The mountain Democrat., 1864-12-03
The IAmsstJse JsejeeBAOy.


1t is now exactly years ago that the
JamseGec Jeejeebhoy, teak built, cop.
per bottomed steam.transport,s started from
Singapore with cargo Of Hindu convcts,
sentenced to transportation in the Anda-
man Islands.
This transport, named after its original
,, proprietor the benevolent Parsee mer.
chant, had been hired by our government
to carry native convicts, a most strange
gang of whom filled it between decks, the
June evening, 1862, that followed that in
which the ship had left its anchorage.
The first few hours after leaving port
are full Of hustle and excitcment-therc
4 is rope to coil away, cargo to shake into
its place the men need an hour or two
to forget their license on shore, and to
return to steady discipline. By and by,
every one gets into his own groove, the
sails fill, the ropes tighten, the rudder
works, the ship 'gets her stride," she
forgets the land, and away she goes, true
and steadlast, on her destined mission.
This transformation, this tanning down,
had taken place on board the Jamsetjee
Jeejeebhoy. The capentcr was busy ar,
ranging the hatch-way for the prisoners
sleeping -berths; the second mate was
experimenting the transfer of stores from
one part of the hold to another the men
were splicing and knotting, scraPiBg and
securing; the doctor was rating the "lob-
lolIy boy" a tall, frccklcd, ungainly Scotch
lad, Sandy Patterson, who was always
pondering over an old copy of the Sea-.
mans Manual, when he ou hit to have
been compounding medicines; and the
boatSwain was rcyilng Jack Davis, the
ships boy, brave little fellow, but rath
er too fond OF mischief
The ship was like a great sea bird,
which, etc it finally quits land, rests
moment on some forrland to prune It's
wings and rutiie out its pumage for its
long flight. The great white canvas was
shaking out aIolt; the vessel rose buoyant-
ly upon the large waves; cheering shouts
ran from stem to stern the boatswain's
whistle piped shrlll and chidingIy the
vessel began TO walk. as sailors call il.
before as fresh gale as captain could dc
sire to have at his back.
The convicts on board were Sikh fanat.
les chiefly from Lahore and Umritsur-
They were followers Of that pseudo proph-
ct, Baioo Singh, who had all but excited
an insurrcction in the PuIiab. BY trade
tailor, he had declared Himself to be
Baluk Singh the founder of the sect, who
died sixteen years ago, risen from the dead
10 preach down cast aud suttcci>m, and
to cNpcl the English. This dangerous
mans disciples wore black and yellow
tGibanS, ru>ares Of wltc WOODEN cord 4;
ptacticed military drill, aud used the
'Wah Gooroo, as their mystic watch
words. The only good thing about the
dcported sect was, that they preached
temperance, cleanliness and truth telling
In all other respects, these Hindu fanatics
were as sensual, blood thirsty and insane
scOuudrelS as ever abused the name Of re-
lision. They had been several days On
board before the ship left port, under TIE
somewhat loose guard Of the second mate,
a mere youth, in th- service of the COM
pany 10 which the steamer belonged.
1t was Just sGuset-such q sunset as
can only be seen in such seas as the con-
vict vessel was nov uavcrsiug-a sunset
as unlike an English sunset as daisy is
unlike the Marvel of Peru one Of those
volcanic outbursts Of golden flame, and
streams Cf crimson, and watts of purple
fire, and rainbow radiance of green and
yellow, that seem to mantle the whole
western sky, and turn the ocean TO a
whirlpool OF blood. 1t was coloriuS all
the sails and ropes, and every plank of the
convict vessel, and bathcd the walls Of the
state cabin, wherein the officers were just
sitting down 10 dinner.
The bell hal rung, and the steward had
just brought in the soup; but one officer,
the ensign in charge Of the convictS, still
stood at the cabin window, watching the
burning path the setting sun cast upon
the tranquil ocean.
The doctor laughed and said:
Whca | was eighteen, | used to look At
sunsets; now | only regard them as ST.,
mails for dinner. Come, Crawford, the
chaplain is waiting to say grace. Weare
not to wait for the captain
The ensign colored, and took his place;
hc was thinking of other scenes far away
across the sea.
The party consisted of the captain,
Crawford, the doctor, the chaplain, the
first mate, and a second ensign.
flows the Rajah today. said the first
mate to the doctor.
oh, wei enough; but the rascal misses
his opium, and then shams i'll. Soup,
Jobson :
Thank you. should like to give him
a round dozen. catch him sometimes
locking murder at NE out Uf the corner
of his eye
At that moment, the captain entered,
and laying his cap and dou lie glass on a
side table, bowed to tie company, and
took his place at the head Of the table.
Always some worry he said, in this
delightful life of ours. Now it is that boy
Davis falls down the companion-ladder,
larking; now it is head wind that keeps
us at four knots an hour by and by, we
find all the coal on board is bad. and the
engineer does nothing but grnmble at the
lit heat it gives. Aud yet these young
gentlemen Cooking at the ensigns) rave
over their cigars about the glorious life Of
a sailor! Pshaw! we always like what
we haven't got. should Ike them to
have our work, Mr.. Jobson' Ito the first
mate) for onr-and-twenty hours that'd
sicken them
Mr. Jobson laughed, as in duty bound.
Glass Of wine, Captain Fayers?' said
Crawford.
With pleasure. Steward, hand Ensign
Crawford the sherry
'We shall have fine passage, said the
chaplain.
May be, if the wind keeps up The
captain was evidently put out. But
hang me at high water mark, if | wouldn't
rather carry parrots and monkeys than
these niggers, with their par ticular food
aaa their perpetual complaints