324 WHALING AND FISHING. 



mate ever treated us in any but the most gentle. 

 manly way. 



"That comes of speaking up like men with 

 nouls, my lad," said Fred, as we jumped aloft to 

 do the mate's bidding. 



We sailed on the following morning. I have 

 before stated that in Port Louis, vessels are moored 

 with four anchors, two ahead and two astern. As 

 it would be exceedingly inconvenient to weigh 

 these anchors by the ship's capstan or windlass, 

 mooring boats are supplied by the harbor master. 

 Each of these boats has a diver among the crew. 

 This man takes a stout rope in his mouth, and 

 dives to the bottom. Here finding an anchor, he 

 puts the rope through its ring, and brings up the 

 end with him. By this the anchor is hove to the 

 water's edge, when it is taken alongside of the 

 vessel, and stowed away. 



These divers have great skill in their vocation. 

 A few days before we sailed, the captain of a ves- 

 sel had lost overboard a gold watch and chain. 

 His vessel lay in twenty fathoms water (one hun- 

 dred and twenty feet). A diver, hearing of the 

 mishap, offered his services to recover the lost 

 property. The place whence it dropped wa 

 pointed out to him, as nearly as possible. He dove 

 to the bottom, and almost immediately brought up 

 the watch and chain. Ten rupees (five dollars) 

 was all he asked for this service. 



Well, we sailed. Our crew consisted of eight 

 men. The vessel should have carried ten; but 



