70 LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY CHAP. IV 



stances, become sources of absolute pain, and almost un- 

 controllable irritation, when you are shut up with them 

 day and night. One good friend and messmate of mine 

 has a peculiar laugh, whose iteration on our last cruise 

 nearly drove me insane. 



There is no being alone in a ship. Sailors are 

 essentially gregarious animals, and don't at all understand 

 the necessity under which many people labour I among 

 the rest of having a little solitary converse with one's 

 self occasionally. 



Then, to a landsman fresh from ordinary society and 

 its peculiarly undemonstrative ways, there is something 

 very wonderful about naval discipline. I do not mean to 

 say that the subordination kept up is more than is 

 necessary, nor perhaps is it in reality greater than is to 

 be found in a college, or a regiment, or a large mercantile 

 house ; but it is made so very obvious. You not only feel 

 the bit, but you see it; and your bridle is hung with 

 bells to tell you of its presence. 



Your captain is a very different person, in relation to 

 his officers, from the colonel of a regiment ; he is a demi- 

 god, a Dalai lama, living in solitary state ; sublime, un- 

 approachable ; and the radiation of his dignity stretches 

 through all the other members of the nautical hierarchy ; 

 hence all sorts of petty intrigues, disputes, grumblings, 

 and jealousies, which, to the irreverent eye of an " idler," 

 give to the whole little society the aspect of nothing so 

 much as the court of Prinz Irenasus in Kater Murr's 

 inestimable autobiography. 



P. 107 sq. : 



After describing the illusory promises of the 

 Admiralty and their grudging spirit towards the 

 scientific members of the expedition, he continues : 



These are the facilities and encouragement to science 

 afforded by the Admiralty ; and it cannot be wondered 



