast of
Cape Horn. No alternative was now left, but either to
run betAveen Diego Rdm'irez and the coast, or to set a
press of canvass, and endeavor to beat offshore. Either
of these resorts Avould be attended Avith great peril and
danger.- I resolved, however, tc choose the latter, so that

'326 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
I could have the former— - that is, to run through the
channel, if there were any there — as a last resource.
The close-reefed main-topsail and reefed foresail Averenow
set upon the ship. With this additional sail, she bounded
over the high sea, making little more than two points and
a half lee-way. With what an anxious heart, aiid still
more anxious eye, did I note the bearings of the land !
but alas ! the sea rolled so heavily that it forced her to
leeward, and she drew in with the land. The close-
reefed fore-topsail Avas noAV set, and with this pressure
e-f head-sail she plunged into the sea, as if goaded to
madness by the additional weight of canvass ; and fre
quently the" jib-boom, bowsprit, and part of the fore
castle, were under water, while the dashing foam from
over the bows, and the heavy, rolling sea, broke fore and
aft the deck. It was four o'clock, and the ship Avas noAV
on the larboard tack. During the previous part of the
day, she had been pressed with canvass almost beyond
the power of her strength, and the gale still bleAV with
unabated violence. The rocks, piled Avith mountains of
ice, Avere not more than one mile and a half distant,
directly on the'lee-beam. With these dangers in view,
all hands were summoned to the quarter deck.
" My lads," said I, " you perceive the situation of this
ship; we have been carrying a hard press of canvass all
day, and yet Ave have lost ground, and are much nearer
the rocks now than Ave were in the morning ; night is
coming on, and it will be worse than useless to attempt
to beat off shore in this gale of wind ; we must now
wear ship, and stand off under a press of canvass, and
should the Avind favor us two points, Ave shall weather
Diego Ramirez ; but if the wind should break the ship off,
why then we must run through the channel between
the island and the coast. There are some sunken rocks
laid doAvn on the chart, but, with a good look-out, we
may clear them. You see, then, our salvation depends
much on your firmness and activity. Let there be no
confusion or insubordination; awayr then; to- your sta
tions; and stand by to wear ship ! "

LIFE ON THE CGEAN.

327

This order was promptly obeyed. The lee fore-tack
was stretched along to the windlass, and the braces
were manned.
" Are you all ready fore and aft ? "
" Ay^ay, sir ! " was the reply.
'' Put your helm up, and round in the after yards ! "
The main-topsail shook violently. " Square away the
head-yards ! " The ship immediately paid off before the
wind, and for a feAV minutes ran as if driven by a thou
sand furies ; presently, however, she came up, and took
the Avind on the starboard quarter. " Haul in your lar
board braces fore and aft! — heave doAvn the fore-tack,
and gather aft the fore-sheet — right your helm — belay
all, and steady out the bowlines." The ship came up
to the Avind,.but its violence hove her down nearly to
the quick- Avork.
" She has come up two points, sir," said the helmsman-
Thank God, said I, inwardly, — two more points and
all is safe. " Away there, aloft ! my lads ; loose the main
sail, and reef it."
The first officer looked me directly in the face, as
much as to say, " She will not bear it, sir." "She must
bear it," cried I, " or the masts shall go out of her, for
there is no alternative."
The mainsail was loosed and reefed, and the weather
clew-garnet was slacked down, while the tack was hove
down with the windlass ; then the sheet was hauled
close aft. With this broad sheet of canvass in her
centre, she dashed through the foaming billows with her
lee-gunAArale under water. Her head noAV looked up
four points to Avindward of the island, but darkness was
gathering fast upon us. The bearings of each point of
land were accurately taken and noted ; and now, to add
•fo the disasters of this fearful night, the lee-pump Avould
not keep the ship free, and the spirits of the sailors began
to sink.
At ten P. M., the gale moderated, and, the ship being
more ' upright, the weather pump Avas rigged, and she
was soon free. By this time I judged we were nearly
30

'326 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
I could have the former — that is, to run through the
channel, if there were any there — as a last resource.
The close-reefed main-topsail and reefed foresail were now
set upon the ship. With this additional sail, she bounded
over the high sea, making little more than two points and
a half lee-way. With what an anxious heart, arid still:
more anxious eye, did I note the bearings of the land !
but alas! the sea rolled so heavily that it forced her to
leeward, and she drew in with the land. The close-
reefed fore-topsail Avas now set, and with this pressure
e-f head-sail she plunged into the sea, as if goaded to
madness by the additional weight of canvass ; and fre
quently the~jib-boom, bowsprit, and part of the fore
castle, were under water, while the dashing foam from
over thebows, and the heavy, rolling sea, broke fore and
aft the deck. It was four o'clock, and the ship Avas noAV
on the larboard tack. During the previous part of the
day, she had been pressed with canvass almost beyond
the power of her strength, and the gale still blew with
unabated violence. The rocks, piled Avith mountains of
ice, were not more than one mile and a half distant,
directly on the' lee-beam. With these dangers in view,
all hands were summoned to the quarter deck.
" My lads," said I, " you perceive the situation of this
ship ; Ave have been carrying a hard press of canvass all
day, and yet Ave have lost ground, and are much nearer
the rocks now than we were in the morning ; night is
coming on, and it will be worse than useless to attempt
lo beat off shore in this gale of wind ; Ave must now
wear ship, and stand off under a press of canvass, and
should the Avind favor us two points, we shall weather
Diego Ramirez ; but if the wind should break the ship off,
why then we must run through the channel between
the island and the coast. There are some sunken rocks
laid doAvn on the chart, but, with a good look-out, we
may clear them. You see, then, our salvation depends
much on your firmness and activity. Let there be no
confusion or insubordination; awayr then; to your sta
tions,- and stand by to wear ship ! "

LUTE ON THE OCEAN. 329
sun rose clear, and not a cloud Avas seen in the heavens
as the glorious orb ascended upon his daily round. A-
light cat's-paw came dancing over the glassy bosom , of
the deep, directly off, the land. The yards Avere quickly
trimmed, the light sails shivered and swelled out from the
masts, and, ere long, the whole surface of the Avater Avas
ruffled Avith the increasing breeze. The topsails, as if
relieved from violent labor, fell asleep. She" starts —
she moves through the water — she is safe ! In fifteen
minutes she was running, Avith topmast and loAver stud
ding-sails set, at the rate of seven knots per hour, directly
from the land. We sat doAvn that morning to our
homely mea.l, overpowered with gratitude to Almight"
God, for this extraordinary act of his- mercy, in deign
ing to grant our deliverance from a violent death, and
preserving the ship in safety.
' The breeze lasting six hours, I took the precaution to
get an offing. It Avas Avell I did so ; for at 8 o'clock
the same night, it bleAV a gale from the south-Avest, and
"the ship, was under close-reefed topsails." From the
heavy pressure of canvass carried on Avhile beating off
shore, the ship had strained considerably, and increased
the leak, insomuch that one pump Avould not keep her
free. Fortunately, however, the second day after leav
ing the land, while the cook Avas getting up wood from
the fore-peak, he discovered one. of the breast-hooks to
Avork, and the water pouring in through two of the boat
fastenings. Upon examination,- it Avas found that all the
bolts which secured this breast-hook Avere -iron, and
that the copper had eaten them aAvay, leaving nothing
but the iron rust in the bolt-holes. Long wooden tree-
- nails were made, wound round Avith tarred parceling,
and driven into every- bolt-hole ; a shoar was then fitted,
one end of which was placed on the breast-hook, and
the other end against a beam ; in this way it Avas strongly
• secured, and, to our great joy, the leak wasjso far stopped
as to make it necessary to pump only once in two hours.
But our troubles were not yet at an end. The wind
continued to blow a gale from west to south-west for

330 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
several successive days, so that it Avas impossible to get
to the westward, and it. became necessary .oiice more to
reduce the allowance of bread and water — say one quart
of Avater, and half a pound of bread, daily, per man, for
seven days. Such was the severity of the Aveather, that
the cook was unable to make any fire in the galley;
consequently, we had to eat raw beef and pork, which
made our thirst intolerable. On the eighth day after
leaving the land, the wind moderated, artd it fell away
calm. The heavy south-west 'sAvell went down, and in
the afternoon a rolling SAvell came up from the eastAvard.
From the indications of the weather, I supposed we
should soon have an easterly gale ; and before darkness
closed in upon us, the topsails were close-reefed, the
courses were reefed and furled, with the mizzen-topsail,
jib, and mizzen, so that the ship Avas now under tAvo
close-reefed topsails and fore-topmast-staysail. My sup
positions Avere correct; for at 8 o'clock the wind sprang
up from the eastAvard, and beforl ten it ble.AV a violent .
gale. The riiain-topsail was clewed up and furled, and
we scudded aAvay to the westward during the whole
night, with the close-reefed fore-topsail, at the rate of
eleven ana twelve kiiots per hour.

CHAPTER XXXI.
CONTINUATION OF VOYAGE  ARRIVAL AT CALLAO  V SIT TO
LIMA, &.C.
The ship was, by computation, in latitude 56° 30'
i-mth ; and, as Ave had run sufficiently far lo the west
ward, at daylight in the morning Ave steered away to
the nortliAvard, so that, by tAvelve o'clock, her course
was north-north-west. Iu eight days from this period
we Avere in sight of the Island of Juan Fernandez. It
was my intention' to stop at this place, and fi^tl up the
water; but, at 2 P. M., the cheering cry was heard, from
the mast-head, of " Sail ho ! " At three o'clock Ave spoke
the United States' frigate Constellation, Com. Ridgely,
bound to the United States, from the Pacific station.' I
Avent on board, and was necessarily obliged to state to
the commodore our condition and wants. After bestow
ing some hearty blessings on the owners of the ship, he
.very politely supplied us with two hundred gallons of
Avater, and three barrels of bread. This seasonable sup
ply precluded the necessity of touching at the island ; so
we continued our course towards Lima, Avhere Ave ar
rived iu eight days, and anchored in the harbor of Cal-
lao March 25th, 1823, making the passage in one hun
dred and eight days from the Capes of Virginia.
Here were a number of British, French, and German
Tessels, and the market was completely glutted Avith all
kinds of merchandise peculiar to. those nations. Flour,
however, Avas in great demand, in consequence of the
crop having entirely failed in Upper Peru and Chili.
We lay here three months, during which we did not
sell more than one third part of the cargo. Our next
destination beirig to the intermediate ports of Peru, then
30* "

332

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

'in the possession of the royalists, and which were- in
a state of blockade by the Peruvian government, — r of
course we remained here for convoy, which was expect
ed every hour from the United States. I- took this op
portunity of visiting Lima. Like most of the other
Spanish cities, some of the buildings Avere large and
magnificent, having a court-yard forming a square, the
passage leading to Avhich is through a massive folding
gate. The greater part pf the buildings are of a most
ordinary kind, and the streets are narrow, very much
confined, and exceedingly dirty. - The churches, many
of them, are very large, and formerly Avere famous for
their riches, particularly the cathedral, the altar of which
was made of beaten -silver; the candlesticks, and the
other embellishments, of pure gold; but since the revo
lution, these riches have nearly all been removed, and
coined into money, to carry on the expenses of the war.
I visited, also, the Pantheon, or repository for the dead,
which is situated at a small distance outside of the city.
This plaCe contains about tAvelve acres of land, with a
Wall, built in the form of a circle, which encloses all the
ground ; this wall is ten feet high and seven feet thick —
not unlike the parapets of a fortress — built of stone ; and
there are three receptacles, or holes, one above the other,
'sufficiently large to admit a coffin, each height being
three feet apart. The bodies remain here until they are
entirely decomposed, when the bones are taken out,
piled up into large heaps, and burned. The higher class
of persons" have splendid tombs erected in the ground,
wherein they bury their dead, and from Avhence they are
never removed. At the entrance of this charnel-house,
there is a large chapel, which on no occasion is used,
except for the performance of funeral rites. This place
is unlike any other part of Lima, as it is well construct
ed, and kept in the most perfect and neat order.
Lima is situated seven miles north of Callao, a place
but a short distance from the' site Avhere old Callao
stood, which, it will be remembered, was destroyed by
an earthquake about eighty years previous to this period.

L1IE UiN TMI, ULE1M.

333

With the exception of one man, every soul perished,
and eve'ry house and building sank, and Avas SAvallowed
up, in this awful catastrophe. I visited this spot, and,
although the country around Avas exceedingly fertile,
yet here Avas neither verdure, shrub, nor spire of grass,
— the Avhole surface being oue entire bed of ashes. The
extreme tops of some of the houses are yet to be seen.
It fell to my lot, while here, to be ff"Avitness of one of
these dreadful earthquakes : it happened at night, about
ten o'clock, Avhile I was on shore. Many houses were
knocked down ; and, while I was endeavoring to get to
my boat, the ground rolled, and undulated, like the
waves of the sea; for several' minutes I found it impos
sible to proceed; at length, hoAvever, I reached the boat,
and found the men in the deepest consternation. They
informed me, that, for a feAV moments, the water had
retired sixty feet, and then rushed back Avith incredible
rapidity, sweeping all before it. I did not remain^on
shore, after night, during the whole period of our stay.
The United States' ship Franklin, Commodore Stew
art, at length arrived, and we made application for con
voy to the blockaded ports, which was immediately
granted. In three days after, AvaAvere under Avay, bound
to Qnilca, under the convoy of the Franklin, and, on
the seventh night, anchored off that port. Here Ave dis
charged nearly the whole of the cargo, by order of the
supercargo, for Avhich I required him to endorse the
bills of lading. The merchandise Avas all sent to Are-
quipa, the capital of Upper Peru. The intention of the
supercargo was to remain at Arequipa, in order to effect
the sales of the cargo ; and his orders to me .Avere to
proceed forthwith to Valparaiso, and remain there until
further orders from him. From my observations on the
character and competency of the supercargo, I foresaw
that this would be a ruinous voyage ; on t he strength,
therefore, of this belief, I insisted that every order from^
him to me should be givep in Avriting, which was ac
cordingly done. In eleven "days from Quilca, we an
chored in the port of Valparaiso, and there discharged

334 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
the remaining part of the cargo, according to order. We
lay in this porf nearly four months, arid, during this
period, there Avas a slight shock of an earthquake once
a day, for forty days in succession. I embraced the op
portunity, while here, in company Avith several of the
officers of the Franklin, to visit Santiago, the capital of
Chili, and the famous springs of Caukennes.
Santiago is situated.aboi.it ninety miles north-east of
Valparaiso, and is one of the most beautiful cities in
Spanish America. It is built nearly at the base of the
first range of the famous Cordilleras ; the climate is
generally temperate, although it is sometimes very warm.
Ice has never been knoAvn to make in the city, and yet
every day presents to the vision the sublime and mag
nificent sight of the perpetually snow-topped and .ice
bound mountains, to which Jhe muleteers ascend and
bring loads of ice upon their mules, — one of the great
est luxuries in Avarm weather. -• Although the buildings*
of this city are neither so large, nor so magnificent, as
those of Lima, yet they far surpass thern in neatness and
beauty. They are generally rough-cast and white-
Avashed, Avliich gives them an air of the most perfect
cleanliness. The streets are Avide, and also clean, and
are laid out at right angles. There seemed to exist a
corresponding congeniality throughout the community,
for the inhabitants Avere more sociable, and more hospita
ble to strangers, than any Spaniards I had ever met with.
After remaining here one Aveek, we proceeded to the
springs, a distance of one hundred miles from Santiago.
On this route we were obliged to take guides, as our
course lay sometimes through forests, Avithout any cer
tain marks to distinguish the way. It Avas a journey full
of interest. Travelling the greater part of the distance
at the base of high mountains, it Avas not unusual to
see a volcano every ten miles. It Avas a sublime sight,
in the dusk of the evening, to behold, these burning
mountains sending forth liquid flames of fire. The sec
ond day, at four o'clock, we- arrived at the banks of the
River Hatchapal, from whence may be seen, on the other

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 33d \
side, on an eWation of about one hundred and fifty feet,
the small settlement of Caukennes. Here Ave dismount
ed, and the guides led our horses across a swinging
bridge, made exclusively of hides ; after Avhich, in about
half an hour, we arrived at our journey's end. These
springs are famous for the cure of epilepsy and scorbutic
eruptions. They vary iu temperature, from 80° to 160°
Fahrenheit. Many persons resort to this place from all
parts of Chili. Bathing in them is said to be a perfect
cure for the diseases above named. As there were none
of our company diseased, we remained here but one
day, and then started again for Santiago at five in the
morning ; and, incredible as it may appear, we arrived-in
Santiago at six o'clock the same evening, changing our
horses three times, and resting two hours in the heat of
the day — thus having travelled a distance of one hun
dred miles in eleven hours.
*- After remaining here a few days, we proceeded im
mediately to Valparaiso, where I found Mr. V., the
supercargo. He informed me that he had obtained a
cargo, and forty passengers, at Arequipa, for Cadiz, and
that we must proceed forthwith to give the ship such
repairs as Avere necessary, Avith^ provisions, stores, &c,
"and then repair immediately to Quilca, where the cargo
and passengers Avould be in readiness.
Noav, as this place Avas in a state of blockade, and 'as
there were none of our men-of-Avar here at present,
great risk would be incurred in attempting to enter that
port Avithout a convoy.' Again, the expenses of an out
fit for this expedition would be very great ; and, without
some guaranty to cover the expense and risk, I believed
the whole expedition to be perfectly unjustifiable. I
learned from Mr. V., hoAvever, that he had no. guaranty
whatever, except the bare word of the Spaniards. I
remonstrated with-him upon the great uncertainty which
would attend the Avhole of this enterprise ; all was in
vain. He gave me written orders to fit the ship out as
before stated. Two surveyors were called bythe United
States' consul ; and their reports Avere, that the ship must

336 - LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
be calked, coppered, and that she must, hare a new
mizzen-mast, Avith some new sails, &c. This was ac
cordingly done — which, together with the provisions,,
stores, &c, amounted to the enormous expense of six
thousand dollars. Everything being now in complete
readiness, we got under way from Valparaiso, without
convoy, and, in a feAV days, Avere off the port of (Juilca.
As none of the blockading squadron Avere seen, we ran
in, and came to an anchor. Mr. V. Avent on shore ; and,
to his great surprise and mortification, learned that
.neither cargo nor passengers Avere there. This was
what I had expected.
Written orders Avere received from him. to get under
way, and cruise off and on for fifteen days, at the expi
ration of which the ship was to come into port ; and, in
the mean time, he assured me, that the cargo and passen
gers Avould be in readiness to be taken on board. All
this Avas done, in accordance with his commands; but
when the ship reentered the port, neither cargo, pas
sengers, supercargo, nor letters, were waiting for me.
Here, then, I was, in a blockaded port, liable every hour
to seizure. In this dilemma, I sent an express to Mr. V.,
at Arequipa, but received no answer. Seven days passed
aAvay, during Avhich three expresses Avere sent, but with
no better success, for no tidings could be heard of him.
On the eighth day, at 2 P. M., a sail was seen in the
offing ; but, as it Avas quite calm, she could not get in,
neither could Ave get under AVay to go out. Believing
the sail to be one of the blockading squadron, every
preparation was made to, defend the ship as long as pos
sible. Before night closed in, we ascertained the sail to
be a schooner, ancl as Such, I did not fear her much, as
we had six guns and tAventy good men.- At eight o'clock
a boat Avas seen approaching the ship, which was or
dered to keep off, but, after some expostulation, she was
permitted to come alongside. Permission Avas granted
to the officer of the boat to coine on deck ; he proved
to be an Englishman ; said that he belonged to the
Peruvian man-of-war outside, and that he had been

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. CJI
pent by his commander to inform me that this port Avas
ander a state of blockade by the Peruvian government
and that, as I had violated it, of course I must consider
the ship as a prize to the Peruvian schooner Lorenzo.
I replied, that the strength of the vessels must be tested
before I could think of giving up my ship. He Avas
then ordered into his boat, and aAvay they Avent.
All hands lay at quarters during the night ; and in
the morning, at daylight, the schooner Avas within half a
mile of us, pulling in Avith her sweeps ; when about ,
three hundred yards, distant, she lowered and manned
her boat ; at the same time, Ave manned tAvo of the ship's
boats. I took charge of one, and gave the other to the
second mate, leaving the first mate on board, to use
the large guns should they be needed. As soon as the
schooner's boat pulled off, 'we pulled away also in our
tAvo boats. I gave orders previously to the second mate
that, when we were abreast of the schooner's boat, we
must close"in and capture her, and then immediately
board the schooner. It was the work of but a few
minutes. The Spanish boat was captured without re
sistance, and we boarded the schooner under the cove
of our own guns. This being done, I ran her in and
anchored her astern of the ship, spiked her large gun,
threw all her small arms and ammunition overboard,
and moored her boats alongside of the ship. The
schooner Avas detained until we were ready to sail, and
then their vessel was given up to them.
- The detention of this vessel may perhaps be thought
an unwarrantable proceeding ; but it -will be recollected
that rny ship had been convoyed by the United States'
ship Franklin to this port after the declaration of the
blockade, so that I had sufficient proof that the Ameri
can authorities in these seas did not acknowledge it. I
had not only a right to defend my ship, but also to put
it out of the poiver of the schooner to capture or surprise
us in any Avay ; and further, it will be seen that neces
sity compelled me to 'do this, as the schooner had fifty
men and one long tAvelve-pqunder on a pivot — a fear*
ful odds against twenty men and six small guns.

338

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

Seven days more passed away, and no communication
was' received from 'Mr. V., although I frequently heard
that he was dashing aivay in great style Avith a Spanish
lady, .\vhom he afterwards married. Noav, to remain
here any longer would be exceedingly hazardous, be
cause some one of the large vessels composing the
blockading squadron was hourly expected ; and as forty
days had passed aAvay since we first came doAvn to' this
port, and there being no probability Avhatever that any
thing would be done by the supercargo, — weighing all
these considerations maturely, I re.solved, in order to
save the ship, to proceed immediately to the United
States. Accordingly, the next day, June 3d, 1824, after letting
the schooner free, weighed anchor, made all sail, and
stood to sea, homeAvard bound.
I shall, for the sake of brevity, pass over the space of
five weeks, and conduct my reader once more along a
vast tract of ocean ; and if he is not tired Avith a stormy
and cold region near to the South Shetland Isles, I will
again place him on board the ship Chauncey, surround
ed with fields and islands of ice, in the latitude of 58 de
grees south, oa the 12th July. It Avill be recollected that
this is the depth of winter in this region, daylight con
tinuing only about four hours, and the meridian altitude
cf the sun about 13 degrees. The situation of the ship
at this time was perilous in the extreme. At daylight
in the morning, after we had gotten into the field ice,
no end could be seen to. it from the. mast-head. Fot
tunatel'y, however, it Avas broken into pieces of various
sizes, 'with mushy ice betAveen them. No pen or im
agination can describe the horror of this situation. The
intensity of the cold maybe conceived from the fact,
.that Fahrenheit then stood fifteen degrees below zero-
at the entrance of the cabin. The great danger arising
from the probability that the ice would cut our ship
through, increased our fears ; add to which, the uncer
tainty Avhen we should get clear of the ice, and the
positive certainty that we could not exist a long time in

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 339
this cold region. Despair evidently appeared in tho
countenances of the creAV ; and, although death stared us
in the face, yet it was not a time for me to flinch or
falter. For the space of a feAV moments, alone in the
cabin, I commended myself and creAV to the care and
mercy of that God Avho had so often delivered us from
danger, and Avhose eye never slumbers nor sleeps ; after
this, every fear seemed to vanish, and I consulted Avith
the officers as torthe best method of protecting the ship
from the ice. This was done by running a grass cable
round the boAvs of the ship, and lashing it to the boAV-
. sprit shroud-bolts. Two-inch plank's were then placed
up and down, and. secured to the same bolts, near . the
Avater's edge ; then a'large, rough spar was run out to
the end of the bowsprit, on the end of which Avas a
strong strap ; to this was hooked a tackle from the end
of the bowsprit, so that, .by hoisting and loAvering- alter
nately, it might break the ice ahead of the ship. After
all these preparations Avere made, to shield the boAvs
from being cut, through, I resolved to make as much sail
as possible, to press the ship through the ice, and
steer away to the north Avard. This Avas accordingly
done as long as daylight would permit. At sunset, how
ever, no clear place Avas seen ; and she was pressed
through the ice until midnight, Avhen the sails Avere
•furled, and we lay by until half past nine the next.
morning, that being the time of daylight. The wind
now blb\v a pretty strong gale from the south-west, and
the ice was undulating like the waves of the sea, while
the sea-fowl, among which were huge albatrosses,
gathered around us in great numbers, as if instinctively
awaiting the hour of destruction, to seize upon us for
their prey. In vain Ave strained our utmost vision to
behold a clear place of blue water ; alas ! no joyful sight
of this kind was visible. Once more sail Avas made on
the ship/ and again was she pressed through the ice
throughout the day. At sunset, not only our ears, but
our hearfs, were saluted Avith the cheering and' joyful
intelligence, from the mast-head, that a clear place, of

340 _,IFE ON THE OCEAN.
blue Avater, tAvo points on the larboard bow, was in sight
Darkness closed in upon us, before which, hoAvever, the
bearings of this clear place were taken. We steered
directly, for it, and before midnight Ave reached it, when
the ship was hove to. The next morning, it was all clear
aAvay to the northward of us; and, by twelve o'clock.
that day, the ice — both field and islands — was far away
to the southward and eastward. The cable, planks,- and
spar, were all taken on board ; a press of canvass Avas set
on the ship; and at sunset, there Avas no ice to be seen
from the mast-head.
We had a fine run round the Cape, and passed to the
eastward of the Falkland Islands.' The. peculiar cir
cumstances by which we had been surrounded for the
last few days, and the great deliverance which had been
Avrought out for us, not only made a deep impression on
my mitad, but also acted upon those of the seamen •
many of them became serious and thoughtful ; and I
had reason to believe that the impression made upon
their minds, in consequence of the many difficulties and
perils through which Ave had passed, produced salutary
effects, at least Avith some of them. For my own part
I Avas more deeply convinced than ever of the necessity
of a thorough change in heart and life, in order to be at
all times prepared for the various casualties consequent
upon a sea life.
The wind continued strong and fair, and the ship
boanded over the blue ocean at a rapid rate ; nor was
there any cessation until we had crossed the equinoctial
line, and reached the parallel of 12° north, when six
days of interminable calm, Avith all its train of anxieties,
were endured ¦ after which, the north-east trade wind
sprang up, and carried us into the variable latitude ; and,
with but little intermission, we took the Avind to the
southward, which ran us into the Chesapeake Bay,
ninety-one days from Qnilca. (In two days we anchored
in the port of Baltimore,- after an abserjce of nearly two
years, making the passage in ninety-three 'days.
It may be supposed that no small degree of astonish-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 341
ment existed among the owners Avhen this ruinous and
disastrous voyage Avas made known to them. Of course,
I came in for a share of the blame ; and yet, there was
no transaction connected with this voyage (except the
fact of my assuming the responsibility to return home
Avith the ship) for Avhich I could be justly censured
having acted in all respects according to the letter of
my instructions, and having, also, Avritten orders from
Mr. V. for all that had been done. It was exceedingly
fortunate for me that the bills of lading were receipted
by Mr. V^ or the shippers would have made me respon
sible for their property. Thus ended a voyage full of.
privations, hardships, and perils, alike ruinous to the OAvn-
ers and shippers — for, Avith the exception of eighteen
thousand dollars, not one cent was ever received from
the supercargo, who married and settled at Arequipa',
soon ran through with all his means, and closed his
'career among Spaniards.
How necessary, in vieAV of this statement of facts.
together with many other similar circumstances which
I have before stated, that commanders of vessels shoula
make themselves capable of transacting the various busi
ness of any and all voyages they may be called upon to
prosecute; and I am thoroughly convinced that, in one
half the ruinous voyages that are made, the loss is OAving
principally, to the utter incompetency of the supercarg
intrusted with the n.anagement.
31*

342

CHAPTER XXXII.
RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS AND HAPPY RESULTS  SAIL FOR HA
VANA AND SOUTHERN PORTS  RENCONTRE WITH PIRATES
ONBOARD  THEIR CAPTURE AND DELIVERY TO THE AU
THORITIES OF NEW ORLEANS.
The solemn impressions made on my mind by the'
many perilous circumstances in which I had been
placed, were strengthened by the fact, that, in many
instances, human friendship exists in just the same
ratio as temporal interest is served; and, again, that no
permanent or lasting happiness can be enjoyed apart
from that feast which is only within the province of
religion to bestow. The necessity of its enjoyment,
therefore, now became the primary object of my pursuit ;
and, although I felt the pride of my heart a serious
obstacle to its accomplishment, yet, so deep and power
ful Avere the convictions of my mind in reference to the
unsafety of my condition, that even this obdurate pride
did not prevent me from making use of the means, both
public and private. In this state of mind, therefore,
I waited, in expectation that, through the medium of
t ese channels, I should receive the desire of my heart.
When, therefore, the great deep of my soul_was broken
up; wheirl realized the imbecility of my own power to
save ; in a word, .when I felt that Jesus Christ had can
celled the debt which I had incurred tc divine. justice; and
when faith laid hold upon him as my only surety, — then
it was that joy and gladness sprang up in my soul, the
bhfden of sin was removed, and I felt a peace indescri
bable, and heretofore unknown. Nor Avas this state of
happiness confined exclusively to myself. The one of
all others, Avhom 'I desired to be a sharer of the same
blissful feelings, had, long before my arrival, obtained a
like precious faith

LIFE ON -THE OCEAN. 313
The ship Chauncey Avas again loaded and ready for
¦sea, bound for Havana ; Ave sailed on the 25th of Octo-
i

r, and arrived at the latter place on the 7th of Novem
ber. The cargo Avas immediately sold, and a good offer
obtained for the ship, Avhich was accepted, and she was
accordingly sold for the benefit jf ail concerned.
Iu the course of -three Aveeks, I was again „i the
enjoyment of all the comforts of domestic and social
life, and resolved, if possible, never to subject my
self again to the Avhinis and caprices of men who
kueAV not hoAV to appreciate the hardships and perils of
seamen. With these feelings uppermost in my mind, I
purchased a sharp schooner of about a hundred tons'
burden, and obtained a freight for the Havana ; my
intention being to employ her betAveen that port, New
Orleans, and one other of the southern ports in the
United States. Having now the sole control of vessel
and cargo, of course I Avas at liberty to adopt such regu
lations as my judgment dictated ; and as the religion of
the Bible is an expansive principle, and breathes good
will to all men, so I determined to institute its forms on
board of my vessel, and disseminate its precepts among
the seamen under my command.
The schooner being ready for sea, Ave sailed the
beginning of January, 1825 ; .and from the commence
ment of this voyage — although the cross Avas heavy, for
1 had some old, refractory sailors to deal with — I had
prayers tAvice iu the week, and Avorship twice on the
Sabbath day. . By a judicious and proper treatment
tOAvards the. sailors, the great difficulty Avhich I had
anticipated, to induce them to conform to these rules,
very soon vanished ; and -I am confident, from expe
rience, that, if due regard be observed to the feelings
and comforts of seamen (and this may be done without
relaxing in the least from a good state of discipline)
while ou shipboard, they may be brought under reli
gious impressions with greater facility than landsmen.
The good effects of the observances of religion Aveie
abundantly manifest in some of the seamen during

344 LIFE ON THE 0( PAN.
the voyages I made in this vessel, and particularly se
in time of danger and peril, which existed to an alarm
ing degree ; for it must be recollected that, at about this
period, the ocean sAvarmed with pirates, avIio were com
mitting great depredations about Cuba and the Gulf of
Mexico. It so happened that, on one of my voyages from
Havaria to NeAV Orleans, I had taken nine Spanish
passengers, and a young .American midshipman, Avho
once belonged to' Porter's fleet, and who had been
wounded in a boat-skirmish with the pirates. This'
young gentleman Avas going to join his friends in New
Orleans. He understood the Spanish language, and
spoke it fluently, as Avell as -myself. After getting under
way from Havana, and stretching over to the Tortugas
Bank, the young midshipman, while I was aloft, Avatch-
ing the manoeuvres of a vessel then in sight, over
heard the Spanish passengers concert a plan to take the
schooner that night, throw all the crew overboard,
and then run her into Galveston, which at that period
was a rendezvous for pirates. They Avere not aAvare
that the midshipman understood the Spanish language ;
consequently, their most barbarous intentions were
learned from their OAvn lips, and communicated to me
by the midshipman, — they supposing, of course, I was
ignorant of their diabolical plans, and that we should
fall an easy prey, because there Avere but eight of us
altogether, and they calculated that one Avatch alone
would be on deck. I made the crew acquainted with
the intentions of the Spaniards ; and, although there was
no weapon on board except an old sabre, yet I made
the folloAving disposition, in case of an attack : four
sailors Avere armed with handspikes, and commanded to
walk the deck during the night ; the cook, a very stout
colored man, Avas ordered to fill his coppers full of
water, and keep it at boiling heat, so that, in the event
of a rush of the Spaniards, he was to drench them with
"the scalding Avater ; the mate Avas placed at the helm
with a rigger's large marlinspike ; and I took charge of
the whole concern with the old sabre in hand. »

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 345
In order that the reader may better understand all the
manoeuvres, I will state" as clearly as possible the plan
laid by the Spaniards. As is commonly the 'case Avith
all sharp schooners, ours had a long trunk, in the
fonvard part of Avhich was a hatchway leading into the
steerage, where the Spanish passengers slept. One of
the hatches was usually adjusted in its place, and the
other hatch placed on top of it. The plan concerted by
the Spaniards Avas, to have one of their number sleep
on deck, on the starboard side of this hatchway, and
another on the larboard side, while a third was to sleep
on a hencoop which extended across the Avhole breadth
of the deck abaft the tiller ropes ; and the remainder of
them were to go beloiv, as usual. The signal for the
attack was as follows : the' Spaniard who slept on the
starboard side was to' give three raps Avith the ringbolts
as a signal for those beloAV to rush out and overcome
the sailors, and the one who ¦ slept on the larboard side,
at the same instant, was to kill the officer of the deck,
while the third, who slept on the hencoop abaft; was to
silence the man at the helm.
With the deepest anxiety, I waited the attack until
midnight, when the Spaniard on the larboard side arose
and Avalked forward. At this point, I cautioned the
mate to watch the Spaniard abaft, and, if he moved or
showed any disposition to an attack, to knock him in
the head with his marlinspike. I then placed a man
with a handspike by the side of the cook, and ordered
them, in case the Spaniards below attempted to rush on
deck, to get the other hatch on, if possible, and fasten
them doAvn, or. if they found this to be impracticable,^
then to use the handspikes, and* administer the hot
'water as copiously as they chose ; but in no case Avhat
ever was this to be done unless they first made the
attack. I then Avent fonvard Avhere sat the large Span
iard on the forescuttle with his capola thrown around
him. At this moment, the preconcerted signal Avas given
by the Spaniard abaft. My antagonist before me rose

346 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
and drew his knife, which 1 immediately shuck out of
his hand with my sabre. Finding himself disarmed, he
begged for mercy. It was the Avork of a moment to
# throAV him doAvn the forescuttle and bar it upon him.
Rushing aft immediately, I found the cook had made
good use of his boiling water, for, Avhile the Spaniards
attempted to gain the deck, they encountered, to their
utter astonishment, the scathing of this terrible and
irresistible weapon, causing them to retreat as rapidly as
they had advanced. After some further resistance on
their part, Ave succeeded in getting the hatch on, and
securing them below. The two remaining Spaniards,
who Avere now on deck, and Avho were the most promi
nent actors in this tragical scene, seeing that all their
plans Avere frustrated, like^dastardly cowards fell upon
their knees and sued for mercy. They were tied hand
and foot, and lashed down to the ringbolts on deck.
In the morning, at daylight, I made them come up. one
after another, and lashed them in the same Avay I had
the others. Tavo of them had been considerably scalded,
and I had inflicted a small wound on the wrist of the
miscreant who had drawn his knife upon me. After
they were all Avell secured, and lashed to the deck, their
trunks arid baggage Avere examined, and the contents
consisted of pistols, dirks, Jtnives, and carbines, wjth all
sorts of balls, buck-shot, and a large quantity of gun
powder. With all these proofs against them, it may^be thought
singular that I did not make them walk the plank.
There was a time perhaps Avhe'n, in the heat of excite-
-ment, such atrocities would have met with summary
punishment ; fortunately, -however, my judgment, in
fluenced by a higher power, triumphed, and their lives
Avere spared in the midst of this wild scene of excite
ment. In four days Ave arrived at Nbav Orleans, and
after a protest Avas entered, these pirates Avere delivered
up to the proper authorities ; but such Avas the influence
exerted by the Spaniards and French at this period in
this place, that very little could be done Avith these mis-

LIFE OK THE OCEAN. 347
creants in order to bring them to that condign punish
ment Avhich they so richly deserved.
Five voyages Ave re made in this schooner betAveen
Havana, Matanzns, and Charleston, South Carolina;
and it Avill be unnecessary to enter into, all the minti-
tia; and detail. I Avould state, hoAvever, that, Avith very
few exceptions, the officers and creAV remained Avith
me nearly every voyage, and I had the satisfaction to
believe that the moral feelings of the seamen Avere in
some degree advanced by the course Avhich was adopted
on board of my vessel. After many hair-breadth escapes
and dangers, and after having been hard chased by the
pirates, I shall conclude this series of voyages by giving
a description of a piratical chase off the Double-Headed
Shot-Keys, on the last voyage. •
Let the reader take passage Avith me from Charleston,
South Carolina, as far as the Salt Key Bank, and then
imagine himself to be on board of a sharp schooner,
under a heavy press of canvass, with a fair Avind, having
just cleared the Double-Headed Shot-Keys, and steering
aAvay s'outh-Avest for Matanzas. If he can place himself
in the position before stated, he will have a tolerably
correct idea of the chase in vieAv.
At meridian, the seaman at the mast-head was ordered
to take a good look around the horizon, and then come
doAvn to dinner : he reported nothing in sight ; but as I
never felt perfectly composed in mind, when in the
neighborhood of- this region at this period, I went aloft
myself, and soon discovered a sail about six points on
the larboard boAV, standing directly for us, and so close
|hat the men could be distinctly seen on her decks, Avith
a spy-glass. By alittle manoeuvring I soon ascertained
that she was, any thing but a friend. Our studding-sails
being on the larboard side, they Avere shifted so as to
bring her on the starboard tack, and prevent the strange
sail from cutting us off, Avhich appeared to be her object.
She ,Avas a large sloop under a very heavy press of can
vass, and had closed in Avith us so much (not being more
than gunsho.t off) that Ave could distinctly see her deck

348 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
' full of men. Up to this time we had stood on our course ,
but it now became necessary, from the suspicious-look'
ing character of the strange sail, to haul aAvay from her,
and try our rates of sailing. Our yards were accordingly
trimmed so that every sail Avould draAv. , The very frio-
ment that Ave altered our course and hauled off from the
sloop, she ran up a large red flag, emblematic of a pirate,
and let us have a shot, which fell at a little distance astern
of us. Our situation now was critical : if perchance
her shot should cut away any one of our spars, of
course we should be taken, and no doubt all of us
put to death, as many others had been. Resistance
would be worse, than useless, because there were but
eight of us. Still I had a lotig French six-pounder
mounted on a very high carriage, so that it could be
elevated above the rail. The pirate now appeared to
gain upon us slowly, Avhich seemed to have a poAverful
effect upon the creAV. The schooner was then trimmed
Avith all possible exactness, by running the gun aft, and
placing, the water-casks amidships. Again all Avas
silent ; the one in chase let slip a shot Avhich fell on our
starboard beam. The yawing and discharging her bow-
chaser had the effect to drop her a little astern. For
twenty minutes she was narrowly watched, and it be
came evident that we were now gaining upon the rascal ;
exasperated, doubtless, on seeing Ave Avere outsailing him,
he opened a brisk fire upon us. Fortunately, ho Ave ver,
but one single shot took effect, which cut away the
quarter-piece. It was now our turn. Being positive that
we could outsail him, the stars and stripes were run up
to the peak, and Ave gave him a shot from Mademoiselle
Maria, as our gun was christened by one of the sailors.
The pirate continued to chase us about one hour and a
half, (nor was he sparing of his shot so long as Ave were
within reach,) at the expiration of Avhich Ave had gained
about two miles, and, as the breeze was fresh, the pirate
gave up the chase, hauled upon a wind, and stood away
for the Double-Headed Shot-Keys, which was a rendez
vous for piratic*1 cruisers at this pericd. We kept oh

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 349
the same course until the pirate Avas put of sight from
the mast-head, and then hauled in for the Cuba shore,
so that, if possible, we might get into the Bay of Matan-
zas before morning ; calculating that the pirate, seeing
the course Ave steered Avhen he fell in with us, would
naturally judge that we were bound to Matanzas ; con
sequently, he would endeavor to get close in shore, so
as to intercept us the next morning. I was not mistaken1
in this conjecture. The schooner was run close into
the land; and, although the Pan of Matanzas was seen,
yet the night Avas so dark that it was impossible to enter
Che bay ; as soon, therefore, as we had run within mus
ket-shot of the shore, every sail was loAvered, in order
to elude the vigilance of these miscreants.
Thus we lay until the morning daAvn first appeared
in the eastern horizon, and then all sail was made, there
being a light breeze from the land ; but Avhen the morn
ing light chased away the mist of darkness, there lay
our -antagonist, the pirate, about three quarters of a mile
distant, directly on our beam. In a few minutes he was
under a cloud of canvass', and, to our great mortification,
the land-breeze died away, and the sea-breeze began to
set in lightly, Avith overfalls and cat's-paws. This, of
course, brought the pirate to windAvard, with the advan
tage of a breeze in his favor, when we were the mean
while becalmed ; occasionally, however, with an over
fall, the wind would strike full into our sails, while his
were flapping "the masts. In this way the. wind con
tinued to baffle about for half an hour, after which it sec
in steady and fresh ; but the pirate had gained at least
a quarter of a mile upon us. The Bay of Matanzas,
hoivever, was now open, and into it we steered under a
press of canvass, the- pirate folloAving close at our heels,
keeping up at the same time a brisk fire ; nor were we
very slow in returning the like Civilities. Immediately
after Ave hauled round the point at the entrance of the
bay, one of his shot passed 'through our mainsail, Avhen
Mademoiselle Maria, primming up, returned the compli
ment by cutting aAvay "his bumpkin and rail. The
32

350 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
chase uoav became severe, and for a short time our
safety Avas exceedingly doubtful ; in consequence of
Avhich, I ran the schooner Avithin pistol-shot of the
beach, being determined to run her on shore rather
than risk our lives in the event of capture ; "but as our
shot had throAvn them into some confusion, and as we
had iioav reached abreast of the first fort,, the pirate, dis
charging the contents of his large gun loaded with
grape and round shot, hauled his wind and stood out of
the bay, Avhile we ran in and came to an anchor in the
harbor. It may be remarked that the general supposition was,
at this time, that a greater part of the piratical vessels
in.these seas were fitted out in Matanzas, and this may
account for the fact, that no notice Avas taken by the
fort of the pirate Avhich chased us Avithin tAvo hundred
yards of it before he hauled his wind ; and further, pre
viously to my leaving this port, the very identical pirati
cal sloop came in as a sugar-drogher from Havana, hav
ing, at this time, only four men on board.
We lay here about two weeks, and then took in a full
freight, and proceeded to Ne\v York, Avhere Ave arrived
after a passage of twelve days. The cargo Avas all dis
charged, and a liberal offer being made for the schooner,
she Avas sold ; and very soon afterwards I found myself
again surroundr d by my family and friends, with a grate
ful heart for hr.ving been delivered from so many dan
gers and perils during a year's absence.
From the exposure to the heat, and the great anxiety
which had fallen to my lot during the last year, I per
ceived a sensible diminution in the strength of my
vision. It will be recollected that I had navigated those
seas which Avere infested by pirates of the most san
guinary and bloody character, and the heart sickens not
only at the recital, but at the reflection, of the numeroris
atrocious murders committed by Gibbs, and his asso
ciates, about this period. Being for a year constantly in
the vicinity where those outlaAvs nere carrying on their
bloody tragedies, it may be supposed that my mind Avas

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 35
in a constant state of excitement and anxiety. These
circumstances, theii, connected with the heat of the cli
mate, and the frequent exposure endured with the eyes,
sensibly affected the optic nerve, and produced, as before
stated, an incipient state of inflammation, aud a partial
deprivation of sight. It became necessary, therefore, to
enter upon a course of medical treatment, which was
accordingly submitted'to ; and happily, so great a benefit
was experienced, that I was again in a condition to pur- '
sue my vocation on the ocean.
Once more, then, I am in command of one of the most
beautiful models of a vessel that ever floated on the
ocean — I mean a Baltimore clipper schooner, of oue
hundred and forty tons' burden, Avith proportions as
scrupulously exact 'as if turned out of a mould. The
Avorkmanship Avas iu all respects as neatly executed as
if intended as a beautiful specimen of cabinet excel
lence ; her spars Avere in perfect symmetry of proportions
Avith the hull, and she sat upori the water like the sea-
bird that sleeps at ease on the mountain billow. The
destination of this beautiful craft Avas a hazardous one,
because it was iu the vicinity of those seas infested by
pirates, viz., the Gulf of Mexico. Her intended employ
ment Avas, mainly, to bring specie from thence to the
United States. She Avas Avell armed and manned, and,
like Some aerial being, as report had it, would outstrip
the wind.
December 20, 1825. — Being ready for sea, the wings
of this beautiful craft were spread to the breeze, and in
a feAV minutes, with noiseless speed, like a sAvift- dolphin,
she Avas skimming over the bosom of the river, bound
to Campeachy, Laguna, and Tampico, in tho Gulf of
Mexico. In tAventy-six hours, we had not only dis
charged our pilot, but Ave were out of sight of land,
scudding away" with a brisk north-Avest gale, and in
tAvo days and a half Ave crossed the Gulf Stream. So-
¦jreat Avas the transition from the extreme cold weather
in the bay, that iioav we could not bear the' weight of
lur winter clothing.
;¦#

352 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
- The creAV, sixteen in number, were stout, able sea
man, and the officers were young men of some educa
tion, and active, fearless seamen. The same rules and
regulations in reference to morals and religious obser
vances, and the same judicious treatment, were adopted
with this crew, as enforced on my last voyages. I soon
perceived that great respect and deference Avere paid at
the usual periods of our devotion, and profane language
was banished from use ; and, as I have before stated, no
spirituous liquors were permitted to be used, but, instead
thereof, small stores, such as tea, coffee, sugar, &c, were
abundantly supplied. The good effects of this measure
Avere incalculable ; no jarring or wrangling, no debilitated
frames, or inability to discharge the duties of the vessel,
were known among the crew ; they were cheerful and
obedient, prompt in the execution of every command,
ready and willing at all times to defend the officers and
vessel at the risk of their lives. In such a crew I had
the most unbounded confidence, and could trust them
in times of the greatest hazard and peril ; and perils did
transpire, as will be seen hereafter.
The wind continued fair, and I had not been deceived
in the reports of the schooner's sailing ; in fact, it seemed
like enchantment when, on the morning of the sixth
day after leaving Cape Henry, Ave struck soundings on
the Bahama Banks, and passed the Moro light on the
seventh night. The speed of her sailing was almost
incredible ; and, with a fair chance, I did not fear any
vessel that floated the ocean.
In ten days we arrived at the small port of Sisal, iu
the province of Yucatan, the capital of Avhich is Merida,
situated about forty miles south-Avest of the port town.
The port of Sisal — if it may be called a port — has no
shelter whatever, and is exposed to the Avhole SAveep of
the Gulf, and the northers, Avhich bloAV Avith great vio
lence. The place has a custom-house, and a large fort,
garrisoned with about fifty soldiers. About forty houses,
miserably constructed, constitute the town. Their
mode of living Avould indicate an arrear of a century, at

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 353
least, in civilization. A long pier, or Avharf, strongly
constructed, extends out a hundred feet beyond the surf,
which rolls'in heavily. On this pier is first landed the
merchandise, Avhich is afterAvards to be transported by
the Indians to the custom-house, a distance not less than
a quarter of a mile. After discharging a part of the
cargo here, Ave proceeded fortfiAvith to Campeachy, La-
guna, and Tampico, at Avhich several . places the re
maining part Avas discharged, and specie, indigo, cochi
neal, and logAvood, Avere taken in for Baltimore, Avhere
Ave arrived, performing the voyage in seven Aveeks, and
loaded immediately again for the same ports.
Six voyages Avere made in this vessel ; and as I have
detailed a general account in the first, as regards the
different ports, and the nature of the business, I shall
content myself with detailing exclusively the more
prominent circumstances Avhich transpired during the
remaining voyages.
32*

354

CHAPTER XXXIII.

PIRATICAL CHASE AND NARROW ESCAPE  RELIGIOUS SCENE
AT SEA, &C
As on the former voyages in these seas, so now, the
mind watsin a. continual state of excitement and anxiety
Avith conflicting perplexities ; the most prominent of
Avhich Avere the danger of the pirates, the difficult navi
gation, and the surrounding hazard and peril while
lying in port in the Gulf. With all these embarrass
ments to contend against, it acted upon my physical'
frame, and upon my sight, detrimentally. On the
second voyage, when outward bound, and while cross
ing the Catouche Bank, running under easy sail at night,
to avoid a dangerous shoal, and also being overbur
dened with anxiety, I remained on deck until midnight.
Relieved by the chief mate, I gave him strict orders to
keep a good look-out, not only for the shoal, but also
for any vessels Avhich might come Avithin sight, and in
the event of falling in with any, he was to call me
immediately. The, schooner Avas at this time running under the
foresail alone, the other sails being loAvered doAvn, but
not furled. I threw myself on the locker beloAV, and
Avas soon lost in sleep, from which I Avas aroused by
the mate informing me that there Avas a sail close on
our Aveather beam. I sprang ¦ on deck immediately ;
but the stranger had already kept aAvay, and Avas close
under our stern, and the first thing Avith which I Avas
saluted Avas a musket-shot, Avhich came whizzing about
our ears, and passed through the foresail. The strangei
rounded to under our lee, and presented one of the
most frightful specimens of a' piratical craft that I had

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 355
ever witnessed. He hailed in broken English,, ordered
me to heave to, and he Avould send a boat on board.
Perceiving at once that' the comnuuider was either no
sailor, or that he had mistaken the character, of my ves
sel by running his craft to leeward, 1 took advantage of
his ignorance. My men were stationed, some at the
main-halliards, others at the fore-topsail and jib-halliards ;
and as soon "as his boat was sivinging in~the tackles
over the side, they had orders to hoist the sails up with '
all possible despatch, at the same time the most profound
silence was to be observed. I kneAV this was our only
chance, to make the best of our way, and then run the
hazard of her fire ; for if the pirate's boat Avas permitted
to come on board, all Avould then be lost. Therefore, I
preferred the chance of having some of our spars cut
away, or even the loss of some of our lives, than to give
up the vessel with the absolute certainty that the whole
of us Avould be sacrificed by* these atrocious marauders.
At length the looked-for moment came ; the pirate's
boat was swung in the tackles over the side, our sails
went cheerily aloft, and in a few minutes our beautiful
craft Avas bounding over the smooth sea at the rate of
ten knots per hour, Quickly there was a broad sheet
of flame issuing from the pirate's bows, and whistling
came the deadly shot, Avhich fell at least a quarter of a
mile ahead of us. My lads Avere all firm and undaunted.
It was a moment that called for energy and decision
of character. Shot after shot passed over us, but as
yet none had done any execution ; and as it became
necessary to increase our speed, in order to get out of gun
shot if possible, orders were given to get the square-sail
aloft, ease off the main-sheet, and run the long nine-
oounder aft. These orders were instantly executed;
and, Avith the additional press of canvass, she, like a dol
phin Avhen hard chased by the ravenous shark, seemed
to jump out of. the Avater; for she was now running off
twelve knots, and the pirate, as the shark, sped on in
full chase, under a cloud of sail, keeping up the while
a brisk fire with single shot ; but as the distance be-

356 . LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
Uveen us Avas increasing every moment, and the pirate
no doubt, becoming exasperated at our superior sailing,
¦"awed, and gave us his whole broadside, which cut
away the IpAver studding-sail boom, and one shot passed
through our square-sail. This Avas his last success ; for
by the time he hauled up again ii: our Avake, and fired
his next shot, it fell short of the mark. Then we re
turned his coaxing civilities in compliments of his OAvn
heart's choice, by letting him have a shot from our long
nine-pounder. It could not be ascertained Avhether the
return-favor did execution, or was pocketed as a gross
affront ; but, nevertheless, the wild steering which fol
lowed Avas conclusive that the pirate must have been
thrown into confusion by some circumstance transpiring
at the moment Avhen we fired. In fifteen minutes from
this time we were far beyond the reach of his shot, and
continued to run under a press of canvass during the
remainder of the night. The next morning our umvel-
come companion, the pirate, was not to be seen.
This voyage was concluded in safety, notAvithstand
ing there ivere many circumstances connected with it
of an exceedingly perilous character. The unerring
hand of Providence was always stretched forth to deliver
me, not only from butchery of the pirate, but also from
the appalling storms with which we had to contend on
the coast of America.
It may be Avorthy of remark — as has before been
hinted at — that the same creAV and officers, with the
exception of one, remained with me during five succes
sive voyages, notAvithstanding so much^hazard was
connected with them. Indeed, the moral state- of feel
ing Avhich seemed to have taken hold of the seamen
was as remarkable as it Avas gratifying. Fearless in the-
hour of danger, they Avere consistent and serious in
those hours set apart for devotional exercises ; and at the
same time, they.Avere under the most perfect state of
discipline, as their coolness and intrepidity exhibited, in
the rhany trying circumstances which we were called
upon to pass -through, and as will be further seep by
the following narration.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 357
On the fifth voyage, after having discharged all the
outward cargo, and having completed the lading of our
return cargo at Campeachy, nothing was Avanting but
the papers from the consignee, to be in readiness to
sail. I shall have to digress, in order to give the read
er an idea of the harbor of Campeachy, so that he
may the better comprehend the situation of my vessel
in the perilous incident Avhich I am about to narrate.
The harbor of Campeachy has but little depth of
water, and is not capable of admitting vessels that draAV
more than six feet ; consequently, those of a heavier
draught are necessarily obliged to anchor tAvo or three
miles from the landing, or city. This was my situation ;
and, as before stated, being ready for sea with the excep
tion of my papers, I went on shore in the afternoon with
the sea breeze, intending to go off with the land breeze,.
Avhich generally sets in about ten o'clock at night. I
had not been many minutes in the counting-house of
my- consignee, when a stout Spaniard, bearing the ap
pearance of a seaman, entered ; and, taking Mr. M. apart,
made the folloAving alarming relation, Avhich was im
mediately communicated to ine, viz., that a plan had
been matured by eighty Spaniards, to go off that night
in tAvo vessels, and capture the schooner, and that these
miscreants had made application to him to make one of
the party. It being noAV four o'clock, the safety of my
vessel and the lives of the crew depended entirely upon
my getting off that night by ten o'clock, because those
on board would not be aAvare of this diabolical plot, and
of course would be unprepared to give them a proper
reception. The sea breeze still blowing fresh, it Avas
impossible to get off in my OAvn boat Avith but tAvo
hands. There was a boat close by Avith six hands
belonging to a French ship, which lay far out in the
offing. I made application to the captain, who was then
on shore, to let this boat take me on board, of my vessel,
which was immediately granted. Taking my men with
me, Ave succeeded in reaching the schooner about nine
o'clock that night. . The French boat went on board of

358 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
her oav'ii vessel immediately. So far, then, all was yet
Avell. As soon as 1 had made known, to the officers and
ci-oav the sanguinary plot Avhich was about to be enact- ¦
ed, the anchor Avas lifted, and our position altered by
running half a mile out to seaAvard. The anchor was
then let "go under foot, and the sails lowered doAvn, but
not furled-. The two long nine-pounders were loaded
nearly up to their muzzles Avith langrage and grape
shot, and all the small arms, such as muskets, pistols,
cutlasses, &.c, Avere mustered on deck. Supposing they
Avould attack us simultaneously ahead and astern, one
of the long nines Avas 'run aft and the other forward,
Avith an equal division of the small arms, as Avell as the,
boarding pikes, among the men. These preparations
being made, the lights Avere all extinguished except two
matclies, which could not be seen, and Ihen all hands
Avere summoned to the quarter deck.
"My lads," said I, "since we have been together in
this vessel, we have been called upon to pass through
many perilous scenes, and I have never had any reason,
so far, to doubt your firmness and courage. You will
probably again ,be called upon to-night to defend this
vessel ; her safety and our lives depending upon your
firmness, and good conduct. These cowardly Spaniards
suppose they will fall upon us unawares, and thereby
we shall become easy victims to their treachery. I hope
to prove this night, that American seamen are not only
alert, but also fully competent to beat off these dastardly
marauders, although they may far exceed us in numbers.
I expect they will come upon us head and stern ; there
fore, we Avill divide ourselves into equal parties ; Mr. W.,
the chief officer, will take command of the forecastle, and
I will look out for the quarter deck. Let there be no
confusion or disorder, and not a shot be fired, until
orders are given to that effect ; after Avhich, you are -to
load and fire the small arms Avith all possible rapidity.
Should the Spaniards succeed in' getting alongside, the
boarding pikes and sabres are> your best Aveapons ; so use
them freely. If the breeze should spring up, we Avil!

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 359
slip and get under Avay. Away, then, to your quarU.
forward and aft, and let every man, this night, prove him
self to. be an American seaman."
In a feAV minutes, the most profound silence prevailed
throughout the vessel. It was a clear starlight night,
scarcely a cloud Avas seen, and to seaAvard the horizon
was Avell defined. In such a night, objects might be
distinguished at a long distance. No sound Avas heard
except the reverberation of the roaring surf, or the skip
ping of a porpoise, which ever and anon disturbed the
surface of the Avaters by a deep splash, or the faiiit
moans, through the rigging, of the expiring sea-breeze.
Eleven o'clock had already passed away ; it Avas an
hour of deep suspense and the most intense anxiety. I
had sAvept around the horizon Avith the night-glass
during the last half hour, but no object was visible.
Now, reflection, busy with the past, brought in revieAV
before me the period Avhen I first embarked to undergo
the perils of a sea life. How. many dangers and trying
difficulties it had been my lot to encounter ! hoAV many
hair-breadth escapes had I passed unscathed ! — amid the
storms, the battles, at the cannon's mouth, in earth
quakes, in prisons, in pestilence, at times Avhen, at sea,
nearly deprived of food and water ; and last, though not
least, among pirates : and yet, out of all these I had been
delivered. This thought overpoAvered me Avith a deep
sense of gratitude ; and although my present situation
was perilous in the extreme, yet a voice AVhispered, all
would yet be ivell.
At midnight, Avhile ranging along the horizon Avith
the glass, I saAV-two vessels, the one exactly ahead and
the other astern; the headmost vessel being at the
greatest distance. "As it was now perfectly calm, and
as the distance Avas lessening every moipent betAveen
us, it Avas apparent they Avere using their sweeps. I
Avas not mistaken in the opinion entertained as to their
manner of attack. The moment of trial was at hand,
for the sternmost vessel Avas Avithin gun-shot, pulling
directly in our Avake, apparently approaching us with

360 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
great caution ; the one ahead was at a much greater
distance. Orders were now given to run the guns out
of the stern and bow ports, elevate them Avith precision,
and let the matches be ready ; to see that the small
arms and ammunition Avere all in readiness, so that there
should be no confusion ; and then all hands Avere or
dered aft, that proper respect might be paid to the gen
tlemen Avho came to visit us at so unseasonable an hour
of the night. These orders were quickly executed.
The pirate was hoav Avithin two musket-shot.
" Are you all ready ? "
" Ay, ay, sir ! " was the reply.
I buckled on my cartridge-box, thrust my pistols into
the belt, and grasped a long sabre. I saw the pirate was
noAV pulling rapidly towards us, being, at this moment,
but a musket-shot off.
"Is the gun elevated, and are you ready?" The
affirmative was given. " Fire ! " At the same moment
we received their fire of musketry, Avhich Avas returned
in rapid succession by our men. The pirate was now
close under the quarter; but the screams of the Avounded,
and the groans of the dying, from our galling fire, gave
him a severe check_ He hesitated — not a moment Avas
now to be lost. We follo'wed up this advantage by
pouring volley after volley, in a most galling fire, with
musketry and pistols. He Avas thrown into confusion,
and backed off with his oars. When about three
lengths of the schooner from us, the pirate pulled the
head of his vessel round, and gave Avay Avith all possible
despatch towards the shore, so as to get out of the reach
of our guns.
It was now high time to look after the unwelcome
visitor ahead. There he lay, about half gun-shot off,
apparently upon his oars — Avaiting, no doubt, to ascertain
the result of his comrade's reception, not caring to be in
the vicinity of such hot Avork as had' been going on for
the last fifteen or twenty minutes. A shot from our
boAv gun, however, disturbed his repose; and, as he
doubtless thought that the better part of valor was dis-

ai

Mm,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 361
cretion, he made the best of his way in shore probably
to condole Avith his more unlucky companion. In this
affair, tAvo of our men Avere slightly Avounded, and a feAV
musket-balls entered the main-boom and main-mast. .
No doubt, the little damage we received Avas OAving to
the fact, that the -pirates Avere confident of taking us by
surprise ; but, being deceived in their expectations, they
were utterly confounded and thrown into confusion
when they received the contents of our long* nine.
Thus ended one of the most murderous intentions (if it
had succeeded ) that was ever planned by man or demon.
The next moruing I Avent ashore after my papers, and ,
saw the craft that had proved so unwelcome a visitor
the previous night. She was completely riddled with our
shot ; but I could not ascertain the loSs of killed and
wounded: it must have been considerable, from' the num
ber of men on board.
My papers being all ready, I immediately repaired on
board, got under way, and bade adieu to this- nest of
piratical marauders. The voyage was safely concluded,
and we embarked once more, when I sincerely desired
that it would be the last time that Ave should make our
acquaintance with the pirates ; and especially as all these
qombined circumstances had acted so powerfully upon
my physical frame, that the organs of vision had be
come greatly impaired, — consequently, I needed some
respite, and active treatment.
Numerous, hoAvever, as had been the dangers and
privations connected Avith these voyages, yet there Avere
also very many circumstances Avhich had left, on my
mind the most pleasing anct gratifying reflections;
among the more prominent were, that moral and reli
gious impressions had been made on the minds of the
creAV, giving'the most satisfactory evidence that, by ju
dicious treatment, little difficulty will be experienced
to convince seamen of their moral obligations. Another
*ource of pleasing reflection' Avas, the order and decorum
with which the Sabbath days Avere spent at sea ; and, as
it may not be uninteresting to the reader to see how
33

362 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
easily a sailor may be trained to attend to the forms of
religion, at sea, permit me to give you a description of a
Sabbath day's devotions, in the latitude of 28° north, and
73° west longitude.
The morning daAvn broke forth from the eastern
horizon ; and, as the rising sun advanced, the stronger
light scattered the mists of darkness; and Avhen the
glorious orb presented its upper limb, the clouds dis
persed, exhibiting to the eye an unbroken contact of
sky and ocean. It was a sight that would have ravished
the astonishing -poAvers of Raphael's pencil. Briskly
blew the north-east trade Avind, and lightly flew our
beautiful craft over the bosom of the smooth blue ocean.
The scene before me, in connection with the Avind and
the weather, and the rapid, though almost noiseless
movement of our craft, all conspired to induce happy,
yet solemn and devotional feelings. Over the whole
expanse of the wide Avaste of AvaterS, nothing was to
be seen except, noAV and then, a porpoise jumping and
plunging into the deep abyss ; or the affrighted flying-
fish, disturbed by the breaking of the Avater at the boAVs,
appearing to be more like the iiinabrtants of the air than
belonging to the finny tribe; or the Mother Carey's
chicken, Avith buoyant Av.ing and tAvittermg voice, seem
ing, with its elastic tread upon the fluid surface, as much;
at ease as if it stood upon a solid base,* gathering Avhat,
perchance, might fall from the vessel, to satisfy its
cravings. Seven bells Avere struck — the hour fof rousing the
watch beloAV to breakfast. The decks had been scrubbed
and. washed the night previously, and were so clean
and white, that you might have spread the bleached
damask cloth on them for a morning's repast, Avithout
danger of its being sailed. The breakfast iioav being
past, the awning was spread over the Avhole length of
the quarter deck, as a screen from the scorching rays of
the sun. At 10 o'clock precisely, the creAV Avere all
summoned to the quarter deck ; 'there you might have
seen ten stout, able seamen, Avith faces that had been

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 363
bronzed Avith the sun's rays, Avith hard features and
braAvny limbs. Solemn and serious, they sat on benches
placed on the weather side. They were all neatly and
cleanly dressed, in a blue jacket, Avith Avhite duck
trousers, check shirt, with the black silk handkerchief
tied before with the peculiar sailor's knot, and the ends
floAring loosely doAvn in front. The exercises com
menced by' reading and singing a hymn, in which the
greater part of the seamen joined. A short. prayer was
then offered up, to which some of them responded, es
pecially the first officer, Avho appeared to be deeply
affected ; after which, a chapter in the Bible was read
and adverted to, by calling the attention of the seamen
to its teachings, and then briefly pointing out their ob
ligations to Almighty God, fpr his protection amid all
their exposures. I showed them the necessity, on the
principles of gratitude as Avell as for their own safety
and happiness, to repent of their sins, give to God the
sacrifice pf their hearts and lives, in order that they
might be prepared to obey cheerfully the time to depart ;
that the coral pilloAV and seaAveed Avinding-sheet might
have no terrors for them. These simple, though sincere,
exercises had a most poAverful effect upon the minds of
the seamen, and Avere always concluded Avith singing
and prayer. -
A feAV days were now spent Avith comparative ease of
mind, but jthe wind, soon AAjafted us on to the vicinity of
those scenes of excitement which had so powerfully
wrought on my mind, in the preceding voyages ; nor
was it long before it was roused to the highest pitch of
action. A feAV days previously, we had spoken a vessel
which had been chased by the pirate Gibbs, and which
informed us, that she would have been captured but for
the circumstance of falling in with a man-of-war brig,
while the pirate was inr chase. A minute description of
the,, pirate was also given to us by this vessel. After
w,e had passed the Double-Headed Shot-Keys, at day
light in the morning, a vessel ansAvering exactly to the
description of the pirate was seen, about two miles

364 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
astern. Fp.r a short time she gained upon us rapidly,
insomuch that Ave distinctly made her cut to be a -vessel
of Avar, and in chase of iis.
Thus far, Ave neither had the square-lail nor studding-
sail on the schooner. It was, however, now high time
to try our rates of speed, for no doubt remained but
that the stranger in chase Avas the pirate Gibbs ; accord
ingly, our craft was dressed with all the canvass that
could be set, and hauled up so that every sail would
draAV on the starboard tack. The pirate Avas no laggard.
Hour after hour passed, and no perceptible difference
was discovered in the sailing of the two vessels. She
Avas nearly within gun-shot, and it became absolutely
necessary, for our safety, that the pirate should be kept
at that distance, so that he might not cripple us by cut
ting away any of our spars. Sometimes he appeared to
overhaul us, .and then again it was evident we had
gained upon him. It Avas a fair trial of speed, and the
most equal chase that I had ever witnessed, apart from.
the design of the one and the wishes of the other.
When the breeze would freshen astern, he ranged up
within gun-shot ; but evidently supposing that he would
at length overhaul us, he did not fire his boAV-chaser,
knoAving that it would have given us the advantage.
At meridian, it could not be ascertained that either
vessel had the advantage in sailing ; but the wind noAV
began to slacken its force ; .and as, in a light breeze,
nothing that Was ever built could, probably, sail faster
than this beautiful craft, it became evident that she(
was stealing away from the pirate. Exasperated, no
doubt, at the prospect of losing his prey, he opened
a brisk cannonade.. upon us; but it was in vain; for
every shot fell short, of the schooner, and every dis
charge from his guns slackened his speed, and gave us
a corresponding advantage. At sunset, we had gained
about one mile, and when the night- set in, he was still
in chase. As we had been steering our course during
the whole day, I did not think it proper to change it at
night, and continued to run under a heavy press of sail.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 365
At midnight the breeze freshened, and obliged as to
take in studding-sails.
At daylight in the morning, the pirate Avas again about
a. gun-shot and a half astern, under a cloud -of canvass.
Our sjndding-sails Avere again set, but not without the
expectation of losing the booms, sails, &c, as the Avind
bleAv strong, and our craft Avas bounding over the sea
at the rate of tAvelve knots. It Avas a hard, although a
most splendid chase ; and I know not Iioav it would have
terminated, if Ave had not, at ten o'clock, fallen in with
the American man-of-Avar schooner Shark, Avhich, Avhen
discovered by the pirate, caused him to take in sail and
haul upon a wind. The last we saw of him Avas in full
flight from the man-of-Avar, although he appeared to
outsail the Shark Avith ease.
We arrived at our port of destination without further
molestation, and discharged our cargo at tAvo ports, then
took on board twelve thousand dollars in specie, and
proceeded to Sisal, Avhere Ave took in a. cargo, of bagging,
and grass hemp, for Havana, and in three days arrived
at the latter port, discharged the cargo, and, having a
large offer for the schooner, she was sold, according to
orders, and I took passage for Baltimore, where I arrived
safely, July 20th, 1826.
It now became absolutely necessary that active med
ical treatment should be instituted for the relief of my
vision, as the sight had become so much injured that
great fears Avere entertained of its entire loss; yet I Avas
unconvinced, and Avould not submit to active treatment,
vainly supposing that the vision would get stronger when
I went to sea. Every remonstrance Avas used by my
friends to deter me from embarking again on the ocean,
before I had submitted to the means recommended to
restore my sight. -But I Avas young ; and, my responsi
bilities accumulating every day, it Avas necessary that I
should be employed, to sustain the relations Avhich de
volved upon me. 1 Avas, therefore, deaf to the entreaties
of my friends, and madly engaged to perform another
voyage to the Brazils, in the command of a neAV and
33*

366 LIFE ON THE OCEaN. *
beautiful clipper brig of two hundred and fifty tons'
burden. Alas ! how short-sighted is man ! From the
stubbornness of this proceeding, years of suffering and
sorrow have marked my path in life.
Sept. 13. — The brig was loaded, and ready for sea,
bound on a running voyage to Rio de Janeiro. We
sailed ; and, after a short run, reached the Capes, dis
charged the pilot, and went to sea, Avith a strong gale
from the south-west, Avith cloudy AAreather. For five
days the Avind bleAV strong and fairj and no opportunity
had offered to get a meridian observation. On the sixth
day, however, the weather became clear, the sun shone
brilliantly, and its rays sent forth an unusual degree of
heat. Although I had- perceived that my vision had
become more and more obscure, nevertheless, as this
was the first opportunity, since leaving the Capes, to get
the sun's altitude, and being very anxious to determine
the latitude, the quadrant was adjusted, and the dark
screen-glass put down, so as to prevent the glare of the
sun from striking upon the eye. When the sun was
brought down midway from its height to the horizon,
the sight of the right eye was instantaneously discov
ered to be gone. My feelings can be better imagined
than described. We Avere iioav about one thousand miles
from the Capes, and the success of the voyage depended
entirely on its despatch. "To return would ruin the
voyage ; and to proceed on for so long a time, without
medical treatment, might cause the entire loss of sight.
In this sad dilemma, however, I resolved to prosecute
the voyage, especially as there was an ample medicine-
chest on board. I immediately commenced an active
self-treatment. Sad and sorroAvful were the hours dur
ing the remainder of this passage. All efforts that Avere
made to restore the right eye proved fruitless ; and the
keenest anguish Avas experienced when the horrible-
truth flashed over my mind, that the remainder of my
days Avould be spent in darkness" from the fact, Avhich
could not noAVjbe concealed, that the sight of the left
eye Avas diminishing every day — insomuch that, when

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 367
wc ran into the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, I could
scarcely discern the high land, forming a sugar-loaf,
which may be seen at the distance of tAventy miles
with eyes of ordinary capacity.
I Avas, of course, iioav necessarily obliged to give the
command of the brig to the first officer ; and, taking
rooms on shore, Avith the advice of my consignee, pro
cured the ablest physicians iu the place. Thirty days
I submitted to a most active treatment, bufwithout the
least perceptible effect. I then consulted with the sur
geon of the United States' frigate Macedonian, which
Ava» then on that station ; and as my vessel Avas now
ready for sea, on her homeward voyage, I procured from
this gentleman the proper medicines, and written in
structions Iioav to proceed, Avith a course of self-treat
ment, on the passage home. But, unfortunately, when
about ten days out, I Avas violently attacked with a
nervous fever, which lasted nearly all the passage.
We arrived, after a very extraordinary passage of
thirty-three days, in the -latter part of December; and,
on account of the ice, and severity of the weather, I Avas
obliged to disembark at Annapolis*, and proceed to Balti
more in the stage. The consequence was a severe cold,
and a relapse of the nervous fever ; and, although I Avas
noAV onme more surrounded by my family, — the nearest
and dearest objects of my affection, — yet I presented to
their sorroAvful gaze the afflicting and melancholy spec
tacle of a blind man. Scarcely had thirty Avinters noAV
elapsed, ere the desolating hand of disease fastened
on this hapless frame. The countenance, from which
beamed the glow of animation, and on which you
might have read the index of health, noAV became pale
and ghastly ; and the eye, from Avhich flashed the vivid
fire of acuteness and perception, noAV Avas dim ; and,
lastly, to fill up the catalogue of woes, the eye became
void of perception and sightless, and the form, too,*
once robust and vigorous, iioav presented an enfeebled
and emaciated frame.
O, could you have seen the deep affliction of tho

368 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
heart, and have, read the painful exercises of a mind
immersed in sorroAV, contemplating the cheerless pros
pect of the future, compelled to pursue'; a path of dark
ness and dreariness, and excluded from all the beauties
Avhich nature's variety present, — could you have beheld
that trembling form, not crushed by the pressure of age,
but reduced by corroding care and ivasting disease, —
nature's sensibilities would have aroused all its sym
pathies, and the falling tear might have dropped unre-
proved. Noav follows the sad condition of deep de
pendence, and the appalling connecting circumstances, to
be dreaded by every sensitive mind, — such as unmean
ing sympathy, mortifications of Avounded sensibilities,
inability to discharge social and relative responsibilities,
pinchiugs of poverty, and many other shocks of chill
ing import, peculiar to that condition. This combina
tion of Avoe,s gave a settled appearance of dejection and
sadness; while on every lineament of the countenance
were visibly depicted the deep furrows of adversity.
Nature, after repeated struggles during a lapse of fifteen
years, gradually yielded ; and sorroAV, being refined and
sublimated by the powerful aid of religion, patiently
submitted to its lot ; and now, when a smile lights up
the care-worn brow, you may there read the workings
of a grateful heart, and the persuasion of a contempla
tive mind, that firmly believes that all is for the best,
and that ''there is nothing true but heaven."

369

CHAPTER XXXIV.
RBFLECTI ,NS ON THE CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF SEAMEN.
Not iriany years have elapsed since sailors were con
sidered a class of isolated beings, scarcely worthy to fie
ranked among the loAvest and most degraded of human
kind; — when it might truly have been said, that " no
man cared " either for their souls or their bodies ; and,
even up to this hour, there are very many in our com
munity that look upon poor Jack as a kind of Avild
animal, dangerous to society, and who ought not to be
suffered to roam at large.
Although the moral sense of the Christian publie has
been aroused to engage in the benevolent enterprise of
meliorating the temporal and spiritual condition of sea
men, yet, when this philanthropic object is presented
for the consideration of our countrymen, a vast majority
treat it as a scheme perfectly chimerical, and they will
neither lend their influence, nor means, to accelerate this
praiseworthy object. Such do not consider the relative
importance of seamen, either for the advancement of
commercial pursuits, of- for the protection of our country's
rights, or for ihe maintenance of our national honor.
They do not consider that seamen are the great links of
the chain which unites nation to nation, ocean to ocean,
continent to continent, and island to island ; and it is a
matter of astonishment, when such people are reminded
that seamen are the instrumentalities who fill our na
tion^ treasury, enrich the coffers of the merchant, build
the stately warehouses which overflow Avith the fabrics
of every clime, erect the magnificent and splendid
mansions which beautify and adorn our seaports, and

370 ' .LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
construct the most b« autiful specimens of naval archi
tecture that float ovei the ocean. It is seamen that give
employment to the shipAvright, the ship-joiner, sail-
maker, blacksmith, blockmaker, &c. In a Avord, it is
seamen who must fulfil Scripture prophecy, by carrying
the glad tidings of salvation, and planting the standard of
the cross in the dark regions of idolatry and superstition.
Yes ; it is by their indefatigable exertions, that the light
of the glorious gospel is to shine upon the benighted
hearts of the heathen, until this moral darkness shall
have been every Avhere dissipated .by the rising beams
of the Sun of Righteousness.
It must not be understood that it is meant that
sailors are, naturally, "better than landsmen; yet an ex
perience of twenty years with their traits has given me
an intimate knowledge of their character; and, although
I am compelled to say that there are some among them
Avho disgrace human nature, yet, in general, they are
brave, generous, manly, and unsuspecting. ^The sailor's
insight of human nature is limited, and draAvn altogeth
er from 'the objects constantly before him ;. he is apt
to think all mankind candid, open, honest, and void of
trickery, because he himself is so. Jack is unpractised
ki the arts of acquiring, or preserving, property, or im
proving his condition in life. He attaches no other
value to money than as a means of procuring him
present enjoyment. No class of men obtain their little
money with more hardship and difficulty. This, one
would think, would lead them to estimate it at its
proper value. But such is not the case. They scattei
it Avith profuseness, as if they Avere ardently desirous of
getting rid of an encumbrance ; and, consequently, it does
not trouble them long.
' The generosity of .a sailor is proverbial.^ Although
he acquires his dollars amid toils and dangers from
which a landsman Avould shrink AvitK affright, he can
feel deeply for the Avants of others, and has a hand ever'
ready to assist the distressed. He Avill share the last
copper with the wretch who is in need of pecuniary

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 371
assistance, and will combat manfully, in behalf of the
victim of oppression. It is certainly true, that the gen
eral conduct, of sailors, Avhen on shore, compels us often
times to turn away fiom them in disgust ; and one Avould
naturally suppose that, after a long absence, the AveaJh-
er-worn voyager Avould take care of the small pittance
which he had so dearly earned, or, at least, expend it .in
providing himself Avith some appendages to assist him
in gaining useful information, or in the enjoyment of
some rational amusement, Avhich might, at the same
time, relax his mind aud furnish him Avith instruction
that Avould prove useful to him in after life. But such,
however, is not the case ; for they often seek to indulge
their sensual appetites, at the expense of all that is moral
aud intellectual. The thoughtlessness of these sons of
the ocean is not, however, to be Avondered at, Avhen
we look at their privations, and the peculiar habits of a
sea life which, in port, they are compelled to lead. For
example, see that gallant ship just about to cast off her
moorings, bound for the East Indies ; go on board, and
you may, perhaps, see about a dozen seamen ; then
range your eye fore-and-aft the decks, which may be
one hundred and thirty feet long, aud thirty feet broad ;
tliis, then, is the Avhole length and breadth- of Jack's
world — his only associations for one year, at least. Did
I say one hundred and thirty feet? — No, you must take
off thirty or forty feet for the quarter deck ; for", in all
well-regulated vessels, a hand before the mast is not
allowed to set foot on the quarter deck, except to take
his turn at the helm, repair the sails, or to perform some
act of duty about the mizzen-mast, &c. Thus, then,
about ninety feet is the exjentrof his out-door rambles.
Noav, let us take a look into the forecastle, a spacious
apartment of about twelve feet in length, and about the
same in width, Avhen deducting the breadth of tAvo berths,
— the whole tapering off to nothing, forAvard. Here,
then, is his dining and dressing room, bedchamber and
parlor. And iioav et us examine the furniture. The
chests, which are closely stoAved, present a surface

372 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
nearly as level as the deck, and perforin the office of a
table ; then, there are kids, tin pots, iron spoons, and,
perhaps, tAvo horn tumblers, which answer the double
purpose of first measuring out to each his allowance of
grog, and then taking the place of the vinegar cruet..
Now, cast your eye towards the bowsprit-bits, and you
.will see, — not a magnificent chandelier, — but an old
tin lamp. Avith a long spout, filled with slush, s'erving
the purpose of oil, and an old rag, slack-tAvisted, for
Avick. This splendid piece of decoration serves to illu
minate the obscure forecastle. Let us noAV examine the
bunks where Jack sleeps. The bed, gentle reader, is
not cotnposed of doAvn ; but lo V a mattress made of cat
tails, the bulk of Avhich, rolled up, might be stowed in a
large bandbox, first strikes the eye ; and then, instead
of the snow-white sheets, there is a blanket, Avhich has
been Jack's companion for many a long voyage, and for
which he has so great an affection, that, 'in order to
preserve the precious relic, it has been heavily quilted
throughout with yarn; and it now ansAvers the twofold
-purpose, with the help of his pea-jacket, of blanket and
quilt; and his canvass bag, Avell stoAved with dunnage
within, and Avell coated with tar Without, is the pillow,
to complete the whole trappings of a forecastle bedding.
Let us noAV imagine this ship and her creAV sailing
o'er the blue ocean on a Sabbath day, after eight bells
1 in the forenoon Avatch, — this being the dinner hour, : —
and then I will introduce the reader to a sumptuous re
past in the forecastle. Conceive, then, about a dozen
sailors seated on the chests, forming a kind of ring, in
the centre of which is, first, a kid containing a hnge«piece
of salt beef, boiled in salt wateu — the outside of the meat
grinning most horribly in crystallized salt. Another
k^d contains a pudding, or duff, Aveighing from ten to
fifteen pounds,niore or less, compressed greatly by the
operation of boiling ; there is still another, containing bis
cuit, which, Avith a tiri pot of molasses, and the vinegar
cruet, alias the horn tumbler, finishes this endless variety.
And now for the conversation around the festive board.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 373
"Avast there, Tom," says an old salt, while the for
mer is cu.ting off the best and fattest part of the beef:
"cut fair, and no gouging — just parbuckle that pretty
little morsel of bull-meat over this Avay."
"Hallo," says another, " Avhat have Ave got here?"
eyeing the beef sarcastically: " Avhy, this is a fine stock
of provisions for a soldier's knapsack ; he could march
a Avhole campaign without danger of greasing it, or his
pipe-clays." So saying, he cuts off a junk to his liking,
Avhich is readily subdivided into morsels about the di
mensions of a common-sized egg ; and then, to neutral
ize the salt, it is thrust into the vinegar cruet, with a
dust- of pepper, and the savory titbit is SAvallowed Avith
peculiar relish.
The first course being over, the dessert is brought for
ward, at Avhich they all brighten up with an iiiAvard
chuckle, .apparently delighted with this weekly extra
allcnvance ; then an old roaster, and a hard-visaged chap,
who sits opposite, bawls out, " Handle yourself this Avay,-
Avith your long shears, and cut me up the duff." The
pudding is then first slabbed off into blocks, then di
vided into slices, to be again subdivided into pieces,
when the contents of the tin pot of molasses is poured
into the kid, and a hasty stir-about completes the prep
aration. NoW, then,. Avith their iron spoons, they fall
to Avith a will, while piece after piece rapidly van
ishes, till the Avhole mass disappears ; when, if a full
stowage of hardware fail to bring a conviction, to the
participants, of the moral of the truth, "Enough is as
good as a feast," — alas ! the empty kid too plainly ad
monishes them of the truth of the moral, " There is an
end to all things." This done, some one sings out,
" Clear away the Avreck! " a very unnecessary call, for
there is nothing left but the empty dishes to clear away;
the beef, pudding, molasses, pepper, vinegar, and 'grog,
having all been stowed away, to satisfy the enormous
appetites of the sailors.
The above is a pretty fair sample 'of their meals, with
the exception that they are generally allowed beans,
34

374 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
peas, rice, and sometimes potatoes, as a change. Salt
pork is also given instead of beef. With this kind of
living, it not unfre'quently happens, that they are obliged
to work all day, and then are called up perhaps two or
three times in their watch beloAV at night. They are
not only frequei.tiy exposed to storms* and tempests,
wet and dry, sudden transitions of heat and cold, but it
sometimes happens that, from stress of weather, calms,
or otherwise, they suffer incredibly for want of provis
ions and Avater. Add to all this, it is often the case
that a sailor does not receive a kind or pleasant Avord
from his officers during a voyage ; and, although there
are many honorable exceptions in commanders of ves^.
sels, yet I am compelled to acknowledge that there are
many Avho look upon a common haucTas nearly allied
to a brute, and, consequently, treat him as such. At
best, a sailor's life, is full of hardship and peril; and if
to these are added hard living, hard usage, and hard
words, it may be imagined that his life at sea is not very
desirable. , No Avonder, then, when a ship arrives in port, and a
land-shark comes on board under false colors, Avith
smooth Avords and sunshine in his countenance, —
especially if he has a bottle of rum to treat poor Jack
with, — no wonder, I say, that he becomes an easy dupe
to this designing knave. Presently, you will see the
land-pirate have, perhaps, a whole creAV in toAV, and they
are quickly stoAved away in a fire-ship, — or, to speak
more plainly, a grog-shop, — which comprises a part, at
least, of a sailors' boarding-house. "Here, then, he is
constantly plied with liquor, and kept half stupid;
in Avhich situation he is sometimes permitted to sally
forth into the streets, Avhere he is generally scoffed at
and despised ; — by reason of Avhich, he plunges deeper"
into the vortex of misery and Avretchedness.
Nostr, it must be acknoAyledged that there are many
men, Avho are an honor to" their species, endeavoring
to exert their influence and means to extricate sailors
from this sad condition ; yet there are many others,

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 375
when it is proposed to rescue seafaring men from the
grasp of designing 'men, and advance their moral and
religious condition, so that they may sustain a rank in
society to Avhich their value and importance justly
entitles them, — I say, Avhen this is proposed, the answer
is, " Why do sailors permit themselves to be so duped
aud carried aAvay ? " The reasons have been given.
But it may be asked, Avho goes on board of a vessel, when
she first arrives, and takes the poor sailor by the hand ?
and, Avhen on shore, who is it that will introduce him
into society, and give him a place at the social board,
or around'the domestic fireside? Who is it, I ask, that
Avill whisper kind words into his ear, and, with Avhole-
some admonition and advice, tell him about the value
of his soul, or go in company with him to the house of
God ? When it is proposed to make special efforts to
erect temperance houses, and mariners' churches, for
the benefit of seamen, the objections generally are, that
there are already houses of sufficient respectability for
their reception, and, as to places of worship, why, they
abound in all our cities — consequently, sailors have the
same opportunity to make use of -the means of reforma
tion as landsmen have. Noav, this is very had reason
ing. Suppose, for example, that a sailor could get from
under the clutches of his landlord long enough to keep
sober tAventy-four hours; let him then have a "go
ashore wash," as he would call it, and dress- him in a
complete sailor's rig — say blue jacket, white trousers,
black silk handkerchief tied Avith a sailor's knot, — the
other parts of his dress to correspond, — except that his
head is decorated with the indispensable tarpaulin ; thus
rigged out, let him enter one of our large and fashion
able churches ; — and how many pew doors, do you
suppose, would be thrown open for his reception ? It is
highly probable that many of the ladies, fancying the
air perfumed Avith tar, or oakum, Avomd faint at the sight
of this outlandish creature ; and no doubt the sexton,' in
this most deplorable dilemma, would, if the audacious
intrusion had not too far ruffled his temper, in a delicate
and agreeable manner show him the way to the door.

376

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

* The facts are simply these : a sailor is so accustomed
to the severity of discipline on shipboard, that he
.Avould as soon take up his residence in the cabin — in
the land of plates, knives, forks, &c, a.s they term a
gentleman's parlor — as frequent a place of religious
Avorship, Avhere all are so different in dress to him ; for
he conceives immediately that he is out of his element.
If, then, religious truth is ever brought to bear upon hid
character, the impression must first be made; that he
has a timbei*head in the church, to use his own phrase
Avith a sailor's chaplain ; and it is further necessary that
he should be surrounded with those Avho, like himself,
are rigged out in the costume of the sailor. In this
way, and in no other, will you gain his confidence.
And if once the blessed truths of Christianity make a
lodgment in his heart, there is no class, of men that are
more devoted, or that live more consistent lives than do
seamen. It is not a difficult matter to affect the heart of a
sailor ; only keep him sober, and bring him within the
range of religious influence, and persuade him, at the
same time, by the interest you feel in his behalf, that
you are his friend, his reformation is almost -a, certainty.
I boldly assert that which experience has confirmed
during a series of voyages, as has been noticed in the
preceding narrative, that my uniform practice was to
have religious Avorship on board ; and I can safely
affirm that a judicious course of treatment, and the
influence of these observances, not only made a deep
and lasting impression on the minds of many sailors,
but also enabled me to gain their confidence and sup
port in many a trying hour. Indeed, during a course
of many years' experience with them, I never knew a
sailor who was an infidel ; and I do not think any man
of reflection, following a sea life, can be one, surround
ed as he is at all times Avith the immense displays of
the poAver and Avisdom of God. Looking upward, they
behold the blue heavens; looking around, they see the
vast, unfathomable abyss, without limit, except that theii

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 377
contracted vision malos sky and ocean meet. In the
hurricane and storm, he vieAvs his wondrous poAver: and
when he also beholds the enormous groAvth and the
vast variety of the finny tribe; and Avhen too, above all,
he recollects his own exposures on the' inconstant ele
ment, and ho\v he has been preserved amid its various
perils and dangers; Avhen, I say, he reflects upon all"
these things^ (and I believe every sailor does so, more or
less,) he is constrained to acknoAvledge ihat there is an
overruling Providence, a Being Avho supports and up
holds Si things by his wisdom and power. If, then, a
proper estimate is made of the-value and importance of
seamen to our communities ; if our obligations to them
are rightly considered ; and if our responsibility to God
in their behalf is manifest, Ave are bound to put forth the
most strenuous efforts to alleviate their temporal and
spiritual condition. If' we do not do all this, and more,
there will be a fearful account to give in the day of final
retribution. Experiments are noAV being carried on, and have
proved successful beyond the expectations of the most
sanguine. Seamen's homes, and mariners' churches, have
been opened in almost every seaport in the United States,
as well as in foreign ports ; and although much has
been done, yet much more rernains to be done, which
requires the united cooperation of all. In this great
Work, a vast amount of responsibility rests upon the
commanders of vessels, because it is well knoAvn that v
they can exert an influence, over the miuds of sailors,
which is quite beyond the power of any other class
to effect. It seems, then, that it is absolutely necessary
that a commander should be under the poAver and in
fluence of gospel truths, that he may regulate his OAvn
life accordingly, and observe a judicious and proper.
treatment to sailors, as Avell as to recommend, by precept'
and example, that divine principle which he professes to
enjoy. If this Avere generally the case, how much more
would the privations and hardships of. a sea. life be
lessened! Let men be brought to feel their responsi-
34*

378 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
bility to God and to each other, and there certainly would
not be a Avant of obedijnce on shipboard from inferiors to
superiors ; aud on the other hand, officers would be just,
and consider that the soul of the sailor is as precious iu
the sight of God, and cost as much to redeem, as that
of any otlier man. It is certain, if this divine principle
Avere enjoyed by seamen in general, then every vessel
would become a Bethel, and every sailor's heart a
temple for^the Holy Spirit to dwell in. But sailors
themselves, being the most interested, are called upon to
be co-workers in that which is to elevate their condition
in society, by reforming their habits and lives, and
endeavoring to practise those moral and religious truths
which are not only calculated to smooth the sorrows of
life, and make men happy, but, -after all, give a proper
estimate to character.
' Sailors, during the progress of their calling, are oc
casionally in the habit of yisiting every portion of the
habitable globe. Their business frequently leads them
among the less informed, the uncivilized, portions of
mankind. And it is here that the examples taught by
the white men, who mingle with the natives, may
have a mighty influence on their conduct. The white
man is soon knoAvn to possess a mind of a higher order
than the savage, and is by him looked up to as a
superior being. If the moral feelings of the Avhita man
correspond Avith his intellectual poiver, the influence
which he may thus exercise will be unbounded. But
if the. savage finds that the Avhite man seeks to deceive
him, is dishonest, cunning, licentious, and intemperate,
he can no longer respect him, although it is possible
he may fear his power.
The ignorant, untutored savage can discriminate be
tween good and evil ; and although he, perhaps, has
never cultivated the moral sentiments, he will despise,
from the bottom of his heart, the pale-faced stranger
Avho alloAvs the animal passions to predominate over
ihe nobler faculties of the mind. If you take away
rirtue, you -will deprive intellect of half its force. It
is therefore evident, that sailors who visit those countries

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 379
should be men correct in their moral conduct, and thus
be able to set before the savage a copy for his imitation,
not a picture for his abhorrence: It will thus be seen
that the bearing of the sailor, Avhen abroad, is always of
the greatest importance, and should every Avhere be'
characterized by frankness, benevolence, decorum, and
virtue. This conduct is particularly necessary when
holding communication with the savage.
The sailor might pave the way for the missionary or
the philanthropist, who Avould be able to instruct them
still further in their religious and "moral duties. But if, .
on the contrary, sailors should exhibit a character, to
them, marked with vice and sensuality, the savage
Avould so6n see enough of the Avl\ite man, and be more
disposed to drive him from his territories, or take his
)ife, than to receive from his lips the lessons of advice
or the precepts of morality. It is evident that, before a
person can be successful in instructing others, Avhether
children or adults, he must be respected ; and he cannot
be respected, either by the white man or the savage,
unless he strictly fulfils his moral duties. An American
sailor, when abroad, should recollect that he is a repre
sentative of his countrymen, and that it is in his power
to convey to those among Avhom he mingles a favorable
impression of the generalconduct, manners, and morals,
of his countrymen, or to excite their prejudice against
the name of an American, by a bearing unjustifiably
incorrect or immoral. And this consideration alone, if
he have a proper love for his country, and a due regard
for the character of an American, will be sufficient to
induce him to be circumspect in his actions, and desirous
of gaining a good name among foreigners, whether
civilized or barbarous, whether. Christians or pagans.
But there are better and nobler motives to influence the
conduct of the seaman, Avhen acting in some sort as the
representative of his countrymen in a distant land, — a
just sense of moral duty; a wish to act correctly Avher-
ever he may be placed, or in Avhatever circumstances K
a regard to his own character, and happiness, and ivel-

380

LIFE ON THE OCEAN.

fare in a future state.. But, in order that seamen may
the more effectually exert a moral influence among
those Avith whom theytiaye intercourse, it is absolutely
necessary that they should become temperate men.
After all, the great prolific cause of all their miseries and
wretchedness, as well as of the peculiar characteristics of
their anomalous character, is the almost universal prev
alence among them of practical intemperance. This
vice will ever keep them from mingling with society ; it
destroys confidence and respect, and is disgusting to all
good men ; because the habitual inebriate places himself
on a level with the brute ; and further, the sailor, when
he is half drunk, not only becomes the dupe of every
designing knave, but also is in a fit condition to plunge
himself' into the lowest scenes of sensuality. It is the
vice of intemperance that destroys the constitution, and
biings on premature disease and death. Look around ;
how rarely does it occur that' you see an old sailor !
Where are they ? and AA-hat becomes of them ? Vv hy,
they either go to Davy Jones's locker — that is, they fall
overboard and are droAvned — or they are shipwrecked or
foundered. But the greater part, by the inordinate use
of rum, prematurely induce disease, and then poor Jack
is taken to the hospital Avith a brokeu-doAvn constitution,
aud very shortly slips his wind.
It is morally impossible, also, that the word of God
can take effect upon the heart of that man whose senses
are benumbed Avith liquor; so far from it, that, just in
proportion as ardent spirits are taken into the stomach,
just in the same ratio will the divine influence of the
Spirit of God be shut out from the heart of such a man.
And I hold it to be next to vim possible that religious
impressions can take effect ; or, if they do, they Avill
only be casual, — consequently, no permanent benefit will
be the result. Let me say, then, to seamen, that tem
perance is not only a virtue in itself, but it makes men
virtuous, and paves the ivay for all that is good and
great; it brings ivith it reflection and consideration,
which -are the primary steps to the possession of morals
and religion.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 381
There is another class of persons who are deeply in
terested in the reformation of seamen; these are the
merchants and ship-owners. It is surprising, however,
to behold the apathy and indifference manifested by
many of those gentlemen ; and it is a melancholy fact,
t!iat there are ship-owners who give cc.umand of their
vessels to profane, overbearing, tyrannical men, iu pref
erence to those of high moral worth, vainly supposing
that such persoLs are not only the best seamen, and
alone competent to command, but also that their in
terest by such will be better served. Long experience
on the oceau has convinced me that, in the general, the
very reverse is the truth ; for it requires something more
than the mere handling of a marlinspike, handing, reef
ing, steering. &c., to constitute a good seaman. If to
these qualities a sound judgment is not connected, then
the most prominent feature is wanting to make a com
plete and thorough seaman ; and, in the general run, at
least eight times out of ten, an overbearing, tyrannical
commander will make a bad crew ; and he who cannot
govern himself is unfit to govern others. Besides, the
jri.-icipal part of the difficulties and troubles on ship
board, at sea, is owing, ultimately, if not immediately,
to the peculiar character of the crew ; and thus is the
nterest of voyages not only greatly injured, but. also, it
sometimes happens that mutiny, with its horrid conse
quences, is the result.
But it is certain that, if the interests of the merchant
are advanced by having, as commanders of their vessels,
men of moral feelings and just conceptions of responsi
bility, it is also certain, that the sailor's character ought
to correspond with the officer's ; for what guaranty can
a merchant Ijave for his property at sea, while under the
care and management of a crew that neither fear God
nor regard man, and. consequently, have no proper no
tions of moral obligation. To be sure, It must be con
fessed that many safe and expeditious voyages have
been made with such crews.; but then, this is no argu
ment why the moral condition of seamen should not be

382 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
elevated. In fact, there is an imperious obligation de
volving on the merchants, in reference to seamen ; it is
a debt of gratitude due by them ; the reasons for which
have been stated in the preceding pages. In Avhat bet
ter way, then, I ask, can this claim be liquidated, than
for the merchant to lend his influence and means in
elevating the sailor to that rank in society Avhich his
Avorth and importance demand ?
But there is yet a higher and nobler motive which
should induce merchants to rescue seamen from the
Ioav and grovelling condition which, unfortunately, too
many of them iioav sustain ; that is, by exercising that
universal love and good-Aviil, Avhich is not prompted by
sordid or mercenary motives. It is a species of that
love which induced the blessed Redeemer to give his life
a ransom for all. Noav, if the heart is actuated by a
principle like this, there will not be wanting the most
strenuous efforts on the part of merchants to snatch
Aveather-beaten sailors, as brands, from the eternal burn
ing, especially when it is seen Avhat vast numbers are
annually swept off by shipwreck and other casualties
at sea, and ushered into eternity at a moment's warning,
without preparation to appear at the bar of God. It
may be asked, Hoav j,s this to be effected, and hoAV are
sailors to be reached ? I ansAver, Let the merchant en-
tirely discountenance those places where sailors gene
rally take up their residence ivhen ou shore, which are
usually denominated sailor boarding-houses ; the better
appellation, however, AVonld be grog-shops, or haunts of
dissipation. In such places as these, the unsuspecting
sailor is amply plied with the intoxicating bowl, Avhich
not only drowns his sensibilities, and keeps him upon
a level with the brute, but here, also, his hard earnings
are filched, and then, Avhen no more can be drained from
him by mock caress or venal device, he is shipped on
board of some vessel in a state of stupefaction, or, what
is Avorse, with the delirium tremens.
The keepers of such places should be discountenanced
by all good men ; and that which perhaps Avill more

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 383
effectually bring about the object intended is, Vet not
the merchants employ shipping-masters avIio keep such
houses, or that ship any sailors from those places. There
may be some difficulty, perhaps, at first, in effecting this,
but it will soon vanish aAvay, provided the ship-oAvners
will give their entire countenance and support to men
of worth and standing, Avho keep temperance houses,
and seamen's homes, Avhere the sailor may resort after
his long and perilous voyage, and have both his tem
poral and spiritual interests greatly advanced ; and Avhere,
instead of being robbed of his hard earnings, his con
stitution shattered, and packed off to sea like a beast,
he may have his money put in a savings bank, and,
when he is about to go to sea, he may have a chest of
good clothes, and clean bedding, Avith a sound, vigorous
frame, and go on board of a ship able to perform his
duty in a seaman-like manner.
It is exceedingly gratifying to know that a growing
interest is gathering around the community in behalf
of seamen ; and well it may, when Ave consider the vast
number employed in our naval and merchant service,
including also our inland navigation ; they are at pres
ent estimated at about five hundred thousand men, — a
class, perhaps, of more value to the real interests of this
country than any other — a class Avhose interests certain
ly have been more neglected by society than even the
pauper Avho proAvIs about the streets. It is singularly
strange that this should be so ; for the blessed Redeemer, •
in the days of his incarnation, not' only honored the Sea
of Tiberias and Gennesaret with his presence, but actu
ally called seamen to be his first heralds to proclaim the
glad tidings of salvation to a lost and ruined world ; and
he preached his oavii everlasting gospel, dispensing the
bread of life to the famishing multitude, from a vessel's
deck. And yet, it is not more than thirty years since,
that any special efforts were made in behalf of seamen, to
better their condition in society, and effect the salvation
of their souls. The light first began to dawn upon their
moral horizon in the British Isles, in 1810 ; and very

384 LIFE Orf THE OCEAN.
soon its benign rays were reflected across the Atlantic,
upon the American shores ; and then, for the first time,
the voice of the man of God Avas heard, proclaiming,
" Sailor, there is hope for thee ! "

•3S5

CHAPTER XXXV.
BC"CESTI6NS IN REGARD TO THE MORAL IMPROVEMENT Ok'
S1SA.AIEN.
It is a matter of speculation and much doubt with
many, whether the plan of reforming sailors, and of
making them religionists, so that they may sustain their
place in society, is at all feasible. This is not to be
wondered at with landsmen, ivho have no other op
portunity of forming an opinion of sailors, except by the
conduct which is exhibited by them Avhile on "shore.
This, indeed, will bean erroneous judgment; because
the baser passions are alone manifested, by reason of the
many temptations and baits Avhich are throAvn out, by
designing men, to allure them from the path of rectitude,
which, unfortunately, not only prove too successful, in
the ruin of thousands, but also stamp their general char
acter with infamy in the estimation of a large class of
landsmen. It is impossible to judge of the real character of a
sailor by what is seen of him on shore ; and although he
seems to be impervious and callous in regard to the
great subject of religion, yet there is no class of men
that might so easily be brought under its influence, if
properly managed, as seamen. Permit me to give a few
of the more prominent reasons Avhy there is such an ap
parent indifference among sailors in regard to morals
and religion.
First, ther., it is owing to the almost total neglect of its
observances and requirements on board of nearly all
vessels that navigate the ocean. The. Sabbath is des
ecrated, and little or no difference is recognized be
tween it and other days of the week ; oaths and impre-
35

386 L.IFE ON TH« OCEAN.
cations are the general tenor of the conversation which
issues from the cabins "of many vessels, and even the
forms of religion are not knoAvn in many a long and
perilous voyage ; and it not unfrequently happens that it
is neither seen, nor exhibited, in the whole course of a
sailpr's .life, pan it, then, be a matter of astonishment,
to behold the indifference and recklessness of sailors, in
regard to these matters ? Just, for a moment, behold them
on the ocean, excluded from the_ restraints of society,
deprived of all those instituted means of grace, on the
Sabbath, Avhich are always within the reach of landsmen,
besides being surrounded on all sides With evil example,
and especially that which is exhibited by their su
periors ; looked upon, in many instances, as possessing no
souls. I say, when all these things are considered, it is
not surprising that sailors manifest but little relish for
morals or religion.
It may be asked, What course shall we pursue with
sailors, while on the ocean, in order to impress their
minds with a deep sense of their obligations to God, and'
the necessity of seeking the salvation of their souls? I
ansAver, if possible, let the commanders of all Vessels, if
not strictly religious, be at least moral, and observe the
forms and restraints of Christianity on the Sabbath day.
This observance, in keeping alive a state of moral feel
ing, will, consequently, give a' check and restraint to
those outbreakings of profane swearing, and other vices,
so common among sailors. It may be objected that these
observances will interfere with the duties of the ship,
or that it will be impossible to bring many sailors to
attend to these forms of devotion at sea. In the latter
years of my sea life, as will be seen in the preceding
narrative, I never found any obstacle, either in reference
to carrying on the duties of the ship, or the umvilling-
ness of sailors to obey orders. Certainly, if a-* corre
spondent and uniform course of discipline is not ob
served, it cannot be expected that sailors will either be
willing to attend to those exercises, or place confidence
in the highest profe'ssion.

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 387
Secondly, let every vessel that floats over the ocean
haA-e the total-abstinence temperance flag nailed to
the mast-head. Here, too, the example should be ex
hibited from the quarter-deck ; for I hesitate not to affirm,
that the greater part of the difficulties, insubordination,
and mutinies, Avhich have .aken place among seamen
on the ocean, have arisen principally from the fact, that
the demon of intemperance had the exclusive command
of the ship. Nay, I may go further, and not overstep
the bounds of truth ; and say, that, in former years at
least, many of the losses, shipwrecks, and, consequently,
loss of life, <fcc, ivhich have occurred at sea, Avere caused
by the practical inebriation of the cabin officers.
But it is a source of great satisfaction to know, that
this great evil is now almost universally banished from
the cabins of nearly every vessel that floats ou the
ocean; and, indeed, it has latterly been excluded from
the forecastles of some of our gallant ships. In connec
tion Avith this, care should be taken, as much as possi
ble, for the comfort of sailors, iu regard to that part of
the vessel which is assigned to them for their eating,
sleeping, <fcc. 1 have been before the mast myself in
vessels, in the forecastles of which (so far -from being
sufficiently capacious for a dozen men to live in) there
was not really room enough, as a sailor Avould -say, to
swing a cat in ; and besides, what ' with the decks
leaking, and the seas thrown into it as the ship plunged
through the water, — by reason of these, we scarcely kept
our bedding or clothing fit either to sleep iu or Avear y
and in those cases I invariably found the main deck the
more comfortable place of the two.
It is certainly astonishing that, while the owners of
ships instruct the builders to make ample room for ihe
cabin, Avhere there are in general not more than three per
sons, yet there is not alloAved, in general, more than one
half the space of the cabin to be devoted to the comfort
and convenience of the crew, consisting, perhaps, of
tAvelve or fifteen met . Of course, it is not my province
to dictate, or lay dov n, any specific rules for the regula-

388 LIFE ON THE OCLAN.
tion and discipline of vessels ; these must ever vary
according to circumstances.
' It may be necessary, on short voyages, to limit the
privileges of time"; and again, when vessels are just oflv
the stocks, and new, of course, there is more duty to
perform on board of such a one, than on board of
others which have been for some time running. On
long voyages, hoAvever, I have invai:ably found it to be
the better plan, to give the forenoon watch below, and
in heavy Aveather to have Avatch and watch ; and a" uni
form rule, from which I never'.deviated, apart from the
necessary duties of the ship, was to allow them Satur
day for the purpose of Avashing and mending their
clothes, cleansing the forecastle, &c. This was done
in order that the Sabbath day might be respected, and-
that no excuse might be made for Avant of time, should
they be found violating it. In this Avay, I generally '
managed to get. the duties of the ship performed cheer
fully and with promptness; and, with one single excep
tion, during the whole period* of my command I never
had" but one difficulty at sea. and that Avas owing en
tirely to drunKenness on the part of the crew.
Once more-: — I generally endeavored, so far as it was
in my poAver, to have good and Avholesome provisions
for the seamen, and to see after, the manner in which
they were cooked and served up to them. Their living,
at best, is not of the most superior kind ; and it -becomes
infinitely worse Avhen it is half cooked in filth, which
is too often the case. Again, I never put men on allow
ance except imperious necessity demanded it ; and this
may often happen at sea; for sailors are sometimes ex
travagant and wasteful, and sometimes, from a long
course of head Avinds and calms, provisions may get
short ; and not unfrequently, on board of merchant
ships, Avhere there are several Water-casks lashed on
deck, some of them are swept overboard by the violence
of the sea; consequently the quantity is reduced. Prom
these and many other circumstances, then, it becomes
absolutely necessary to go an allowance of provisions

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 389
and water. Ordinarily, hoivever, the more judicious
plan is, not to alloAvance sailors, because it engenders
"mucn bad feeling, by souring their tempers, and caus
ing them to grumble, Avhich geneially ends in difficulty
and trouble. I knoAV not Avhy sailors should not be
treated (if they conduct themselves with propriety, and
discharge their duty ) as well as landsmen. It is Avell
knoAvn that, if mechanics are employed at any particu
lar business, they will never suffer themselves to be
treated contemptuously, much less Avill they admit an
employer to vent oaths and curses upon them, with im
punity. J. do not institute- this comparison with the
view of giving sailors' license to insubordination, but
merely to show, that an employer on shore never con
ducts himself, towards the employed, in this way. There
is a feeling among landsmen — and, in some degree,
among the officers of vessels — that sailors have sprung
from the most degraded part of society ; and this feel
ing seems to be almost ^universal, producing a degree of
aversion and contempt, arising solely from unjust pre
judices tOAvards them.
There is a great mistalro existing among the com
munity in reference to this matter; for I will venture to
affirm that sailors, as a class of men, have a descent
quite as repritable as the generality *of landsmen; and,
indeed, there are many among them Avhose parentage is
of the first respectability, such as those who come from
the Eastern States, which may truly be called the nursery
of American seamen. These, at their advent upon the
ocean, do not go to sea as a matter of convenience;
neither are they so bad that their friends can do nothing
with them on shore, in consequence of which they
must be sent to sea; but, as a matter of choice, they
enter upon the business of a sea life, as they would upon
any mechanical pursuit, and follow it through all its
gradations, until many of them arrive at the acme Of
their profession. In this view of the case, then, it is
very evident that men must be thorough-bred sailors,
before they can bccapaDle to command. Now, then, if
35*

390 LIFE ON THE OCEAN.
there are thousands of sailors in our merchant service of a
character just mentioned, it follows that they are en
titled to the. same kind of deference, in their sphere, as
landsmen, particularly if they discharge their duty agree
ably to contract. That they are bound to do so, .and
also to conform to any course of discipline, there can be
ao question ; and Avhen these' obligations are fulfilled, it
becomes .the imperious duty of the commander and
officers to discharge the high obligations Avhich devolve
upon them towards seamen. And it does appear to me,
after an attentive observation of many years, in regard
to the character of seamen, that if a judicious line of
conduct were instituted with them on ship board, not
only would many of the hardships and privations con
sequent upon a sea life be ameliorated, but. ^}so, they
wotild have a more just conception of moral responsi-
Dility ; or, in other words, their duty towards God and
man would be sensibly enhanced.
It does not require the depth of a casuist to see that,
if this were the general character of our seamen, they
would not only command that respect on shore to which
their condition entitles them, but,, as they must be the
vehicles by which the glad tidings of salvation are to be
Carried to the heathen, and the standard of the cross
must be planted in "the dark corners and habitations of
idolatry, — I say, as they rhust be the channels of com-
muriication by which this glorious event is to be con
summated, how" infiriitely better must they be prepared
to discharge this duty, when their characters are in
fluenced by morals and religion !
When we look at the great good which may be ef-
rected by the influence and deportment of seamen in
foreign lands, — not only as it regards the establishing of
our national character as good or evil., but also as dis
seminating the seeds of virtue and religion in the minds
and in the hearts of the heathen, and among those Avhere
the blessed light of Christianity hath not shed its benign
rays, — I say, Avhen the importance of these things is
considered, is i not Avonderful, that the Christian com-

LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 391
munity seems to be in a state of torpor and supinenes3
in regard to the great subject of reforming sailors ? Yet
there does not appear to be any want of disposition, on
the part of Christians, both real and nominal, to exert
their influence and means in sending forth the mission
ary of the cross among the benighted sons and daughters
of supersti;ion, in order to spread the blessed effects of
the gospel among them. And yet there are thousands
navigating our ships over the ocean who are aS deeply
benighted, in reference to the great subject of morals aud
religion, as the heathen ; and it does appear but just,
that, while such great exertions are made to send the
bread of life into foreign lands, something certainly
ought to be done for those who are the vehicles of com
munication, and without Avhom the effects of Christianity
would be exclusively confined to civilized and Christian
ized nations.
It has been said, and with great truth, when the re
ligion of the cross gets firm hold upon the sailor's heart,
that he becomes a more zealous champion for the truth
than one of any other class of men. If'this be true, —
and the very nature of his occupation confirms the as
sertion, — how much better calculated is he, then, to
advance the cause of Christianity, than a landsman ! and
it folloAvs, of consequence, that, as the nature of his voca
tion obliges him to visit almost every clime that has
been, and that yet will be, discovered, — when all this is
taken into the account, it is evident thai seamen are the
best-calculated and fittest persons for missionaries. It is
true, that the community is now being aroused to a
sense of their obligations to sailors; and yet, with the
-exception of" a small minority, the majority of the people
deal too much in generals, believing that special efforts
are not absolutely necessary for their reformation.
As I have expatiated largely, in the 'preceding pages,
in reference to this subject, I would merely say, further,
that the good Avhich may be ejfected in this way will
be exceedingly limited. If a universal benefit is to be
conferred on sailors, the effort must be exclusively made

392' LIFE ON, THE OCEAN.
for their peculiar, and I may say exclusive, character ;
and experience has shown that, since specific efforts
have been made to bring sailors within the range of the~
gospel, it has given a moral influence on the bearing of
many ; and when we contrast the material alteration for
the better now, among sailors, to what it was tAventy
years ago, we are compelled to acknoAvledge that it is
owing principally to the blessed influence of Christianity
upon their hearts. It is, therefore, a source of- gratitude
to Almighty God,, that, notwithstanding the very limited
efforts that have yet been made to ameliorate the condi
tion of sailors, He has crowned those feeble efforts
with abundant success; and it should be a stimulus to
all classes of men, (but especially to those who are more
deeply concerned,) to redouble their exertions in behalf
of the condition of poor sailors. Let these exertions
widen and extend ; and, as the Almighty has chosen men
as instruments' to promulge his blessed truth, and be the
meanj, in his hands, of the salvation of their felloAvs, —
arid especially if we are firm believers in that truth, — let
us not slacken our energies until the prophecy is fulfilled,
" When the abundance of the sea shall be converted
to God." For the fulfilment of this glorious epoch, let
all Christians unite ; and the time is not very far distant,
when the high praises of God shall universally ascend
up from old ocean, and when the tribes of Zebulon shall
be joined to the tribes of Judah, and the mountain wave
be united to the mountain of the land, and when all
shall join in loud hallelujahs, " The Lord God omnipo
tent reigneth! " t

393

CHAPTER XXXVI.

CONCLUSION.

Among the most pleasing reflections of my life is the
recollection that the Bethel flag was first hoisted in the
port of Baltimore, on board of the ship Avhich I com
manded. It Avas, to be. sure, a small beginning ; for al
though it was a novel sight to behold the Bethel flag
floating at the mast-head of a ship, as a signal to re
pair on board for the purpose of religious Avorship, — yet,
when the hour arrived, Iioav many do you suppose com
posed the whole congregation ? I pause, not because
the number is bevond calculation, but because av feeling
of sorrow now pervades my mind at the recollection
of the keen disappointment that Avas then exhibited by
every person present ; and the reader will not think it
strange, Avhen I tell him that, from this famous Monu
mental city — a city so celebrated for its numerous
churches and its Avidely-extended religious influence —
I say, the reader will not think strange the keen
ness of my disappointment, when I tell him, the whole
congregation on board consisted of seven souls. This
was, indeed, not very flattering; for as yet the scheme
Avas treated by many as entirely futile ; but, like all
other beginnings, which are generally small in the com
mencement, ours had to. struggle against prejudice; and
although it had to contend -with many discourage
ments from various quarters, yet, through the indefati
gable exertions of a few benevolent . spirits, the Avork
progressed slowly, but efficiently.
The first year, the word of God Avas preached on
board .ff such vessels as could be obtained for that pur-

394 LIFE ON THE OCEAN:
pose ; but there were very few, at t:.at period, -who Avere
Aviiiing to let the sailor's missionary go on board and
dispense the Word of Life ; very few, indeed, would con
sent 10 let the Bethel flag-be hoisted on board of their
respective* vessels. This inconvenience was so great,
that it was found absolutely necessary -to relinquish the
preaching of the Word on board of vessels ; aud, the
second year, a sail-loft Avas obtained for that purpose.
Here, a growing interest for the success of the cause was
abiffidantly manifested, and numbers accumulated, Sab
bath after Sabbath, (especially those who Avere connected
with seamen and navigation,) to hear the Word preached,
until it was found too contracted for the multitude
which resorted thither. Then it was that benevolent •
and philanthropic men conceived the noble project of
erecting a church especially dedicated to the moral and
rehgious benefit of seamen. In 1,825, a location Avas-
obtained ; and the building erected, and dedicated as a
mariners' church, to be conducted on the missionary
plan, the operations and benefits of which were exclu
sively designed for seamen. For some years it had to*""
contend Avith a variety of opposition — so much so that
many were discouraged, especially as there did not ap
pear to be much good effected in the morals of seamen :
-this, hoAVever, was principally owing to the counteract
ing influence of intemperance, so prevalent among
seamen, and the united efforts of^the keepers of sailor
boarding-houses to deter poor Jack from attending di
vine worship; or, if he did, they usually plied him so-
freely with the intoxicating draught, that, if any good
impressions had been made, they were soon driven from
his mind.
Another serious discouragement was,- that the various
denominations of Christians rarely lent their "counte-,
nance or presence, to aid the institution..- In this way,
then, for a long time, the Bethel ship* had to" con
tend Avith head Avinds ; and, for want of a nucleus
around which the captain and missionary might rally* — I *
say, for the want of a crew to Work- the ship, she weT,

LIFB ON THE OCEAN. 395
nigh had stranded. In this condition she hove out a
signal, and the temperance ship, being Avell manned, bore
doAvn to her relief.' .Some of the temperance creAV Avere
put on board tire Bethel ship, a»d Avorked her off into
blue water and plenty of sea-room, since which -time
she has been kept under Avay, and the creAV, although
sIoavIv, has steadily, increased in number ;' and the influ
ence which this Bethel ship*has exerted, and continue!
still to exert, is incalculable, and will tell upon the des
tiny of many a poor Aveather-beaten tar, as Aveli as i^pon
those connected with seamen. In this port, already,
there are many auxiliaries to this institution, which tend
greatly to ameliorate the condition of seamen, as Aveli
as to extend the *" hand of charity to their distressed
widows and orphans.
There is a seaman's home conducted on temper mce'
principles, in Avhich the sons pf the ocean may be .ectire
from designing men, and find a comfortable r' .tidenee
while on shore, as Avell as have access to a libra y Avhich.
is attached to this institution for their especial benefit. J
There; is likeAvise a society established fo the relief**
of seamen's widows and orphans, through the^instru-
mentality of which, and the untiring exer .ons'of the
missionary, not only has many a poor sailoi 5 widow and*
orphan been relieved from the griping hai J of poverty,
but also many, very many, have been rescued from im
moral wretchedness, and brought within the range of
religious teaching, which has exerted a most salutary
influence over the destinies of this class. But although
much has been done, yet much remains to be done ; and
so long as the various denominations of Christians keep
aloof, this work must be "retarded; but Avhen all shall
.gee eye to eye, and unite hand in hand to push forward
this noble enterprise, then we shall quickly see the sailor-
elevated to that situation in society to which his worth
entitles him. THE END.