Quedah; or, stray leaves from a journal in Malayan waters

Front matter

London: LONGMAN, I'M ' , G11E1 X, .ind ).' iNr; CABS. QUEDAH. *"■"*'' :■[ £;: k/,1ih - H.M.L; ,H I ' i '•: I II '.: ~ ' AT SEA . QUEDAH; 0E, j&traj feabfs FltOM A JOURNAL IN MALAYAN WATERS BY Captain SHERARD OSBORN, R.N., C.B. OFFICIER DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR. " Sweet Memory ! wafted by thy gentle gale, Oft up the stream of Time I turn my sail, To view the fairy-haunts of long-lost hours, Blest with far greener shades, far fresher flowers." Rogers. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, LONGMANS, & ROBERTS 1857. Prm^'liyJ^^^o^QC^/and Co., JUhuatcb TO CAPTAIN WILLIAM WARREN, ROYAL NAVY, COMPANION OF THE MOST HONORABLE ORDER OF THE BATH, ETC. ETC. AND FORMERLY COMMANDER OF H. M.S. "HYACINTH," WITH THE WARMEST FEELINGS OF LOVE AND RESPECT, BY HIS NAVAL NOMINEE AND MIDSHIPMAN, SHERARD OSBORN.

Preface

. The majority of naval officers are self-taught men : the Avorld their book — the midshipman's dingy berth their " Alma Mater." The author is no exception to the rule ; and as his confession may be profitable to others, he makes the public sufficiently a confidant, to say, that to a steady habit of journalising, noting down all he saw, read, or felt, and, in spite of defective spelling and Avorse grammar, still educating himself with bis journal, he is mainly indebted for being able to fight his Avay up an arduous and emu lative profession. This fact he would fain impress upon the younger branches of the Royal Navy : it will cheer and encourage the humble youth Avho dons the blue jacket, relying on his head and hand to win those

PREFACE.

. VI honours and advancement which, in the natural course of things, appear only to have been created for the influential ; and should the author have throAvn some bright lights on the character of a people much maligned and misunderstood, he and others will see that, in practising habits of obser vation, not only does the officer discover a source of amusement and instruction for himself, but that, at some time or other, he may be able to serve his felloAV-man, or add, at any rate, in a humble way, to the fund of human knowledge. The general reader Avill be best able to judge whether the author Avas justified in troubling them with this second series of " Stray Leaves " from his journals. In transcribing them, the original character of the MS. has been adhered to as much as possible ; and, as far as lay in his power, the author has identified himself Avith that sunny period of life in Avhich the tale bf the Blockade of Quedah was originally written.

Some apology is perhaps due to those persons whose names are introduced in the narrative ; but FKEFACE. VII forgiveness may be expected where no harm is said of them. And it is not less the author's grateful duty to express his warm acknowledgments to the unknown body of critics and reviewers who have so kindly encouraged him by liberal praise in his past efforts. Aspiring, however, to no lofty niche in the temple of literary fame, the author launches the good ship " Quedah," confident that, while telling his sailor's yarn in a sailor's way, he will be sure of sympathy and kindly criticism from his countrymen and coun trywomen. London : January, 1857. CONTENTS