198 NIMIiOD OF THE SEA; OR, 



CHAPTER XVII. 



A Quarrel, and Knife drawn. Portuguese flogged, and Reflections thereon. 

 Sunday on Board, and Library. Religion on Board. Pythagoras on 

 Board. The Providence for Sailors. Books in Demand, and Kind. 

 Chips and his Journal. Chips in the Battle of Plattsburg. His Views 

 of the Sabbath. Right-whale Porpoise taken. Five hours' Chase un- 

 successful. Another Chase successful. Rock of Dunda mistaken for a 

 Ship. Fishing off 7 Abington Island. Second Visit to Cocos Island. 

 Hector, of New Bedford. Hunt for wild Hogs. Beautiful Parrot-fish. 

 Growths in the Bay, and Sea-porcupine. Boat lost. 



Sept. 16. A quarrel between two of the men resulted in 

 Antonio, a Portuguese, drawing a knife on his shipmate. 

 The weapon was knocked from his hand, 



" With a God d , those syllables intense! 

 Nucleus of England's native eloquence." 



A regular breeze was the consequence. The second mate 

 reported the row to the supreme authority, and the fiery 

 Antonio was summoned to the quarter-deck to answer. His 

 offense was serious ; it was shown that he meant mischief, 

 and we could not seriously demur when we saw him lashed 

 to the weather main-rigging, and his yellow back exposed to 

 the rope's-end. But, however much we condemned Antonio's 

 act, when we saw and heard the rope's-end cut the writhing 

 flesh, and heard the man's moaning supplication to " Santa 

 Marie" and " Jesu Christo," we forgot it. Very serious 

 thoughts occupied my mind as I looked on the cruel scene ; 

 and for the first time in the voyage the life became horrible 

 and hateful to me. The sentiment of obedience to authority 

 must be instinctive in human hearts, or how could a few offi- 



