The Ely miner., 1929-11-15

IDLY or lnVlSlDly enters the galley III
ters through and collects in that well,
and most lOathsome smell arises
from it. The whole galley, with
in and without, is covered with the
hlackest pitch as are even the ropes,
planks and everything else that they
may not easily be rotted by the win
ter. 1t is wondrOus to see the
multitude of ropes and their joinings
and twinings about the vessel.
"A galley is like a monastery, for
the place of prayer is on the upper
deck beside the mast where also is
the market-place; the middle part OF
the poop answers to the common re-
fectory; the benches of the galley
slaves and berths of the pilgrims are
the dOrmitOry; the chapter-house is
over against the kitchen; the prisons
are beneath the deck Of the PROV and
poop; the cellar, kitchen and stable
are all open to the sky on the upper
deck. Thus, in brief passing over
many things, you have the portraiture
of galley"
Next, the holy man is at pains to
enumerate the list of the various
functiOnaries and the crew, together
with their rank and official titles and
various duties. There is an imposing
array-the captain, who he says in
variably is noble, powerful, rich, wise
and honOrable"-a fine recommends.
tiOn for any skipper; his chosen ad-
visers who travel as his guests and
give him counsel; the head navigator;
the pilots or deputy steersmen: the
master at arms; the steward, of whose
grade he naively says: stewards
are generally hated on board ships;
the purser or clerk; the commander of
the galley and his mates; the chief
sailors, of whom there are nine or ten
and who, it would appear, correspond
to the petty officers on a modern
battleship; the mariners OF ordinary
seamen-"they are generally old and
respected men," he tells US; the ap-
prentices; the trumpeters: the two
BARRIERS, who also are surgeons and
minister to the ailing; a torturer of
malefactOrs; troop of cannoneerS
and fighting men; and finally and low-
est of all, those scourged and fettered
wretches who constitute the human
motive power when the wind fails or
when there is need for special speed
or quick maneuvering, to-wit: the gal
ley slaves.
There are a great many of them,"
Che goes on), land they are all big
men; but their labOrs are only fit for
asses and they are urged to perform
them by shouts, blows and curses.
Just as when horses are drawing
loaded carts up steep road, the
harder they pull the more they are
urged on. so these wretches when
they are pulling with their utmost
strength are still beaten to make them
pull harder. | shudder to think of the
tOrtures and punishments of those
men; | have never seen beasts of
burden so cruelty beaten as they are.
They are frequently forced to let
their tunics and shirt hang from their
girdles and work with bare backs,
arms and shoulders that they may be
reached by whips and scourges.
"These galley slaves are for the
most part the bought slaves of the
captain or else they are men Of low
station, or prisoners, or men who have
run away or been driven out of their
own countries, or eXiles, or such as
are so unhappy that they cannot live
or gain a livelihood ashore. When
ever there is any fear Of their making
their escape they gre secured to their
benches by chains. They are so
accustomed to their misery that they
work feebly and to no purpose unless
some one stands over them and beats
them like asses and curses them. They
are fed most wretchedly and always
sleep on the boards of their rowing
benches, and both by day and by
night they are always in the open air
ready for work. and when there is a
storm they stand in the midst of the
waves.
The Instinct for Barter.
"In general they are thieves and
spare nothing that they find; for which
crime they often are most cruelty tor
tured. When they are not at work
they sit and play at cards and dice for
gold and silver. with execrable oaths
and blasphemies. Sometimes there are
among them some respectable mer-
chants, who subject themselves to this
most grievious servitude In order that