The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-11-04

my first experience of ship accommo-
dation. When you have learned to lie |
on your back and not want to move all |
night Ito take enough oxygen into the
lungs while ON deck to last for the'time |
you are below, and to be Indifferent to
cockroaches running over you, YOU get
on great deal better.
On reaching the deck next morning
found that we were under sail and
dropping down the river, which had
grown very wide.
It was not long before we were fairly
in the Channel and Che pilot got into
his boat and.left us. =
There was nice breeze, but the sea
was perfectly smooth, and the ship
glided through the water with delight
full glibness; so that felt I ought to be
doing something towards learning my
duties while ] was able, and confded to
MacNab that should like to hold an
inspection of the ,conyicts, who were all
gathered ON the main deck in charge of
their warders and the marines, who
mounted sentry over them with loaded
muskets and fixed bayonets.
found that had made an official
application in the right quarter by &C.
cident, for MacNab Immediately said:
"At what time? at once?''
And when I replied in the Affirmative,
gave certain sharp, short orders, the re-
suit of which was that in less than ten
minutes warder came up to me,
touched his caps and reported:
"An ready sir. y
And following him, Il found the con-
yicts drawn up in lines, barefooted. My
inspection of them was d mere form,
for, of course, they were sent on board
sound and clean, but / made certain
suggestions with regard to the santa
ry arrangements between decks, where
their hammocks were slung, and these
were promptly attended to where prac-
ticable. When / had done MacNab
challenged me to a game Of chess, and
fortunately we proved to be very evenly
matched. He qui$eIight in rely-
ing SO much upon it as resource; how
we should have got through the weeks
without it cannot imagine; we played
at least six hours daily out Of the twen-
ty-four. ----------7-
When we got intos the broad swell of
the Atlantic had a weeks seasickness,
during which MacNab had the best of
me at chess, and sitter I was well / be-
gan to have some trouble with the com
victs. What schemers they werei
Their one. great object was to get q
glass of grog or wine, which couA.oaly
be done by my order, and they regular
" studied the complaints for which l
prescribed such medical comforts, and
either simulated or managed to produce
them artifcially.' Greenhorn as was,
they imposed upon me rarely at first,
and just as was getting up to their
dodges we passed the Equator, and
there was good deal Of real sickness,
which gave them, the advantage again.
As time went on became familiarized
with the rogues, and learned to look
lupon them as fellow-men who had gone
i wrong, rather than as wild beasts. ]
d talked to them freely, learned many OF
their histories at least their own YER
sions of them-and took considerable
Interest in some of the narrators. Most
of them were ignorant, debased crea-
lures, either born and bred to prey on
their fellow-creatures, or recruited from
the most neglected ranks of society
but there were one or two exceptions
notably, q man who passed under the
name Of Williams, who was gifted with
i rare abilities, and had the manners and
address Of q gentleman. His face would
have afforded an interesting study to a
physiognomist, the upper part being
highly inSeAeetuaa, tkkS lower part be.
tokening urhoupded gsensuality. His
crime was forgery of bank notes. This
man meyer scendesce to try .and
trick me, as the others did neither did
he sulk like some of The better-class con.
victs, nor protest his innocence, which
was the almost universal custom. He
wase civil, somewhat subdued in man
ner, and glad of my conversation. He
had Yielded to the temptation of trying
to make his fortune in too great hurry,
had failed, and was content! to pay the
Ipenalty, he said. Though q q lifer, !" he
by no means despaired of his future
| He was informed that with good con
duct he would soon be afree man with
in the limits of the colony, and had per
feet confidence in his, ability to earn Z
comfortable livelihood Il he had tha'
,Ichance. And. what did the country
matterp Life could Be made IS enjoys
ble in one place as another. He would
not go back to England to be cut by al
his relations and former friends if ht
could, s.' s. s.sa 49,
| Plausibly as Williams always talked
II mistrusteds him. I noticed that he hai
testablisKed q considerable influence ove1
the other conyicts, and constantly sur
prised him speaking earnestly in cor
ners to groups Of Eve or six Of them
On my appearance these conference
broke up, and IN spite Of all affectatiol