Life on the ocean

Preface

The author of the following narrative has been induced to submit it to the public, at the instance and solicitation of numerous friends, who, with a full knowledge of his past life, and of his present condition and circumstances, have united in the opinion, that, whatever 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 associations 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 profession — that, in consequence of this affliction, and even with the aid of an amanuensis, many difficulties must obviously have interposed in the prosecution and completion 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 unavoidable, 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

PREFACE.

and confmued revolutions. The nations of that continent were engaged in a deadly struggle for political existence ; and while the two rival powers, France and England, were each putting forth its mightiest efforts to secure the controlling influence, our own infant republic, acting under the wise policy originally sanctioned and pursued by Washington, was reaping a rich and abundant harvest in supplying the necessities of the belligerents, — thus developing her boundless resources, adding to her physical strength, and laying the foundation of that naval prowess which shone so conspicuously in her subsequent conflict with Great Britain.

In many 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, flatters himself that the interest which 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

Preface, 3

Explanation of sea phrases, 9

Chapter 1

Birth and parentage — Early desire for the life of a sailor, . , 21

CHAPTER 11.

Going on board — Description of ship, and character of the officers — Observations upon the green hands — Getting under way — First night at sea — Gale, &c 29

Object of the voyage explained to the crew — Commencement ot 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 Gallipagos Islands — Description of them, . , 05 9

D 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 hurricane — Severe engagement, 76

Chapter VIII

Sail tor Cocos Island - Conversation with Jaclt Sawyer — Description 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 agreeable mtercourse with the Spaniards at Guimas, 109

CHAPTER XL Jack Sawyer's narrative commenced — Arrival at the Sandwich Islands — Description of Owyhee, &c 123

CHAPTER Xn.

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 XVII.

Unfortunate circumstances inducing a return to the United States — Arrival — Warlike preparations — Prospects of remaining on shore broken up — Entered on board a privateer — Sailed on a cruise, 194

CHAPTER XVIII.

Boarding in the night — Capture — Taken prisoner by Cannibals — Horrible ti-eatment — 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 English — Recaptured 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, 263

CHAPTER XXV.

Conclusion of tlie West India voyage — Sail for London, Batavia, &c 273

8 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Arrival at Batavia — Return voyage — Sickness of crew — 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 Liverpool — 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 Callao — Visit to Lima, &c 331

CHAPTER XXXII.

Religious impressions and happy results — Sail for Havana ai.d southern ports — Rencontre with pirates on board — Their capture and delivery to the authorities of New Orleans, . . . 342

CHAPTER XXXIIL 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 V^OCABULARY.

Aback. — Situation of the sails when their surfaces are forced aft by

the force of the wind.

Abaft, or Afi. — The sternmost part of the ship. Abaft the beam. — Denotes the relative situation of any object from the

ship which inclines towards the stern. 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. Ahead. — Any thing that is situated on that paii 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. All in the wind. — The state of a ship's sails when they are parallel to

the direction of the wind, so as to shiver. Allha7tds, a-hoy. — A call by which all the ship's company are summoned on deck.

Aloft. — Up in the tops, or on the masts or yards. Along shore. — A course parallel to the ship's side. Amidships. — The middle of a ship either with regard to her length or

breadth.

Afoul anchor. — When the cable has got about the fluke of the anchor.

Anchor a-peak. — That is, directly under the hawse-hole of the ship. Anchor cock-bUl. — That is, hangs up 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.

Atoning. — A shelter or screen of canvass, to keep off the heat of the

sun.

2*

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 tlie ship to move astern.

Bare poles. — When a ship has no sail set, she is under bare poles.

Baiting. — A thin piece of Avood to prevent tlie rigging from chafing.

Bear a hand. — To make haste, or despatch.

Bearing. — Signiiies the point of the compass where two or more places, or ships, bear from each otlier.

Bear off. — To thrust or keep from the ship's side.

Bear away. — To keep a ship off from the wind.

Beating to loindward. — Is making progress against the wind by tacking 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.

Bilged, — 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.

Bitts. — A large piece of timber to which the cable is.fastened when tlie 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 rnaldng a stretch on any tack upon a wind.

Boalswain. — The officer who has charge of the cordage, rigging, anchor, &-C.

Both sheets aft. — 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 sliip.

Box-luiuling. — A particular method of veering a sliip, when tlie swell of the sea renders tacking impracticable.

Braces. — The ropes by which the yards are turned about, to accommodate 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 the wind, and endanger her oversetting.

Broadside. — A discharge of all the guns on one side of a ship, both above and below.

By the wind. — The course of a ship as near as possible to the direction of the wma.

Bitntlines. — Ropes fastened to the foot-rope of squaresails, to draw them up to the middle of the yards for furling.

Buoy. — A conical cask attached to the anchor, to show where it lies.

Cap. — A strong, thick block of wood, having two large holes tlirough it, the one square, the other round, used to confine the two masts together.

Capstan. — Is an instrument used where a great purchase is required.

Careen. — To incline a ship low down on one side, to cleanse the bottom.

Carry aivay. — To break a mast, yard, or rope.

Casting. — To incline the head of a ship either to the right hand or left.

Cat-heads. — The timber on a ship's bows, with slieaves 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 the cat-head.

CaVs-paw. — A light air of wind seen on the surface of the water during a calm.

Chains. — A place built out on the sides of a ship, by which the rigging 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 shipwreck.

Clewlines. — Are ropes which come down from the yards to the lower corners of the sails, and by which the corners or clews of the sails are hauled up.

Clew of the sails. — Lower corners of the squaresails, and aftermost of the fore and aft sails.

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 a progress in the nearest direction possible towards that point of the compass from which tlie 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 turn over another.

Coining to. — Denotes tlie 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 the 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 the man at helm how to steer.

(Jut ayid run. — '['o cut the cable, and make sail instantly, without waiting to weigh anchor.

Deaden a ship\s ivay. — To impede her progress thi-ough tlie water.

Dead lights. — A kind of windovv^-shutter for tlie ^vindows in the stern of a ship, used in bad v/eathcr only.

Dismasted.^ The state of a s'lip that has lost her masts.

Dog-vane. — A small vane, made of feathers and corks, to show the direction of the wind.

Dog-watch. — The v/atches 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 tliewind 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 clotliing.

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 the compass whence she had been steering.

End-on. — When a ship drives to a shore, rock, »&c., without an apparent possibility of preventing her.

Evenkeel. — When a ship is parallel witli the horizon, a ship is said to be upon an even keel.

Fair ivay. — 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, when one or botli are in motion.

Falling off. — Denotes the motion of the sliip's head from tlie direction of the wind.

Fathom. — A measure of six feet.

Fid. — A square bar of wood or iron, with shoulders at one end, to support the weight of the topmast, v-^hen adjusted to its place at the head of a lov/er 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 shivering or braced aback.

Fish-hook. — A large hook, l)y 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.

Flmoing sheet. — Is when the sheets are slackened, after a ship has 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.

Fonoard. — 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 water than leaks into her.

Freshen. — When a gale increases, it is said to freshen.

Fresh way. — Wheii a ship increases her velocity, she is said to get fresh way.

Full. — To keep full, is the situation of tlie 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. — Seciure 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 mainsail 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 purposes.

Ground tackle. — Every thing attached to anchors and cables of a ship.

Gumvale. — 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-iveather. — Put the tiller quite up to the windward.

To Haul the udnd. — To direct the ship's course nearer to the point

from which the wind blows.

Hawseholes. — The holes in the bows of a ship, tlirough which the

cables pass.

Hawser. — A small kind of cable.

Headfast. — A rope employed to confine the head of a ship to a wharf,

or to some other vessel.

Head sails. — All the sails which belong to the foremast and bowsprit

Head-sea. — When tlie waves meet at the head of a ship in her

course, tliey are called a head-sea. Heave of the 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 down, on either

side.

Hold. — Is the space between the lower deck and tlie bottom of tlie

ship, where her cargo, &c., is stowed. Horse. — A rope reaching from the middle of a yard to its arms or extremities, for tiie 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 stays. — To bring a ship's head to the wind by a management 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. Jurymasl. — 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 blocks 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 the ship's bow or forefoot. To Keep the luff. — To continue close to the wind. Keelson. — A piece of timber fonning the interior of the keel, being

laid on tlie floor-timbers immediately over tlie keel, and serving

to unite the former to the latter.

Kentledge. — Pigs of iron for ballast, laid upon the floor, near the keelson, fore and afl.

Knippers. — A large kind of plaited rope, which, being twisted around

the messenger and cable, in weighing, binds them together. Kumatage. — A bright appearance in the horizon, under the sun or

moon, arising from tlie reflected light of these bodies from the

small rippling waves on tlie smface of the water. Laden in bulk. — 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 the prospect of tlie sea, unless over some intervening

land.

Launch ho .' — Signifies that the object is high enough, and must be

suddenly lowered.

Leading %vind. — A fair wind for a ship's course.

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 Avliich 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 Zde 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. lA/ls. — 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. Liiffi — The order to the steersman to put the helm towards the leeside of the ship, in order to sail nearer to the wind. Make a board. — Is to run a certain distance upon one tack, in beating to windward.

Man the yards. — Is placing men on the yards, in the tops, on the

ladder, &c., to execute any necessary duty. Mind the service. — Put on more service.

Messenger. — A small kind of cable, whicli being brought to the capstan, 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 the

other tack.

Mizzenmast. — The mast which stands abaft. Moor. — To secure a ship with two anchors. JVarrows. — A small passage between two lands. JVear ! or, JVb J^Tear '. — An order to the steersman not to keep the

ship so close to the wind.

JVippers. — A certain piece of cordage used to fasten the messenger

to the cable in heaving up the anchor. N'othing off. — A term used by the man at the cun to the steersman,

directing him not to go from the wind. Off and on. — 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 the how. — Before the beam, inclining toward the stem of the

ship.

On the quarter. — Abaft the beam, toward the stern of the ship. Orlop. — The deck on which the cables are stowed. Overhaul. — To clear away and disentangle any rope ; also, to come

up with the chase.

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 before

the service is put on.

Parting. — Being driven from the anchors by the breaking 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 stay-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. — Tlie 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 the

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 to support any other in a

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 time

of action.

Quarter wind. — Is when the wind blows from that part of the horizon situated on the quarter of the ship. Rake. — That is, to cannonade a ship at the head or stern, so that the

balls scour the whole lengtli of the decks. Range of cable. — A sufficient length of cable drawn upon deck before 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.

Reef. — 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 pushed

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.

Rounding in. — The pulling upon any rope which passes through 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 ship is steered. Rowlock. — The notch in a boat's gunwale, in which the oars rest in