20 THE GREAT THIRST LAND. 



assertion of the facts never transpired ; my authority 

 for this is indisputable. Even some of the clergymen 

 for we had fourteen, I believe, on board tried hard to 

 correct his errors ; but briefly and positively he declined 

 to be converted. Another of this gentleman's weaknesses 

 was to think that he was an excellent vocalist ; and 

 when night shrouded us in her sable mantle, he would 

 lie on deck, among rugs, and croak most dolefully, 

 surrounded by other passengers who preferred the dolce 

 far niente in such attitudes. During such reunions, we 

 were invariably astonished to hear some untruthful 

 person, or, at least, I hope, some person with extrava- 

 gant powers of imagination, exclaim, " By Jove, I have 

 lost my liquor." "No you don't say so!" would 

 exclaim another ; adding, " I only replenished it a 

 minute ago." "No wonder," would add the Plunger ; 

 " is not that your glass in the scuppers ? If you 

 will be so careless on board of ship, what can you 

 expect ? " It would be well for me here to say that it 

 was soon after discovered that the Plunger had a 

 knowing way of appropriating his neighbour's grog, and 

 then getting rid of the glass. It was strange that this 

 excellent young man always got quarrelsome early, and 

 had an objection to the use of sea-legs, or any other 

 kind of legs, when assisted to his bunk. 



But the greatest of all characters was Mr. Holly. 

 For some days after starting he did not put in an 

 appearance, indisposition and great depression of animal 

 spirits being reported as the cause. However, as he was 

 mated with my naval friend, and they slept in the next 

 cabin to myself and the Laird, I had opportunities of 

 studying Mr. H.'s ailments. The disease was different 

 from any I had seen before his tendency being to sleep 



