ROUTINE ON BOAED. 49 



watch always out of repair." When, for example, in a calm, the sails hanging loosely, the 

 hot sun pouring down on deck, and no way on the vessel, which lies 



" As idle as a painted ship 

 Upon a painted ocean," 



there is always sufficient work for the men, in "setting up" the rigging, which constantly 

 requires lightening and repairing, in picking oakum for caulking, in brightening up the metal- 



INSTKUCTION ON UOAllD A MAN-OF-WAR. 



work, and in holystoning the deck. The holystone is a large piece of porous stone,* which is 

 dragged in alternate ways by two sailors over the deck, sand being used to increase its effect. 

 It obtains its name from the fact that Sunday morning is a very common time on many 

 merchant-vessels for cleaning up generally. 



The daily routine of our young sailor on the experimental cruises gave him plenty of 

 employment. In his own words it was as follows : Commencing at five a.m. <( Turn hands 

 up ; holystone or scrub upper deck ; coil down ropes. Half -past six breakfast, half an 



* A naval friend kindly informs me that the Malta holystones are excellent, natural lava being abundant. 



7 



