File:The merchant vessel - a sailor boy's voyages around the world (1884) (14779787965).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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urprised me, as the vessel showed Spanish colors.They carried a press of canvas from the first, and paid moreattention to the steering than is usual among that class of vessels.Altogether, I felt as though, if she were a wine drogher, she hadgotten strangely out of place—but, of course, I never suspectedwhat was her true business. But the third dav out told thewhole story. On coming on deck that morning, I found, tomy great surprise, some sixteen or seventeen men besidesour regular crew congregated on the topgallant forecastle andabout the foremast; among them I recognized several Havanaacquaintances, who seemed somewhat surprised to see me there.From them I got an inkling of what was in the wind ; but thewhole matter was explained to me after breakfast. Send Anton to the wheel, was the word passed to theforecastle, and I proceeded aft. Arrived there, the captain andsupercargo laid before me the real purpose of the voyage —declared themselves sorrv to have gotten me on board under
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• A CRUISE IN A SLAVER. 49 false pretences, but made the want of hands their c.\ md then told me that I would now have to go the voyage, and would receive the same pay as the regularly shipped hai It appeared that we were bound to the ean of Africa, up the Mozambique Channel, for a cargo of slaves. V.the crew, were to receive one hundred dollars advance, andtwo dollars per man for every slave landed, which, as she hadirons and cooking apparatus for eight hundred, bade fair tobring in no inconsiderable sum. The one hundred dollar^advance were counted out to me, in Spanish doubloons, whenmy trick at the wheel was out. ■Everything now took a different turn, as regarded disci-pline on board. The officers assumed a sterner manner, andkept the crew at regular man-of-war rules. None of the dila-toriness of the merchantman was allowed. Sail was made andtaken in expeditiously, and we—there were enough of us—couldhandle the craft like a top. She was a beauty to sail, andsteered like a b

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