The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-08-05
The Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy:
From Chambers Journal.

From Chambers Journal.
1t is now exactly year ago, that the Jam
setJee Jeejeebhoy, teak-built, copper-bot.
toned steam transport, started from Singa-
pore with cargo of Hindu convicts, sen.
tenced to transportation in the Adadman Is
lands.
This transport, named after its origna
proprietor, the benevolent Parsee merchant
had been hired by our government to carr,
native convlcts, most strange gang of whom
filled it between decks, the June evening
1862, that followed that in which the shit
had left its anchorage.
The first few honrs after leaving port are
full OF hustle and excitement-there is rope
to coil away, cargo to shake into place; the
men need all hour or so to forget their H.
cense on snore, and to return to steady disci
pline. By-and-by, every one gets into hi,
own groove, the sails fill, the ropes tighten
the rudder works, the ship "get her stride,
she forgets the land, and away she goes, true
and steadfast, on her destined mission.
This transformation, this tanning down
had taken place on board the Jamsetiee Jee
jeebhoy. The carpenter was busy arranging
the hatchway for the prisoners sleeping
berths; the second mate was experimenting
the tc.n>fer of stores from one part of the
hold to another; the men were splicing anG
knot,ing, scrap:ng and securing the doctor
was rating the /" loblolly boy" tall, freckel
ed, uns:ainly Scotch lad, Sandy Patterson
who Was always pondering over an old copy
of the Seaman's Manual, when he ought tc
have been compromising medicines; and the
boatswain was reviing Jack Davis, the ships
boy, brave little fellow, but rather too fond
of mischief.
The ship was like great sea bird, which
ere it finally quits land, rests on some fore.
land to prune its wings and ruffle cut its
plumage for its long flight. The great white
canvass was shaking out aloft; the vesse
rose buoyantly on the large waves cheering
shouts ran from stem to stern; the boat
swain's whistle piped shrill and chidingly
the vessel began to " walk" as sailors call it
before as fresh gale as captain could desire
to have at his back.
The convicts on board were Sikh fanatics
chiefly from Lahore and Umritsur. The,
were followers of that pseudo prophet, Balot
Singh, who had all but excited an insurrec
ton in the Puniab. By trade tailor, h,
! had declared himself to be Baluk Singh, ths
! founder Of the sect, who died sixteen year.
ago, risen from the dead to preach dowr
caste and sutteeism, and to expel the Eng
lish. This dangerous mans disciples wor.
black and yellow turbans, rosaries of whit,
woolen cord; practiced military drill, ant
used the words "Wah Gooroo" as their myst
wachwords. The only good thing ABOUT th
! deported sect was that they preached temper
ance, cleanliness and truthtelling. In al
other respects, these Hindu fanatics were a
sensual, blood thirsty, and insane scoundrel
as ever abused the name of religion. The,
had been several days on board before TIT
ship left port, under the somewhat loos'
guard of the second mate a mere youth, il
the service of the company to which th'
steamer belonged.
1t was just sunse:-such sunset as cal
only be seen in such sees as the convict YES
ses was now traversing-a sunset as unlik
an English sunset as daisy is unlike tn
Marvel of Peru-one of those volcanic out
bursts CT golden flame, and streams of Grim
son, and watts of purple fire, and rainbo,
radiance Of green and yellow, that seem t
mantle the whole western sky, and turn tn
ocean to a uhirl pool of blood. 1t was color
ing all the sails and ropes, and every plan
of the convict's vessel and bathed the wall
of the state cabin, wherein the officers wer
just sitting down to dinner.
; The bell had rung, and the steward ha
just brought in the soup; but one officer, tn
ensign in charge of the convicts, still stoo
III tn, trbin window, watching the burnln
path the setting cast upon the tranquil ocear
The doctor laughed, and said: "When
was eighteen, used to look at sunsets no
! only regard them as signals for dinner
+ Come Crawford. the chaplain is waiting
say grace. W. ale not to wait for the cal
e TAIN"
o The ensign coored and took his place
he was thinking of other scenes far ava
across the sea.
r The party consisted Of the captain, Crav
ford, the doctor, the chaplain, the first mat
and second ensign.
"How's the rajah, to-day?" said the fir
mate to the doctor.
"Oh, we'll enough but the rascal misst
his opium, and shams ill.-Soup Jobson p"
Thank you.-I should like to give him
round dozen. | catch him sometimes lool
ing murder at me out of the corner of h
I eve."
At that moment the captain entered, an
laying his cap and double-glass on a side t
: ble, bowed to the company, and took h
/ place at the head of the table.
!. "Always some worry" he said, I" in tn
delightful life of ours. Now ii is that be
$ Davis falls down the companion ladder, arl
r ing; now it head wind that keeps US
four knots an hour; by-and-by, we find a
{ the coal on board is bad. and the engine.