mariners. It is oftentimes profitable to hear both sides of an argument. For boys who have a longing for the sea this book may prove instructive. They will find herein information about the course of training through which a sailor-boy must pass, and the trials that he may expect to meet with; about his conflict with wind and water, his robust duties, dangerous adventures, and boisterous recreations; about his weeks of wearisome idleness that breed discontent, and the opportunities afforded him for seeing the world. But it must be confessed that the book does not present us with an attractive picture of the naval service; partly from the very nature of the circumstances in which it originated; partly from the author’s habit of regarding the state of his own feelings as of primary importance. He had not then discovered that resolute fulfilment of duty is sweeter far than happiness. Nevertheless, I heartily recommend this little book, feeling assured that if only because of its honesty, it well deserves any word that I can say in its favour. W. W. _London, October, 1862._ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Why I went into the Navy; and how--To Portsmouth--The old Guardho--Well, Youngster! what do you want?--The Main-deck--Encouraging Reception--Agree to enter for Ten Years--A hard Supper, and harder Pillow--Turning in and turning out--Rouse and Bit--A Chance for a Wash--Pipe to Breakfast--What the Doctor said--I am passed--Starboard and Port--Knots and Hitches--Handling a Boat--Feather and Toss--My first Uniform--A Ditty-box--The Mast-head--Cutlass Drill--Rifle Drill--Big Gun Exercise--Splices, left-handed Eyes, Matthew Walker, and Turk’s Head--Old Pipes--Hawser-eye and Dead-eye--Compass and Lead-line--The _Sealark_--Sore Feet--A Day’s Work--Out on a Cruise--Distress--The wrong Signal--Return to the Guardho--The _Highflyer_--Are you Napoleon Bonyparte?--A Lambasting 1 CHAPTER II. At Spithead--Admiral’s Inspection--Sail to Plymouth--Departure from England--My first Look-out--How to see--Phosphorescent Waves--Making Sail--Our two Gun-boats--The _Plover’s_ Hawser breaks--A Growl--Calms and Breezes--A Day’s Routine--Work and Watches--Land ho! The Peak of Teneriffe--Anchor off Santa Cruz--A Run on Shore--Mules, Fishwomen, and Shopkeepers--To Sea again--A Taste of Black List--Strike me lucky--Guy Fawkes--Equatorial Weather--Coming down anyhow--A Bit of Fun--Buckets and Hoses--A Drencher for Captain and Chaplain--Cross the Line--Shaving and Bathing--Besiegers and Besieged--An Officer’s Honour, and a Pig’s Feathers--Make him speak, Bull-dogs--Shipmates and Messmates--A rough Lick and Black List 21 CHAPTER III. Cape Frio--Arrive at Rio de Janeiro--Magnificent Harbour--An Hour on Shore--Crucifix-bearers--Wooden Collars--The Captain’s good Advice--Christmas Day--Plum-duff--Close-reefed Topsails--A Sight of Tristan de Acunha--The Gun-boats cast off--Algoa Bay--Foul Weather--Money landed in Surf-boats--Port Elizabeth at a Distance--Discontent--Natal--A Snuffler--Simon’s Bay, Cape of Good Hope--Romantic Scene--Bullock-wagons--A brooming Party--Savage Landscape--A good Word for Government--Sailors’ Orchards--A fresh Departure--Four Gun-boats--A Truant--Strait of Sunda--Boatswain Birds--Anjeer--Java--Sumatra--Singapore--Something to laugh at--Waterspout--Arrival at Hong-Kong--The Letter-bag--News from Home 37 CHAPTER IV. The Pratta Shoal--The Wreck--The Pirates--Another Wreck--Prospect of Hong-Kong--Wantchee Dinner--Up the River--Bocca Tigris--Getting it properly--A Chinese Landscape--Plenty of Swamp-seed--Our Anchorage--Boats to Fatsan--A Dose for the Longtails--A dark Watch--Capture of Chuenpee--Trophies: unboiled Goat and boiled Rice--Chasing a Pirate--Bird-scarers--Alarm of Fire--Inspection by Admiral Sir Michael Seymour--The Growlers pacified--Crickets and Bullfrogs--Theatrical Amusement--Discontent--Drop down the River--A Funeral--Hong-Kong, and a Run on Shore--A Prospect--The old Anchorage again--Flogging and Tail-lopping--Rowing Guard-boat--Cooking and Story-telling--A Sanpan of Thieves--Prizes without Profit--A Grumble--See-no-more’s Fund 54 CHAPTER V. Ho! for Canton--The Bombardment commences--Howling--Our Landing--The rough March--Our first Brush with Johnny--The Bivouac--Our strange Position--On Picket--Shells and Rockets--Hot Tea and no Sleep!--What I thought about--Come on, my Lads--A nasty Hero--The Rendezvous--Our Advance--Scaling the Walls--Jamming a Frenchman--Five Pounds for a Flag!--Inside the Walls--Wanton firing--A Charge--Wounded Natives--Scorching Explosions--Canton ours--Marooning and Feasting--Cries of Distress--Chinese Girl--A Rescue--The Provost-marshal--Stop! or I’ll fire--An Escape--Horrid Prisons--Yeh’s Slaughter-ground--Competitive Headsmen--Mandarin Funeral--A white Affair and rather jolly--Body-guard and Musicians--A good Son--On Board a Junk--Return to our Ship 71 CHAPTER VI. More Grumbling--Sailing Orders: Hurrah!--A Trial of Patience--Sail from Hong-Kong for Shanghai--Beating past Formosa--Danger...