File:The merchant vessel - a sailor boy's voyages around the world (1884) (14776720011).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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I found Georges friendship valuable to me in many respects.Considerable deference is paid on board ship to age, and itwas considered not more than right that I, who was theyoungest, should be instructed in many things by my old chum.And a better instructor 1 could not have had. In his longlife at sea he had gathered sea-lore wherever he went, anduniting the knowledge of the sailors of several nations, wasat home in anything that could be done with a ship. Hewas standard authority both in the forecastle and aft, in allthat pertained to rigging or managing a vessel, and his sugges-tions as to alterations in the rig were always listened to withdeference by the mates, grumblingly as they were uttered. PISHING. .67 If a new purchase was to be rove, a fancy knot totied, or any labor-saving tackle studied out, George was themates right-hand man, and to him the work was consigned,with the knowledge that in his hands it would be welldone. To me his hints on steering, setting studdingsails, and
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HINDOO PAGODA. many other of the more laborious duties of the sailor wereinvaluable, enabling me to bring skill to the aid of strength,and perform my work better and with less exertion than other-wise I should have been able to do. While beating through the south-east trades, making our 168 THE MERCHANT IESSEL. way toward the Cape, we frequently caught fish out of theschools that constantly surrounded the ship, affording an agree-able variety to our salt provisions. Here again the merchantsailor is favored far above the man-of-wars man. The latterhas no access to the galley, and though he may catch fishall day, would not be able to get them cooked, there being noroom for preparing anything but the regular ships allowance.But in the merchant service, the cook is glad to have some-thing to provide, for a change, and, as our lines hung con-stantly to the jib-guys, we had fresh fish, whenever we desiredit, for a long time. When off the Cape, we one day harpooned a porpoise,and I now for t

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