JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. xxix July 11.-A flying-fish fell on deck this morning, and I examined it with much interest. The form and colours are not unlike a herring's, with the addition of the two long filmy fins which support the animal in its short flights. This, however, was, as we were assured, a very small specimen, not exceeding the size of a small sparling or smelt. July 13.-We had divine service on deck this morning. A large shoal of dolphins were playing round the ship, and I thought it right to interfere to check the harpoons and fishing-hooks of some of the crew. I am not strict in my notions of what is called the Christian Sabbath; but the wanton destruction of animal life seems to be precisely one of those works by which the sanctity and charity of our weekly feast would be profaned. The seamen took my reproof in good part, and left the mizen chains where they had been previously watching for their prey. I trust that they will have other and better opportunities of amusement; this was a truly torrid day. July 15.-A hot and close day, with much swell and little or no wind. The sails flapped dismally; the foretop sail was split; and I saw with interest the dexterity of the sail-maker in repairing the damage without unbinding it from the yard. The evening was such as to portend both rain and wind, and one of the men at the helm said that "he hoped it would blow its hardest," so weary were XXX JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. the sailors of this dull and uninteresting weather. Lat. 9o. 50'. In the course of this day some of the seamen went round to solicit subscriptions from those who had not yet passed the line. They shewed considerable anxiety for any decayed finery which the ladies might supply them with, as decorations for Amphitrite; and I was amused to learn that they had a copy of Took's Pantheon, which they were diligently consulting in order to make their costume as like as possible to the authentic dress and equipment of the classical Neptune and his family. July 18.-The night was very blustering and rainy, and the motion of the vessel unpleasant. Our progress, however, continued rapid, and the wind favourable. A sail was, about ten, seen a-head, steering the same course with ourselves. On nearing her she shewed Danish colours. Captain Manning expressed some little surprise at this meeting. The Danish flag, he said, was almost unknown in India, whither, apparently, this vessel was bound. The Danes have indeed a nominal factory, and a Consul at Serampore; but what little commerce is carried on is in the ships of other nations. In the harbour of Calcutta (and no large vessels mount so high as Serampore) he had never seen the Danish flag. This seems strange, considering how long the Danes have been in possession not only of Se rampore, but of Tranquebar. The Swedish flag, he said, was never seen in the Indian seas. I have been pleased, in my different conversations with our officers concerning foreign seamen, to find that the American sailors bear a better character now with those of our own country than I had understood, or than they really used to do. They are not so grievously addicted to lying as they were once said to be. They have less animosity against the English than formerly, and their character seems to have recovered its natural English tone. One of the officers spoke well of their conduct even during the late war. A Company's ship, he said, on board which he was serving, had a number of American prisoners to take home, who, for the additional allowance of provisions usual on such oc casions, undertook to assist in navigating the ship. In this situation they behaved extremely well, and, at length, when a vessel, supposed to be an American, hove in sight, and an action was expected, they came forward in a body to desire to be sent below, being equally resolved neither to fight against their country, nor to break their faith with their captors. All the officers agreed in speaking very ill of the French, and of their conduct towards their prisoners. This last they described as being, in the highest degree, brutal and ungenerous. They said, too, that it was the fault of the private sea men more than of the officers. The latter would often have been kinder, had it lain in their power, to the English than they usually were; but they could not prevent their men from insulting and abusing them, pilfering their provisions and water, spitting and pouring filth on them through the gratings, and, whenever an opportunity offered, beat xxxii JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. ing and throwing things at them. An Englishman on board a French ship, they said, was always halfstarved, and abominably treated, and they spoke of the national temper, as shewn in their seamen, as utterly unkind, unchristian, and unmanly. This is a sad picture, but they who gave it me were neither interested in speaking untruly, nor, that I could perceive, inclined to judge harshly of others. How far the character of the uneducated French in general may have suffered under the influence of the Revolution and its consequences, or what circumstances may operate to depress the character of their seamen below the rest of the nation, my informants had not the means of judging. July 20.—To-day, notwithstanding some threatening appearances in the morning, we had our usual prayers and sermon. During the former I found that sea-knees were necessary, as well as sea-legs, since the vessel was so much on one side, that, while kneeling on a chair, (which I was obliged to do rather than on the deck, in order that my congregation might hear me,) I had some difficulty in keeping either myself or my support from going to leeward. The afternoon and evening were pleasant, but though the congregation at Church was very good, there were many absentees at dinner. Two large brown birds, which the sailors said were "boobies," flew some time round the ship this evening. I began to day translating St. John's Gospel into Hindoostanee. JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO INDIA. xxxiii July 22. The day was pleasant and the night beautiful, just such an one as a poet or a painter would wish to describe or represent at sea. I was pleased, while looking over Gilchrist's Guide, with a little Ode by Koodrut, of which the following is an imitation. Ambition's voice was in my ear, she whisper'd yesterday, "How goodly is the land of Room, how wide the Russian sway! Where many an ancient sepulchre gleam'd in the moon-shine round. Return, return, and in thy heart engraven keep my lore; The lesser wealth, the lighter load,-small blame betides the poor." こ The last two lines are not in the original, which I thought, though perhaps I was wrong, ended too abruptly without some such moral. My little Emily will probably know, before she reads the above, that "Room" is the Oriental name for the Turkish empire, that "Secunder" is Alexander the Great, -and that the founder of the Median throne is Ky-kaoos, or Deioces. July 25.-To-day the first or introductory part of the ceremony usual on passing the line, took place. Soon after dark Neptune's boat was supposed to approach the ship, of which notice was given, in the regular form, to the officer on watch. b VOL. I. |