406 VISITED BY LAND-SHARKS. 



from amongst our vessel's crew. They jumped 

 aboard, and endeavored by passing the bottle around 

 (with which they always go provided, knowing that 

 the sailor is much more easily gulled when half seas 

 over), to get as many to go with them to their places 

 of business as possible ; at the same time they readily 

 give their aid in packing and lashing their customer's 

 chests, assiduously waiting upon him, and not allow- 

 ing him to get out of their sight for a moment — 

 fearful of losing him. After some little chaffering 

 our chests and selves were all aboard the boat and 

 were rapidly approaching the city. A large con- 

 course of spectators had assembled on the wharves, 

 comprising the runners of all the most miserable 

 and nefarious houses of the town. The captain of 

 the boat, anxious to disappoint them, ran to another 

 wharf, to which these harpies speedily conveyed 

 themselves. As soon as we had lauded, each man 

 went with his outfitter, or rather infitter, in order to 

 be thoroughly renovated in appearance and pocket. 

 Although we landed on Sunday, we had no difficulty 

 in obtaining clothing, these outfitters being provided 

 for all such contingencies. After enjoying a thorough 

 wash, and getting into an entire suit of long togs, or 

 landsmen's wearing garments, but little was left of 

 the semblance of sailors to us, except the rolling gait 

 and embrowned countenances. Our next trip was to 

 the barber's, where all superfluous hair was removed 

 from heads and faces, and a thorough scrubbing 

 operation gone through with; which, on viewing 

 ourselves in the glass, gave us a pretty good opinion 

 of our personal qualifications, and we started for a 



