foretack, and down it came inch by inch steadily, and after a fierce struggle the tack was belayed and the crew were victorious. And I like the observation here about how the drawn out "Oooh" gives one time to come up with lyrics. Very true, in my experience!: The " shantie" sung this morning on getting under weigh and setting the topsails, we often heard on the passage to England, and is a good specimen of sailors' " shanties;" the men have breathing time to collect their strength and prepare themselves for the pull, while the " shantie man" is giving out the verse. At every repetition of the word "Hilo" in the chorus the men all pull together with a jerk, hoisting the heavy yard and sail several inches at every pull. " Give us ' Hilo,' Chips," the men said to the carpenter, and he began. The preliminary "Oh" long drawn out at the beginning of each verse was to gain time to improvise the verse : Oh-o, up aloft this yard must go, Chorus by all hands : Hilo, boys, hilo ! I heard our bully mate say so. Hilo, boys, hilo ! Oh-o, hilo, bullies, and away we go, Hilo, boys, hilo ! Hilo, boys, let her roll, o-he-yho. Hilo, boys, hilo ! Oh-o, I knocked at the yellow girl's door last night, Hilo, boys, hilo! She opened the door and let me in. Hilo, boys, hilo ! Oh-o, I opened the door with a silver