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pending/846: Friend a New-Hope for Dieters from the Japanese Sea (pendin
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bug-gnats |
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pending/846: Friend a New-Hope for Dieters from the Japanese Sea (pending) |
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Date: |
Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:15:22 -0600 (CST) |
>Number: 846
>Category: pending
>Synopsis: Friend a New-Hope for Dieters from the Japanese Sea
>Confidential: no
>Severity: serious
>Priority: medium
>Responsible: unassigned
>State: open
>Class: sw-bug
>Submitter-Id: net
>Arrival-Date: Sat Jan 10 23:15:22 -0600 2009
>Originator: "JapaneseSecret" <address@hidden>
>Release:
>Description:
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<The fourteenth of August was the day fixed upon for the sailing of the brig
Pilgrim on her voyage from Boston round Cape Horn to the western coast of North
America. As she was to get under weigh early in the afternoon, I made my
appearance on board at twelve oclock, in full sea-rig, and with my chest,
containing an outfit for a two or three year voyage, which I had undertaken
from a determination to cure, if possible, by an entire change of life, and by
a long absence from books and study, a weakness of the eyes, which had obliged
me to give up my pursuits, and which no medical aid seemed likely to cure.
The change from the tight dress coat, silk cap, and kid gloves of an
undergraduate at Cambridge, to the loose duck trowsers, checked shirt and
tarpaulin hat of a sailor, though somewhat of a transformation, was soon made,
and I supposed that I should pass very well for a jack tar. But it is
impossible to deceive the practised eye in these matters; and while I supposed
myself to be looking as salt as Neptune himself, I was, no doubt, known for a
landsman by every one on board as soon as I hove in sight. A sailor has a
peculiar cut to his clothes, and a way of wearing them which a green hand can
never get. The trowsers, tight round the hips, and thence hanging long and
loose round the feet, a superabundance of checked shirt, a low-crowned, well
varnished black hat, worn on the back of the head, with half a fathom of black
ribbon hanging over the left eye, and a peculiar tie to the black silk
neckerchief, with sundry other minutiae, are signs, the want of which betray
the begin
n
er at once. Beside the points in my dress which were out of the way,
doubtless my complexion and hands were enough to distinguish me from the
regular salt, who, with a sun-burnt cheek, wide step, and rolling gait, swings
his bronzed and toughened hands athwart-ships, half open, as though just ready
to grasp a rope.
With all my imperfections on my head, I joined the crew, and we hauled out
into the stream, and came to anchor for the night. The next day we were
employed in preparations for sea, reeving studding-sail gear, crossing royal
yards, putting on chafing gear, and taking on board our powder. On the
following night, I stood my first watch. I remained awake nearly all the first
part of the night from fear that I might not hear when I was called; and when I
went on deck, so great were my ideas of the importance of my trust, that I
walked regularly fore and aft the whole length of the vessel, looking out over
the bows and taffrail at each turn, and was not a little surprised at the
coolness of the old salt whom I called to take my place, in stowing himself
snugly away under the long boat, for a nap. That was sufficient lookout, he
thought, for a fine night, at anchor in a safe harbor.
The next morning was Saturday, and a breeze having sprung up from the
southward, we took a pilot on board, hove up our anchor, and began beating down
the bay. I took leave of those of my friends who came to see me off, and had
barely opportunity to take a last look at the city, and well-known objects, as
no time is allowed on board ship for sentiment. As we drew down into the lower
harbor, we found the wind ahead in the bay, and were obliged to come to anchor
in the roads. We remained there through the day and a part of the night. My
watch began at eleven oclock at night, and I received orders to call the
captain if the wind came out from the westward. About midnight the wind became
fair, and having called the captain, I was ordered to call all hands. How I
accomplished this I do not know, but I am quite sure I did not give the true
hoarse, boatswain call of A-a-ll ha-a-a-nds! up anchor, a-ho-oy! In a short
time every one was in motion, the sails loosed, the yards braced, a
n
d we began to heave up the anchor, which was our last hold upon Yankee land.
I could take but little part in all these preparations. My little knowledge of
a vessel was all at fault. Unintelligible orders were so rapidly given and so
immediately executed; there was such a hurrying about, and such an
intermingling of strange cries and stranger actions, that I was completely
bewildered. There is not so helpless and pitiable an object in the world as a
landsman beginning a sailors life. At length those peculiar, long-drawn
sounds, which denote that the crew are heaving the windlass, began, and in a
few moments we were under weigh. The noise of the water thrown from the bows
began to be heard, the vessel leaned over from the damp night breeze, and
rolled with the heavy ground swell, and we had actually begun our long, long
journey. This was literally bidding good night to my native land.>
<center>
<a href="http://www.ambight.com/pages/runningclick.asp?handle=10830";>The
Japanese-Miracle </a><br>
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</center>
<The first day we passed at sea was the Sabbath. As we were just from port,
and there was a great deal to be done on board, we were kept at work all day,
and at night the watches were set, and everything put into sea order. When we
were called aft to be divided into watches, I had a good specimen of the manner
of a sea captain. After the division had been made, he gave a short
characteristic speech, walking the quarter deck with a cigar in his mouth, and
dropping the words out between the puffs.
Now, my men, we have begun a long voyage. If we get along well together, we
shall have a comfortable time; if we dont, we shall have hell afloat.All
youve got to do is to obey your orders and do your duty like men,then youll
fare well enough;if you dont, youll fare hard enough,I can tell you. If we
pull together, youll find me a clever fellow; if we dont, youll find me a
bloody rascal. Thats all Ive got to say.Go below, the larboard watch!
I being in the starboard or second mates watch, had the opportunity of
keeping the first watch at sea. S-, a young man, making, like myself, his first
voyage, was in the same watch, and as he was the son of a professional man, and
had been in a counting-room in Boston, we found that we had many friends and
topics in common. We talked these matters over,Boston, what our friends were
probably doing, our voyage, etc., until he went to take his turn at the
look-out, and left me to myself. I had now a fine time for reflection. I felt
for the first time the perfect silence of the sea. The officer was walking the
quarter deck, where I had no right to go, one or two men were talking on the
forecastle, whom I had little inclination to join, so that I was left open to
the full impression of everything about me. However much I was affected by the
beauty of the sea, the bright stars, and the clouds driven swiftly over them, I
could not but remember that I was separating myself from all
the social and intellectual enjoyments of life. Yet, strange as it may seem,
I did then and afterwards take pleasure in these reflections, hoping by them to
prevent my becoming insensible to the value of what I was leaving.
But all my dreams were soon put to flight by an order from the officer to trim
the yards, as the wind was getting ahead; and I could plainly see by the looks
the sailors occasionally cast to windward, and by the dark clouds that were
fast coming up, that we had bad weather to prepare for, and had heard the
captain say that he expected to be in the Gulf Stream by twelve oclock. In a
few minutes eight bells were struck, the watch called, and we went below. I now
began to feel the first discomforts of a sailors life. The steerage in which I
lived was filled with coils of rigging, spare sails, old junk and ship stores,
which had not been stowed away. Moreover, there had been no berths built for us
to sleep in, and we were not allowed to drive nails to hang our clothes upon.
The sea, too, had risen, the vessel was rolling heavily, and everything was
pitched about in grand confusion. There was a complete hurrahs nest, as the
sailors say, everything on top and nothing at hand. A
large hawser had been coiled away upon my chest; my hats, boots, mattress and
blankets had all fetched away and gone over to leeward, and were jammed and
broken under the boxes and coils of rigging. To crown all, we were allowed no
light to find anything with, and I was just beginning to feel strong symptoms
of sea-sickness, and that listlessness and inactivity which accompany it.
Giving up all attempts to collect my things together, I lay down upon the
sails, expecting every moment to hear the cry of all hands, ahoy, which the
approaching storm would soon make necessary. I shortly heard the rain-drops
falling on deck, thick and fast, and the watch evidently had their hands full
of work, for I could hear the loud and repeated orders of the mate, the
trampling of feet, the creaking of blocks, and all the accompaniments of a
coming storm. In a few minutes the slide of the hatch was thrown back, which
let down the noise and tumult of the deck still louder, the loud cry of All
h
ands, ahoy! tumble up here and take in sail, saluted our ears, and the hatch
was quickly shut again. When I got upon deck, a new scene and a new experience
were before me. The little brig was close hauled upon the wind, and lying over,
as it then seemed to me, nearly upon her beam ends. The heavy head sea was
beating against her bows with the noise and force almost of a sledge-hammer,
and flying over the deck, drenching us completely through. The topsail halyards
had been let go, and the great sails filling out and backing against the masts
with a noise like thunder. The wind was whistling through the rigging, loose
ropes flying about; loud and, to me, unintelligible orders constantly given and
rapidly executed, and the sailors singing out at the ropes in their hoarse and
peculiar strains. In addition to all this, I had not got my sea legs on, was
dreadfully sick, with hardly strength enough to hold on to anything, and it was
pitch dark. This was my state when I was ordered
aloft, for the first time, to reef topsails.
How I got along, I cannot now remember. I laid out on the yards and held on
with all my strength. I could not have been of much service, for I remember
having been sick several times before I left the topsail yard. Soon all was
snug aloft, and we were again allowed to go below. This I did not consider much
of a favor, for the confusion of everything below, and that inexpressible
sickening smell, caused by the shaking up of the bilge-water in the hold, made
the steerage but an indifferent refuge from the cold, wet decks. I had often
read of the nautical experiences of others, but I felt as though there could be
none worse than mine; for in addition to every other evil, I could not but
remember that this was only the first night of a two years voyage. When we
were on deck we were not much better off, for we were continually ordered about
by the officer, who said that it was good for us to be in motion. Yet anything
was better than the horrible state of things below. I remembe
r
very well going to the hatchway and putting my head down, when I was
oppressed by nausea, and always being relieved immediately. It was as good as
an emetic.
This state of things continued for two days.
Wednesday, Aug. 20th. We had the watch on deck from four till eight, this
morning. When we came on deck at four oclock, we found things much changed for
the better. The sea and wind had gone down, and the stars were out bright. I
experienced a corresponding change in my feelings; yet continued extremely weak
from my sickness. I stood in the waist on the weather side, watching the
gradual breaking of the day, and the first streaks of the early light. Much has
been said of the sun-rise at sea; but it will not compare with the sun-rise on
shore. It wants the accompaniments of the songs of birds, the awakening hum of
men, and the glancing of the first beams upon trees, hills, spires, and
house-tops, to give it life and spirit. But though the actual rise of the sun
at sea is not so beautiful, yet nothing will compare with the early breaking of
day upon the wide ocean.
There is something in the first grey streaks stretching along the eastern
horizon and throwing an indistinct light upon the face of the deep, which
combines with the boundlessness and unknown depth of the sea around you, and
gives one a feeling of loneliness, of dread, and of melancholy foreboding,
which nothing else in nature can give. This gradually passes away as the light
grows brighter, and when the sun comes up, the ordinary monotonous sea day
begins.
From such reflections as these, I was aroused by the order from the officer,
Forward there! rig the head-pump! I found that no time was allowed for
day-dreaming, but that we must turn-to at the first light. Having called up the
idlers, namely carpenter, cook, steward, etc., and rigged the pump, we
commenced washing down the decks. This operation, which is performed every
morning at sea, takes nearly two hours; and I had hardly strength enough to get
through it. After we had finished, swabbed down, and coiled up the rigging, I
sat down on the spars, waiting for seven bells, which was the sign for
breakfast. The officer, seeing my lazy posture, ordered me to slush the
main-mast, from the royal-mast-head, down. The vessel was then rolling a
little, and I had taken no sustenance for three days, so that I felt tempted to
tell him that I had rather wait till after breakfast; but I knew that I must
take the bull by the horns, and that if I showed any sign of want of spirit or
of ba
c
kwardness, that I should be ruined at once. So I took my bucket of grease and
climbed up to the royal-mast-head. Here the rocking of the vessel, which
increases the higher you go from the foot of the mast, which is the fulcrum of
the lever, and the smell of the grease, which offended my fastidious senses,
upset my stomach again, and I was not a little rejoiced when I got upon the
comparative terra firma of the deck. In a few minutes seven bells were struck,
the log hove, the watch called, and we went to breakfast. Here I cannot but
remember the advice of the cook, a simple-hearted African. Now, says he, my
lad, you are well cleaned out; you havent got a drop of your long-shore swash
aboard of you. You must begin on a new tack,pitch all your sweetmeats
overboard, and turn-to upon good hearty salt beef and sea bread, and Ill
promise you, youll have your ribs well sheathed, and be as hearty as any of
em, afore you are up to the Horn. This would be good advice to give to p
a
ssengers, when they speak of the little niceties which they have laid in, in
case of sea-sickness.
I cannot describe the change which half a pound of cold salt beef and a
biscuit or two produced in me. I was a new being. We had a watch below until
noon, so that I had some time to myself; and getting a huge piece of strong,
cold, salt beef from the cook, I kept gnawing upon it until twelve oclock.
When we went on deck I felt somewhat like a man, and could begin to learn my
sea duty with considerable spirit. At about two oclock we heard the loud cry
of sail ho! from aloft, and soon saw two sails to windward, going directly
athwart our hawse. This was the first time that I had seen a sail at sea. I
thought then, and always have since, that it exceeds every other sight in
interest and beauty. They passed to leeward of us, and out of hailing distance;
but the captain could read the names on their sterns with the glass. They were
the ship Helen Mar, of New York, and the brig Mermaid, of Boston. They were
both steering westward, and were bound in for our dear native land.
Thursday, Aug. 21st. This day the sun rose clear, we had a fine wind, and
everything was bright and cheerful. I had now got my sea legs on, and was
beginning to enter upon the regular duties of a sea-life. About six bells, that
is, three oclock, P.M., we saw a sail on our larboard bow. I was very anxious,
like every new sailor, to speak her. She came down to us, backed her
main-top-sail, and the two vessels stood head on, bowing and curvetting at each
other like a couple of war-horses reined in by their riders. It was the first
vessel that I had seen near, and I was surprised to find how much she rolled
and pitched in so quiet a sea. She lunged her head into the sea, and then, her
stern settling gradually down, her huge bows rose up, showing the bright
copper, and her stern, and bresthooks dripping, like old Neptunes locks, with
the brine. Her decks were filled with passengers who had come up at the cry of
sail ho, and who by their dress and features appeared to be Swiss a
n
d French emigrants. She hailed us at first in French, but receiving no
answer, she tried us in English. She was the ship La Carolina, from Havre, for
New York. We desired her to report the brig Pilgrim, from Boston, for the
north-west coast of America, five days out. She then filled away and left us to
plough on through our waste of waters. This day ended pleasantly; we had got
into regular and comfortable weather, and into that routine of sea-life which
is only broken by a storm, a sail, or the sight of land.>
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