SEA-SICKNESS. 21 



Motherbank, and convoy them to their destination, which 

 was principally Calcutta. 



Being thought too young to join either the starboard 

 or larboard mess in the cockpit, I, with two other young- 

 sters, as we were termed, were committed to the care of 

 the gunner — a hard-featured, weather-beaten Scotchman, 

 though rough, yet kind in his manner. 



No sooner was the anchor weighed and the ship under 

 easy sail, than I was seized with a nausea that soon 

 extinguished all feelings of regret at leaving my home — 

 indeed, almost all remembrance of that home and its 

 inmates. I suffered from that dreadful sea-sickness 

 three days, refusing all sustenance, till, on my partial 

 recovery, the gunner gave me a cup of strong tea with- 

 out either sugar or milk. I drank it, but I cannot recall 

 what effect it had toAvards my restoration ; nevertheless 

 so did I loathe his remedy, that I have never since 

 touched, nor could I ever be persuaded again to taste, 

 that highly-prized beverage, though more than half a 

 century has elapsed — such is the force of early impression, 

 combined perhaps with prejudice. 



Had I any particular emotion either of diffidence, or 

 gratification, or pride, on my first coming on deck and 

 viewing the wide exjDanse of waters, covered as it was by 

 innumerable vessels spreading their white canvas to the 

 wind, they were soon dissipated by the strict order that 

 Avas kept on one side of the quarter-deck, and by the 

 jocose observations, some of kindness, some of scorn, made 

 by persons on the other. To avoid their not very 

 pleasing jests I ascended the poop ladder ; and the captain, 

 seeino; me, o-ave the first-lieutenant instructions that mv 



