Home Sickness. 21 



whilst large junks are cut off and handed to us. 

 On the whole, our living is rough, but certainly 

 substantial. It is amusing to remark the different 

 degrees of " home sickness " with which my mess- 

 mates are variously affected. Some are in the 

 highest spirits, apparently pleased at the idea of 

 being their own masters and getting away from the 

 thraldom of a jealous and ill-tempered wife ; others 

 are in the lowest depths of despondency, and one 

 confidentially informed me, a few hours after our 

 departure from Dundee, whilst talking of his better 

 half, that the " puir bodie would tak' on so," and 

 that by that time " she would have cried a pint of 

 tears." 



To-day is what is termed " store day," when 

 each of the crew has served out to him his share of 

 provisions, excepting meat, generally to last for 

 two or three months. 



The men are not put into regular messes, as on 

 board of a man-of-war, but each man receives his 

 own allowance, which is kept either in his sea-chest 

 or bunk. 



Cooking is allowed to go on all day and all 

 night, and the galley fire is never let out during 

 the whole cruise. The relief watches are always 

 turned up half an hour before their watch com- 

 mences, which time is supposed to be devoted to 

 the fortifying of the inner man. When a ship 

 arrives on her fishing ground, it is not unusual for 



