182 LANDING OF THE CREW. [1846. 



rally impelled by two, or four, lank, but clean-built, and 

 powerful Malays. These urge their claims for preference, 

 exclaiming, "Two man boat, Sar?" " Tour man boat, 

 Sar ? " or, " Pull like debbel, Sar ! " This last is sure to fix 

 the taste, and one or two of our heroes may be seen with 

 the leg stretched out, with all imaginable importance, 

 bounding over the glassy wave, until he is landed in the 

 creek, for Jack does not admire shooting his craft on the 

 beach, anywhere in the vicinity of the men-of-war's 

 boats. Very shortly after landing, it is evident that some 

 ship's crew is on liberty ; horses are seen in rapid motion, 

 some without riders, riders without hats, but all bearing 

 a decided disposition for fun, except the nags, which 

 rather seem to eye between fear and astonishment the 

 larkish bipeds, who rig and unrig them according to their 

 notions, and from whom they would probably bolt if 

 further from the town. Others, of the more sober cast, 

 will be found grouped together in one horse Palanquins, 

 but which, upon close examination, will be found plenti- 

 fully stored with what Jack terms his needful ballast, 

 that bane of English seamen, spirits. 



It is strange, that in the present advanced state of 

 general improvement amongst our seamen, this old 

 relic of the war pranks still maintains its force. We do 

 not notice it amongst the French, Dutch, Spanish, or 

 Americans, although in this latter service many of their 

 seamen are English. Nor does any influence of Captain 

 or Officers seem to change the disposition. In many 

 cases which I have noticed, there will be found a shore 

 companion, picked up at one of the houses where seamen 

 resort, whose business, doubtless, it is, to favour this pro- 



