The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-12-20
The HooghlI Pilots.

Pilots for the Hooghly do not cruise
much to pick up vessels; they have q
regular station near hghtship, and il
it is thick weather it is nice work to fall
in with them just right. Their vessels
have always been full rugged briggs
manned by heavy Lascar crews, and are
about the last thing afoat to tell of the
days of the old East India Company.
Their signal is white flag with red
cross, and they are supposed to brave
all sorts of weather, maneuver through
cyclone if necessary. Soon we had
the Eastern lightship in sight, and in
an hours time (nine a. NJ J were close
to the brig. She hove to, launched
heavy surf or lifeboat in fine style, and
in it sal eight Bengal sailors with their
oars peak, waiting the movements of
the pilot In the meantime we had our
mainsails brailed up and ran slowly
down by the brig. The turbaned Las
cars looked strangely through their rig
ging and over their high bulwarks at
us, and the brass-bottoned pilots and
officers took searching look at the
Conception as she forged slowly ahead.
We hauld sharp around under her lee,
laid the main and crossiack yards to
the mast and there waited with all
hands at the braces ready to fill away
as soon as the pilot came. He was now
In the boat with several others in the
stern sheets coming for us. They had
so much luggage that the chief officer
sang out from the forecastle deck: II
guess they are coming to stay" 1t
was pretty sight. The noble ship,
the brig, bowling and courtesying to us,
her bright red, pure copper flashing in
the Bengal sun, the boat shooting by
our stern, the oars of eight trained oars
men keeping perfect time. My heart
took great leap of JOY but l gulped it
down and hastened to the gangway to
meet my long wished for and welcome
visitors. Stand by your braces, now,
men, I said, as the boat
touched the side. A fine, intelli-
gent, bronzed faced veteran sailor
stepped over the rail with ''you are the
Captain, I SUPPOSED" ''Yes, and you are
the pilot, presumed" 81 am," he said,
rather showing the badge of his office,
the royal crown and anchor. ''And you
are welcome to the Hooghly, sir. 81
Welcome on board the Conception;
my name is -" "And mine, sir, is
Edson." A nautical glance aloft re.
vealed the Stars and Stripes, so rarely
seen now, and he said, american,
see. A fine ship, sir. We can alway:
tell them. How much water do yor
drawp Twenty-Five feet, did you say
That is, In salt water, you will draw
twenty-five six in the river; fresh water
you know, makes difference" The
eager sailors were at the braces listen
ing, waiting for their orders. "Yes, yot
may fill away, but we shan't get farthel
than Saugor tonight. Put your whee
up there and keep her for that buoy
Let me introduce you to brother pilot
who wishes to get to town; he has
ship there ready for sea-" In the mean
time cart-load of dunnago (baggage
had been hauled up in charge of tn,
pilots servant, a Mohammedan, who al
ways accompanies his master. He wa
strange looking customer to our sail
ors, who had never been east of tn
Cape. He had dark visage, Jet blacl
eyes, hair and beard. He wore small
black, skull cap, long, white, tight
wasted tunic, had bare legs, with san
dals on his feet. The pilot spoke to hin
in Bengalees, and called him Abdul
This is my boy" he said to me, "wh
will look after my luggage, and pleas
let him assist your steward in any wa,
he can be of any service" There wa
swinging cot bed, bag, trunk o
box, for each pilot, and then there wa
an assistant pilot, called "leadsman,
ayoung amateur English sailor, who's
duty it was to heave the lead and there
by gain thorough knowledge of tn
soundings, preparatory to taking up tn
profession of pilot. No commo
sailor is trusted with the lead going u
the Hooghly, but man is sent into tn
chains to help him (the leadsman) hau
the line In. on account Of the exhaust
i've heat. These young men are fror
good families in England, sent out afte
some years of practice in training ship
He must have ability and an irreproacE
able character, or else he is not wanted
Cor. Boston Journal.