198 DESERTION FROM THE JAMES ALLEN. 



were accustomed to complain when an over supply 

 of venison or salmon was meted out to them ; these 

 articles, to us luxuries, being so plentiful near their 

 abode, and so often partaken of as to lose their 

 novelty. At the present writing I have been but a 

 few months without fresh provisions, and so long a 

 dissertation on the coveted food, has conjured up to 

 my imagination, visions of fresh and juicy meat, vege- 

 tables in profusion, and amongst other delicacies, last, 

 though not least, a buckwheat or Johnny cake ; neither 

 would a piece of bread and cheese be out of the way, 

 or any other of the little et ceteras grateful to the 

 appetite, that the poorest person ashore can command 

 at will, but which the wanderer on the sea must deny 

 himself when engaged in a long voyage ; the owners 

 generally considering salt junk and hard bread aa 

 the stafts of life at sea. 



Daily, whilst here, some one or more of the crew 

 of the James Allen would cut stick, and defy the 

 most strenuous efforts of the authorities to recapture 

 them. Finally the crew was reduced to but a moiety 

 of her usual number. They were restricted to the 

 day ashore, at night being required to return aboard 

 their ship ; those who violated this restriction were 

 confined altogether to the vessel, and those allowed 

 to go ashore were put by their captain under the 

 surveillance of the police, and if found ashore at 

 nightfall, were placed in the lock-up. Our captain, 

 to secure us from molestation, furnished us with 

 passes to the effect that, by his permission our liberty 

 extended for twenty-four hours; but as our men 

 behaved themselves in the most decorous manner, 

 they were never interfered with ; and I do not re- 



