My Journal in Malayan Waters ... Second edition

Front matter

MY JOURNAL IN MALAYAN WATEBS. - LOWDl" P 18 fi MY JOURNAL IN MALAYAN WATERS ; OR, THE BLOCKADE OF QUEDAH. BT Captain SHEEAKD OSBOKN, E.N., C.B., AUTHOR OF " A CKUISE IN JAPANESE WATERS," ETC. " 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 Sttuni} (.btiira. LONDON: ROUTLEDGE, WARNE, AND ROUTLEDGE FAERTNGDON STP.EET ; AND 56, WALKER STREET, NEW YORK. 1860. The right qf Translation is reserved. g,bi_ai_j& 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 world 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 worse grammar, still educating himself with his journal, he is mainly indebted for being able to fight his way up an arduous and emu lative profession. This fact he would fain impress upon the younger branches of the Eoyal Navy : it will cheer and encourage the humble youth who dons the blue jacket, relying on his head and hand to win those VI

PREFACE.

. honours and advancement wliich, in the natural course of things, appear only to have been created for the influential ; and should the author have thrown some bright hghts on the character of the much-maligned and misunderstood Malay, the naval officer 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 fellow-man, or add, at any rate, in a humble way, to the fund of human knowledge. The general reader will be best able to judge whether the author was 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 with that sunny period of life in which the tale of the Blockade of Quedah was originally written. Some apology is perhaps due to those persons whose names are introduced in the narrative ; but

PREFACE.

. 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 his journal, 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 countrywomen. London : January, 1857.

PREFACE.

TO SECOND EDITION. The sbght alteration of the title, which I have taken the liberty to make in this new edition of my Malayan journal, was necessary both in justice to the reading public, as well as myself. Inexperienced as an author, I published in 1857 the first edition, under the strange name of the Eastern State, off which I had so pleasantly cruised in the Hyacinth, and her boats. I forgot that although Quedah was well known to me and my shipmates, that it was a terra incognita to the majority of men. Eeaders therefore in search of a book, were perfectly puzzled by the mere term, Quedah. It might be a work on seamanship, under a Hebrew title, a geographical disquisition, or an Eastern vocabulary, and many, who, unscared by the title read the journal, have subsequently written, advising me to do what I have now done — let the title explain the contents of the book. SHERARD OSBORN, Capt. Junior United Service Club, London, Sept. 10th, 1860. CONTENTS