The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-04-28


Of it was. that the crew gained their
point and had their day of rest. But the
spokesman, who was looked upon by the
captain as the ringleader and fomenter Of
the disturbance, was discharged from the
vessel. We had shipped him in New Zea-
land, where he had lived in the lawless
style Of veritable beach-comber, and the
exacting duties of a seamen were not to
his taste. But he was right in wanting
one day of rest out of seven.
At length, having completed our lading,
we hauled out of the canal, and set sail for
"home again." Passing through the straits
Of Banca, where we anchored once or
t,1;1a on. account of adverse winds and
currents. we came to the celebrated Anjier
Point, the place of departure for ships
bound home from the Indies. Here we
anchored, it being calm, and the current
against US. Two or three large proas, full
of the femenine-looking Malays, came off
to us, loaded with pigs, fowls, eggs and
fruit, which they offered for sale extremely
cheap. Our captain bought several barrels
of eggs and had them packed in salt. The
rigging was lined with punches of bananas,
baskets of oranges, mangosteens and man.
gos. and the long-boat was one crowded
mass of chickens and ducks. For month
or more after that, the unusual spectacle
could be witnessed, of Jack Tar, enjoy
ing boiled eggs and broiled chicken for
breakfast, chicken soup and roast duck for
dinner. and cold boiled fowl for supper 1t
may sound something like extravaganza.
but it was really cheaper than to feed the
men on sal; provisions Jack knew this.
too, and not fail to exercise his privilege
of growing at being kept entirely on what
he termed sick mems grub
We got under-weigh several times from
AGjier. endeavoring to get out into the
Indian Ocean. but were forced to come to
an anchor again. on account Of winds and
currents. One day. lying becalmed IF
conical mountain known as Cockatoo Point,
there were no less than fifty sail of vessels
in sight, all like ourselves, trying to get to
sea. The captain was restlessly pacing
the deck. ever and anon sweeping the hor-
izon with his glass, .nxiously looking for
breeze. Suddenly he paused. as he looked
in the direction of the mountain. and turn
ing sharp round. he shouted-"Clew up
and clew down be lively therep In
prompt obedience to the orders. in very
short space of time. the brig was under
bare-poles. A few minutes sufficed to ex-
plain the mystery. for "white-squall
came down upon US. For a short time
only. the wind blew perfect hurricane.
A French ship, which lay like US, becalm-
eu dbOuI bNO ullleo III suOIe vi US, was Iue
first to catch the squall. Having all sail
out. she took the wind on her broadside
and lay over for moment to the wind,
nearly on her beam ends, and when she
righted, all three top-masts, yards. gear,
bowsprit and jib-boom, were over the side.
The squall over, the ship was towed in
shore and anchored, and the crew went to
work to put up jury top-masts. The wind,
coming off shore the same day, took us
out of the straits, and we were once more
on the broad ocean-the Indian Ocean.
SoGthward we sailed, towards the Cape
of Good Hope, past the Isle of France,
and sighted the rocky isle of st. Paul's-
a favorite resort of sperm whalers the ad-
jacent waters abounding in fish. Making
Table Mountain. the sOuthernmost point
of the continent of Africa. we steered
away for st. Helena. from whence a short
time before, the remains of the great Ma
poleOn had been conveyed to France.
But before we got into the S. Z. trades,
and while just off the cape, we experien-
ced a severe gale. 1t came on just at
night. blowing in squalls, and with heavy
rolling sea, the latter peculiar to that lat
titude. All hands being called to reef
topsails. | clambered aloft-I was as ac-
tive as kitten then-and reaching the
main-top-mast cross trees. sided down on
the leeward lift to the caring of the sail.
The brig. under reduced canvas, was roll
ing heavily. and just as had got astride
of the end of the yard the lift parted,
and with sudden jerk | was flung head
over heels. into the inky hued bosom Of
great wave. Overheard in mid-Oceani
Only for moment beneath the surface.
looked up to find myself already long
distance astern of the brig, by the reced-
ing lights from which | c0nld discern that
! could have but little hopes of ever get
ting on board again. All. what thoughts
then passed through my mind! Death
and eternity we're before me. However
capable | was Of swimming. my exhaus-
tion was only a question Of time. That
time elapsed slowly enough. Now on the
crest of an immense wave.-now in the
depths between two-I kept myself on the
the top of the water mechanically. having
given myself up for gone. Ready. through
weariness TO sink. all my sins and follies
were plainly brought before me. but
gradually began to feel sense of resigna-
ton to what seemed an inevitable fate. a
tomb In the deep. deep sea. But some
thing struck me on the head. blow that
instead Of stunning me. put new life into
me. and then | was for moment aware
that somebody had caught me by the hair
Of the head. and that was hauled into
the boat Then became insensible. until