132 SAILORS POSTED. 



ness-like appearance ; but when we visited it, every- 

 thing like trade seemed stagnant. This was repre- 

 sented to be caused by the non-arrival of the steamers ; 

 the government having withdrawn them to use as 

 transports for troops to the Crimea. 



For the first three or four days we were visited by 

 heavy rain squalls, which preventing much w'ork 

 being executed, we whiled away the time, between 

 squalls, in angling — the water being alive with fish — 

 salmon, herring, mackarel, and whitings, rewarding 

 the fisherman's toil. 



"W"e had little trouble here to procure water — a 

 large tank being walled in, from which we procured 

 an abundant supply. The only diificulty we ex- 

 perienced was from the extreme coldness of the water 

 while rafting it. 



On the 27th our liberty commenced. On going 

 ashore and walking up the beach, we found, on pass- 

 ing the custom-house, a notice, signed by the captains 

 of the different ships in the harbor, notifying all 

 persons, that in the event of trusting any of their 

 men, it would be on their own responsibility, as no 

 debts of our contracting w'ould be paid by the said 

 captains. This was unusual to us, as we had never 

 before been posted in port ; but it may have been 

 necessar}^, as the sailor, when ashore, thinks of 

 nothing but present enjoyment. When he is half 

 seas over, he will borrow money, or buy anything on 

 credit from persons foolish or roguish enough to trust 

 him, and when he gets at sea, will tell with great 

 satisfaction how nicely he bilked the land-lubbers ; 

 but in ninety-nine cases out of the hundred the 



