Two years abaft the mast; or, Life as a sea apprentice

Preface

The love of adventure, together with that inclination for the sea so characteristic of English youths, led me to try a seafaring life. Feeling assured that my friends would like to know what I did at sea, and what I saw, I kept a diary or "log," in which I entered occurrences, and my impressions. When I returned home after a lengthened voyage, and was persuaded to embrace a less arduous profession ashore, it occurred to me that my notes, shaped into the form of a book, might not prove altogether unpalatable to the general public, whose sympathy and interest have lately been so fervently enlisted in the merchant seaman's cause vi PREFACE.

by the praiseworthy efforts of Mr Samuel Plimsoll, M.P. In this belief I was further strengthened by the fact, that although numberless works have from time to time appeared about Jack and sea life, they were either the dreams of mere novelists, or else they were written by Navy officers, who, to say nothing of the radical differences between the Eoyal Navy and the Merchant Service, had little to do with the common sailor beyond ordering him about. Dana's clever and well-known work, 'Two Years Before the Mast/ is, however, a bright exception. He served as a common seaman in the American Merchant Service, and graphically describes the life in the forecastle — "before the mast." I sailed in a British ship, and lived in apprentices' quarters — " abaft the mast."

I encountered the usual difficulties in keeping a log at sea, but managed to weather them one way or another. Sit-

PREFACE. vii

g on a bucket and writing on one's Jaest, with the inkstand sliding in the most impossible directions, and the ship rolling in a heavy sea, I found not to be conducive to literary zeal. Once the ink ran short, which necessitated large additions of coffee and water. Then, during the hurricane in the Atlantic on our way home, the seas which poured into the house and floated my chest gave my log such a thorough soaking, that had it not been good paper and well bound, I fear it would have been separated into as many parts as there were leaves.

I have endeavoured to give a true description of a sailor's and apprentice's life aboard ship in the English Merchant Service ; and in this attempt, I now offer to the lenient criticisms of the reader, ' Two Years Abaft the Mast/

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Contents

CHAPTER L

OUTWARD BOUND.

rum

Chapter II. Routine On Board Ship

Routine at sea— Cookery — The watches — The captain and his duties— Duties of the mates— Dispensing stores — The carpenter — The steward— The "doctor" or cook — Classes of seamen — The advance system— Men-of-war's men— A home visit — The apprentices— Duties of the apprentices—The boys, x CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Sidney

Holystoning the decks — Land in sight— In sight of Sydney — A curious bet — Sydney harbour — "Old horse" — Colonial hospitalities —A "lark" — The " domain" — Parramatta— Gathering holystones, . . . . . .74

WAITING FOR FREIGHT.

vhir anchorage — A swimming adventure— A dinner-party- More changes, 136

CONTENTS. Si

Chapter VIII. For Shanghai

Loading "poles"— A boat-race— Life on board- A deck-load— Change in the " house "—Drifting down— Moonlight scenery — At sea once more— An enchanted watch- Threatening weather — A piping night —Wearing and tacking—Phosphorescence — The Yang-tsi-Kiang, . . . 144

Chapter IX. Shanghai

Chinese pirates — Native boatmen— A Chinese theatre— A native orchestra — The Chinese fiddle, .... 172

Chapter X. Foo-chow Again

A stormy night — A cook's troubles — The Min once more — Hopes of a tea-freight— Reed " mast-headed," . . 183

Chapter XI. Death Of The Captain

Shipping tea — A fight on board— Illness of the captain — His last hours — Feelings of the crew — His funeral — Native burial-ground — Donkey-riding — Native peculiarities—A Chinese legend — Burial of the captain — Aboard again —Finish loading — " Curio "-buying — Onr new captain— To sea at last, 197

Chapter XII. Westward Ho !

Farewell to China — Romance and reality — "Driving" captains — In the doldrums— A ghost at sea — A squall — The ship aground— Afloat once more — The ghost again, . 232 xii CONTENTS.

Chapter XIII. For St Helena

Betel-nut chewing — Catching a shark— Portuguese men-ofwar — A gale — Killing the pig — Christmas-day at sea — A man overboard —Feelings on his loss — An auction at sea — On the look-out for land — St Helena — Nigger salesmen — A run ashore — Jamestown — A surprise, . . . 262

Chapter XIV. Prom St Helena To New York

To sea once more— A Yankee shipmate — A Spanish steamer — The Gulf Stream— Change of temperature — Another gale — Laying-to— Heaving the lead — A sailor's yarn — "Cracking on"— New York at last, . . . .285

Chapter XV. New York

First view of the city — Scenes in the harbour — Brooklyn ferry-boats — "Runners" and their villanies — Our Yankee friends — Pemberton again— A Shanghai acquaintance — A mishap — Tattooing among sailors — A grain cargo, . . 30o'