96 OFFICERS' MESS. 



the ship's side, not unobserved by my 

 old friends, the captains of the forecastle 

 and foretop, who stood waiting on the 

 gangway, and doffing their hats begged 

 to have the honour of shaking hands 

 with me, as I had done with the gun- 

 ner and boatswain; this I did with a 

 full heart, and jumping into the boat 

 had time enough to subdue my over- 

 wrought feelings before I reached the 

 Indiaman, which had dropped down from 

 Whampoa that morning, and to whose 

 captain I reported myself, as his intended 

 passenger. 



The captain received me very cour- 

 teously, and consigned me to the care 

 of the third mate, who presided over the 

 secondary portion of the officer's mess 

 the first and second living entirely at 

 the captain's table; it therefore consisted 

 of all the junior officers, and an assistant- 

 surgeon. With these I soon made myself 

 at home, although I had to put up with 



