AT SEA: ON PASSAGE 117 



to conceive. Thus situated, and thus equipped for sea life, we stood 

 gaping at the captain in silent admiration. 



"The mates and boat-steerers, consisting of the chief mate, an 

 Englishman, the second mate, an American, two Portuguese boat- 

 steerers, and an American of the same grade, stood near the main- 

 mast, looking on with the air of men who were used to such things, 

 and took no particular interest in them. 



"The captain, after considerable deliberation, and a great show 

 of contempt toward everybody within range of his visual rays, then 

 addressed us in a sharp nasal voice, fixing his eyes upon each man al- 

 ternately. 



" 'I suppose you all know what you came a whaling for. If you 

 don't, I'll tell you. You came to make a voyage, and I intend you 

 shall make one. You didn't come to play; no, you came for oil; 

 you came to work.' (While making these remarks the captain stood 

 upon the quarter-deck, which he paced during frequent breaks in his 

 line of thought. The crew formed a closely-grouped knot of men in 

 the waist.) 'You must do as the officers tell you, and work when 

 there's work to be done. We didn't ship you to be idle here. No, 

 no, that ain't what we shipped you for, by a grand sight. If you 

 think it is, you'll find yourselves mistaken. You will that — somey I 

 guess. ... I allow no fighting aboard this ship. Come aft to 

 me when you have any quarrels and I'll settle 'em. I'll do the quar- 

 reling for you — I will. . . . I'll have no swearing, neither. I 

 don't want to hear nobody swear. It's a bad practice — an infernal 

 bad one. It breeds ill will, and don't do no kind o' good. If I catch 

 anyone at it, damme, I'll flog him, that's all. . . . When it's your 

 watch below, you can stay below or for'ed, just as you please . . . 

 I won't have no skulking. If I see sogers here, I'll soger 'em with 

 a rope's end . . . You shall have good grub to eat, and plenty of 

 it. I'll give you vittles if you work; if you don't work, you may 

 starve. Don't grumble about your grub neither. You'd better not, 

 I reckon. If you don't get enough, come aft and apply to me. . . . 

 Now the sooner you get a cargo of oil, the sooner you'll get home. . . . 

 Do your duty, and act well your part toward me, and I'll treat you 

 well; but if you show any obstinacy or cut up any extras, I'll be d — d 

 if it won't be the worse for you! Look out! I ain't a man that's 

 going to be trifled with. No, I ain't — not myself, I ain't. The offi- 

 cers will all treat you well, and I intend you shall do as they order 

 you. If you don't, /'// see about it. That's all. Go for'ed, where 

 you belong ! ' " 



This speech, quoted thus fully, not only betrays the type 

 of man who made it, but also portrays in an illuminating man- 

 ner the paternalistic, serf-like relationship existing between 



