. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. itude, and met with the prevail-ing westerly winds, when, squaring our yards in due season,doubled the Cape of Good Hope and entered the IndianOcean. The northeast monsoon was then blowing down theChina Sea, and it was imperative that we should take theeastern passage through the innumerable islands of theeastern archipelago, and accordingly laid ou
. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. itude, and met with the prevail-ing westerly winds, when, squaring our yards in due season,doubled the Cape of Good Hope and entered the IndianOcean. The northeast monsoon was then blowing down theChina Sea, and it was imperative that we should take theeastern passage through the innumerable islands of theeastern archipelago, and accordingly laid our course for thesoutheastern point of the island of Java. Then sighting San-dalwood, an island lying south of Java, began threading ourway through the maze of islands and narrow passages ofthose regions, passing outside or to the eastard of the Phil-ippines, entered the Chinese Sea, and bore away for HongKong with a leading wind. After a most fortunate passageof ninety-eight days, came to an anchor in Hong Kong roadswithout carrying away a rope-yarn or meeting any Malaypirates. I suppose that steam has thinned out those pirates,for the European nations who have possessions in the Easthave war steamers plying for the protection of their com-. 346 STEAMERS AND PIRATES. merce in those seas. A steamer is a terror to a piraticalsailor. In a few days we received a chop, or Chinese govern-ment permit, to go up the river to Whampoa with a nativepilot. We hove up, made sail, and arrived at Whampoa,where we moored ship, and learned that we would have towait until the last of June, or the beginning of July, in orderto load with the new crop of teas, which would not beready before that time. It was then only April, and the layof three months gave us plenty of time to overhaul rigging,rattle down, tar, paint inside and out, repair sails, andrenovate any and everything inboard and outboard, fromtruck to keelson. At last, in the latter part of June, the first chop ariivedalongside, and the la
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectseafari, bookyear1887
