54 PUNISHMENT. 



the president, after a short consultation, 

 sentenced him, in nautical language, to be 

 cobbed a punishment, I believe, only 

 known on board ship. Resistance was 

 useless, and he was immediately seized up 

 to the aftermost gun on the lower deck ; 

 the captain having given the gun-room to 

 the midshipmen for their better accommoda- 

 tion, it being more freely ventilated than 

 the cockpit, consequently more healthy, 

 particularly in a tropical climate. 



By the artful advice of the doctor's mate, 

 who was no friend to the youth, and owed 

 him a grudge, everyone in the two messes 

 was included in the infliction of this punish- 

 ment, on the pain of being served the same, 

 or sent to Coventry. 



The instrument selected for the purpose 

 was what is called by the ship's cook the 

 " Burgoo- stirrer ; " in shape it resembles a 

 large battledore, and is generally made of 

 some hard wood. With this formidable 

 weapon each one was to give the culprit 



