File:The merchant vessel - a sailor boy's voyages around the world (1884) (14593215838).jpg

Identifier: merchantvesselsa1884nord (find matches)
Title: The merchant vessel : a sailor boy's voyages around the world
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Nordhoff, Charles, 1830-1901 LaPlante, Charles. egr Wyllie, W. L. (William Lionel), 1851-1931. ill Dodd, Mead & Company. pbl
Subjects: Boys Conduct of life Voyages and travels Voyages around the world Merchant ships Seafaring life Sailing Slavery
Publisher: New York : Dodd, Mead & Co.
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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was allowed to disfigurethem. The rigging was fitted with greater care than common,and abundance of turks-heads and fancy seizings and lashingsbore witness to the sailorship of the mates and crew wholast had it under their charge. No clumsy patchwork was tobe seen on any of the sails — nothing but cloths neatly set in,to replace old ones. The mates, too, were dressed much more tastefully than isusual with officers of merchant-ships, and the captain kept upa certain state in the cabin ■— having a boy to wait upon him,and only showing himself upon deck at Seven bells, to takethe sun or to get an observation, but never interfering directlywith the working of the ship. In fact, he appeared so muchof a dandy that we were somewhat inclined to doubt hisseamanship, until, in the first gale we experienced, he showedhimself under entirely different colors, and casting off the rathereffeminate air common to him, took charge of the deck, andworked the vessel to the admiration of all hands.
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SAIL-MAKING. The helmsman was expected to appear in neat and cleanclothing, and had half an hour in his watch on deck allowhim wherein to change his suit, and prepare himself for histrick at the wheel. As the voyage was to last much longer than a mere -hurttrip to Europe, the discipline was somewhat stricter. Severalweeks elapsed before all was arranged for the long passageto Calcutta, all port-gear, such as hawsers, fenders, boawnings, etc., duly repaired, refitted, and stowed away below,and all the necessary chafing-gear put on. By this time thecapabilities of the crew had been pretty well ascertained, andhenceforth each one was employed in the department for whichhe was best qualified. I was chosen by the mate, in whose watch I was, as oneof the sail-makers gang, and my daily work was laid out forme, on the quarter-deck, repairing old sails and awnings, andmaking new ones. A facility in handling a palm and needle,and working about sails, is one of the best recommendationsa seaman c

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