The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-09-08

H..
The former examined our papers, to see if
we were what we reported ourselves to be,
while the latter felt our pulses and looked
at our tongues, to know whether the phys
ical man was in a proper state of preserva-
ton. Both having reported favorably, we
were permitted to pass to an anchorage
within the inner harbor, where we let
down our ground tackle and brought to,
alongside of Turkish brigantine, man
ned by Malays, and just arrived from
Malta.
Here again we were boarded by host
of Custom House officers, who, with due
formality, proceeded to fasten down our
matches, and seal them, to prevent us from
supplying any of their dirty-looking coun-
trymen (who now almost swarmed around
u.s. with tobacco, or any other of the
necessaries of life, without first paying
them for the privilege. Leaving two OF
their number on board, the remainder pro-
ceeded to another ship that had just ar
rived, to serve them in the same manner
After undergoing all the necessary for
mula consequent on foreign vessel visit
ing the port, communications were opened
with the shore, and our captain, with a
chosen boats crew, made the first landing
Not being included in the crew, | had to
remain on board, where, however, in COM
pany with the others who were left, [
found sufficient amusement in criticizing
the different foreign ships that lay around
us; in contemplating the city at dis
tance; and in trying to talk Spanish to
the pretty black-eyed girls who in small
boats surrounded our ship, offering vege-
tables, milk, &C., to all who wished to
purchase. a brisk trade was soon opened
between our half-famished sailors, whose
sole diet for months had been ''salt junk
and "sea biscuit" and these fair venders
Of vegetables and milk. AS long as no
prohibited articles were offered. there was
no difficulty in purchasing from the maid
ems, in their bumboats for no article is
permitted to leave their shores free, vege-
tables and milk only excepted But was
not little amused to see with what IA
cility nation may be defrauded of its le-
gitimate revenue, by watching and partic-
lpating in the trade now carried on with
the Spanish natives of the British domin-
ion. 1t required but wink or peculiar
sign for one of the initiated to get bottle
of the best Santa Cruz in mistake for bottle
of milk. And although the officers on board
suspecting from the effects of the milk
that all was not right, might purchase a
dozen with the same brand, would find
nothing but the pure lac pabul,tm. This
kind of amusement kept us employed the
most of the afternoon. But some of the
sailors, by drinking too much miN;, had
become quite noisy, and all endeavors to
,nI L
worse. Finally, one of our worthies, cal
led, from the extent of his growth, 'Long
Bill, went so far as to present one of the
officers on board with black eve, because
in the exercise of his duty, he had en-
deavored to prevent the aforesaid "Bill"
from handing over his chest, clothes, bag,
and other traps, to a native woman for and
in consideration of two bottles of milk,
which were publicly exposed. The diff
Guilty was, however, summarily settled by
the appearance of our commanding officer
All arrangements having been made, the
next morning we hauled in, near to the
pier head, and prepared to discharge our
cargo having warped sufficiently near to
meet the lighters. Part of our duties be-
ing dispensed with for the day, | gladly
hailed the privilege of going on shore,
with a leave of absence for twenty hours
Throwing aside my sea rig, / substitu-
ted instead blue cloth jacket, with pants
of the same material, and shirt with wide
spreading collar, on which was emblazoned
in characters of living light the stars of
my country and the anchor of the "Mary
of Salem" [ jumped into the boat, and
soon was at the pier-head, where | landed,
and was for the first time in the land of
chivalry. / had, however, scarcely time
to congratulate myself on being once more
on terra frnaa, than l began to think had
fallen among thieves. L had no time to
stretch my legs, and even less to look
about me, before l was seized and thor
oughly searched by villainous set of
reprobates, denominated Custom House
officers, looking as though they might have
received their training from the Brigands
of the Alps, or the robbers that secrete
themselves in the mountain gorges of the
Pyranees. After satisfying themselves
that I had nothing they could legally con-
denim, or conscie,tiouslly steal, they per-
mitted me to pass, which [ did, with an
anathema on Custom House officers in gen
eral, and those of Gibraltar in particular.
Thus began my first visit to Europe: of
which more anon.