Kathay: A Cruise in the China Seas Part 16

In relation to the Hottentots enrolled in the Western provinces, it is stated that when they went into the field under Colonel Mackinnon, and were attacked near the Amatola, they were saved from destruction by the interposition of the seventy-third regiment.

A gentleman, who is called a "native foreigner," thus expresses himself: "I know the Hottentot character well, as well as any man in the colony.

I am a colonist born, and I believe from my soul, that it will be the most _dangerous_ experiment ever made to allow these men to vote under a franchise amounting to universal suffrage."

The Secretary of Government stated: "We had nearly a rebellion here (at Cape Town), amongst the same cla.s.s of colored people as those at the East, and although the panic had partially subsided, the hostile disposition of that cla.s.s against the whites had a.s.suredly not." So much for the fidelity of, and the confidence reposed in, the colored cla.s.ses of the Cape Colony.

The population of the Cape is heterogeneous; composed of Dutch, English, French, Germans, Malays, Hottentots, emanc.i.p.ated Slaves, Betjouanas, Fingoes, and others coming under the name of native foreigners; which, I take it, means the same as the West India word "_creole_"--one born of European parents in a colony. The Dutch, as being the earliest settlers, are most numerous, of those laying claims to white blood; but all the power is in the hands of the English, of course, who are too quick-witted for the phlegmatic "Boer," the term they apply to the Hollander. After the French and Germans, a small proportion, and the few Malays now left, comes the Hottentot--the Aborigine. With them are enumerated the other colored races, as having the mark of degradation stamped by the Almighty upon the first-born of mankind. The "emanc.i.p.ated slaves," having, with a few exceptions, originally sprung from that race, have been but little raised in the scale of humanity, during their term of servitude to the Dutch.

Wished much to have visited the celebrated Observatory, but understood its interior had been destroyed by fire, a few weeks before. There are many constellations seen at the Cape not visible elsewhere.

Was disappointed also in examining the Library; I wanted to overhaul the celebrated Cape Records, said to be interesting.

CHAPTER XXIX.

A Death on board--Our Freight--Extracts from Diary--St.

Helena and Napoleon--The Trades--Poetical idea of a starry Telegraph--Good Sailing.

One of the invalids, whom we were bringing home from the squadron, died and was buried at Cape Town. Poor fellow, he was never destined to see his native land again. His disease, consumption, with the usual tendency of that complaint, made rapid advances as we drew near land. He had resigned himself to die, and his repeated wish was that we might reach the Cape before he should breathe his last; that he might feel a.s.sured of resting in consecrated ground. He was of the Catholic faith, and had his wish, for a priest of his religion attended his remains to their last resting-place, where the seagull swoops, on the sh.o.r.es of the "stormy Cape."

On leaving the Cape, our ship presented the appearance of a vessel engaged by naturalists to bring home specimens; and the botanical department was represented by boxes containing specimens of sugar-cane placed in the quarter, stern boats, and on the p.o.o.p. Monkeys, belonging to the men, made a menagerie on the booms. Others of the genus _simia_ were stationed in the tops; an aviary composed of c.o.c.katoos, Cape parrots, Java sparrows, minas, &c., was dispersed through different messes; whilst indigenous animals, such as rats, mice, c.o.c.kroaches and ants, had their appropriate haunts.

_Fifth of May._--"Rolling down to St. Helena," as the sailors' song has it. Have pa.s.sed the lat.i.tude of _Angra Pequena_, on the African coast, where Martin Diaz the Portuguese navigator erected a cross, and gave it the additional t.i.tle of Santa Cruz. This emblem is said to have been lately overthrown by an English merchant captain. I can imagine the Goth, bloated with beer, and vomiting forth strange oaths!

_May the 10th._--Still heading for St. Helena, which calculate on making within three days. Have caught the "trades," but indeed have had winds answering their purpose ever since we left the Cape, having had them generally aft.

On the 13th of May at 10 h. 30 m. made the loom of the Island of St.

Helena, bearing N. N. E. per compa.s.s, pa.s.sed it about thirty miles to windward, just twelve days and a half from the Cape, within the average pa.s.sage.

Helena, lone hermit of the ocean, saddened by the memory of Napoleon, its involuntary hermit. But the dead lion no longer reposes there; his remains have been transferred to one of his own splendid monuments in unfaithful but now penitent Paris; and the spirit of prophecy must have prompted the pen of Byron to write, long before the event took place--

"France shall yet demand his bones!"

_May 19th._--In lat.i.tude 8 50' south, 19 33' west longitude, approaching the line; have had fine trades; now getting light; weather warm, and fine; for the last few days summer clothing in demand.

_Sunday, 23d of May._--Trade wind still holds on; three sail in sight; one pa.s.sed across our bows bound to the southward and westward, and showed Dutch colors.

_Thursday, 27th May, 1852._--Crossed the line last night in about longitude 34 west; are now in the northern Atlantic, and fairly in our own hemisphere; have hit the same day of the month to cross it, in returning; going out the 26th of February, 1850, and coming back the 26th of May, 1852. What has pa.s.sed in the interval! Is it not faithfully recorded on these pages?

Are now looking out for the N. E. trades, and have symptoms of soon getting them. With luck shall make our port within a month from present date.

_Tuesday, June 1st._--Within this month expected to be detached; for the last few days have encountered calms and squalls, line weather, and have not made much progress; got no observation yesterday; last night at half past eleven the master took a lunar, which put us in 3 17' north lat.i.tude. Whilst writing have struck a fine breeze, which we hope will soon carry us out of the _doldrums_.

_Third of June._--Lat.i.tude 7 1' north; have caught the trades at last; after coquetting for several days, these winds, so constant when caught, have consented to fill our sails, and we are now careering along, knocking off hourly nine knots of the distance which divides us from our homes. It is pleasant sailing, too, in these trades, and when you once strike them, you feel secure of their continuance up to a certain parallel. All you have to do is to set your sails, studding-sails, royals, moonsails and sky-sc.r.a.pers, if you carry them; keep them full, and let your vessel go dancing along, day after day, without handling a brace. Seamanship may take a spell below, for your ship will almost _sail herself_!

Saw the northern or polar star last night for the first time, a few degrees above the horizon, peeping at us with its twinkling eye, as much as to say, welcome home! Hailed it as a link connecting us with our native land. How many eyes of persons dear to us, look upon that star, when they think of us. Its appearance suggests the following idea:

If to yon glittering, gleaming star, Our thoughts might wing their rapid flight, To meet in that bright orb, afar; Thoughts that are sent towards us to-night: How happy thitherward to speed, Soul meeting soul, above the wave; From earth, and earth's dark pa.s.sions freed, And--oh! what _postage_ it would _save_!

_Sat.u.r.day, June 5th, 1852._--Lat.i.tude 20 43' N., longitude 47 40' W.

Yesterday knocked off two hundred and forty miles, averaging ten miles per hour; best run yet; only about 2200 miles distant to-day; made two hundred and twenty-four miles the last twenty-four hours.

_Sixth of June._--Twelve o'clock just reported, and lat.i.tude 15 14', and have run two hundred and twenty-two miles since meridian yesterday; making six hundred and eighty-six miles in three days, an average of two hundred and twenty-eight and two third miles per diem. Have pa.s.sed the Windward Islands; are getting anxious now, and even if we do make good runs, yet this practice of killing time by half hours (the bell is struck every half hour), is becoming tedious, as we draw near home.

CHAPTER x.x.x.

Cla.s.sic Ground--Hispaniola--Romance of the Western Waters --Extracts from Diary--On a Wind--Newsboats wanted--The Bermudas--Target practice.

We are now upon what might be called with poetical license, "cla.s.sic ground." Over these seas the small caravels of Columbus sought the land, which had appeared to him in dreams, which we can now hardly look upon as less than inspired. To-day, the eighth of June, we are in the lat.i.tude of the south side of Cuba, along the sh.o.r.es of which he coasted, mistaking them for c.i.p.ango, beyond which he was to reach the magnificent country of Kathay, as described in the glowing pages of Marco Polo, and Mandeville.

We have pa.s.sed the parallel of the Isle of St. Domingo, his beloved and heart-breaking Hispaniola. How blackened now its history, and how inapposite its name! Obliquely we run past the Lucayan Isles, looking out almost as anxiously as he did for the "promised land." But how opposite our situations! We, with all the certain aids of science and experience, steer for a well-known country; whilst he, thinking to make the far distant land from which we now return, his own mind his chart, his inspiration his guide, pointed his prow to uncertain ports in unknown seas.

Talk of the Mediterranean, its Islands and its romance, why there is more of the wonderful and romantic connected with the first voyages to the western Archipelago, and the continent of America, than is comprised in the history of the travel-stained Levant.

Would you have the story of the Argonauts, enlarged and improved, follow the track of any of those Portuguese, Spanish, or even English adventurers in search of gold, to these lands, and amongst these keys, and see how the expedition for the "golden fleece" dwindles into insignificance. But what does my poor pen with what our own wizard of the west, Washington Irving, has made immortal? Turn to the pages of his Columbus, but not before you have laid aside these.

_Tuesday, June 8th._--Each day decreases our distance, and we were, at meridian, but 1600 miles from our port. The 20th is put down as the time of our arrival now. Have been busy in preparing things for debarkation.

A barque came near running into us the night before last. To-day saw two sail, a bark and brig. Sea-weed is floating by; like ourselves, returning to the Gulf from strange seas.

_Thursday, June 10th._--Lat. 24 21' north. Made 218 miles the last twenty-four hours: about 180 the day previous, which leaves only 1200 miles to run, and going nine knots. Trade still strong.

_Friday, June 11th._--Pa.s.sed an English barque bound to the eastward.

She showed her longitude on a black board. Did not hail. Showed our longitude, still keeping on. She was a degree out of her reckoning.

At meridian had made 225 miles, and were in lat. 26 47'; long. 63 15'

west. Ten days more ought to bring us in easily.

_Sunday, June 13th._--Lost the trades yesterday, in lat. 28 44', long.

65 42'; and from nine and ten knots, have come down to three and four.

Made only 176 miles yesterday. To-day nearly calm; made but 80 miles since meridian yesterday. Most beautiful weather; could not be more pleasant, only have no wind. Are now in the "horse lat.i.tudes," but cannot complain; the trade has pushed us along bravely, and served us well. Only 720 miles from our port at meridian.

_June 14th._--On coming on deck this morning, found the wind had come out nearly dead ahead, and the ship barely heading her course under a topsail breeze, with her yards braced sharp.

It is a pretty sight, or rather Would be a pleasant thing, as the Epicurean Lucretius expresses it, "to stand upon the sh.o.r.e, and to see ships tossed at sea." At least I imagined so this morning, with our craft "upon a wind," whilst standing in the weather gangway, and watching her plunge and curvet, held up to her course by the helm, as a steed by a curb, obeying its rider; but I did not think the motion as agreeable as that derived from equestrian exercise. Motion quite disagreeable; and I made strange work at dotting i's and crossing t's.

Hyphens also will connect words more closely than intended,--confounding too all compound terms. Showed our colors to a brig standing to the southward and eastward. Impossible to speak a vessel just now; but if we could only have gotten near one yesterday, might have communicated by boat, obtained newspapers, and learned the nominations, and general state of the country. By this time, two poor men, pitted against each other for the Presidency, have doubtless been made out more miserable characters than their most intimate acquaintance ever supposed them to be. And if either were elected, with the charges brought against him fully proved, it would be a disgrace to the Republic!

Twelve o'clock, and lat.i.tude just reported 30 24'--the parallel of New-Orleans; longitude 68 01'. Are getting past the Bermudas,--as usual, the "still vexed Bermoothes," though what continues to keep Bermoothes out of temper I cannot imagine.

_Tuesday, June 15th._--Longitude, by chronometer, 70 47' west; lat.i.tude observed, 32 12' north: are barely making a northwest course, with a westerly variation. Have the wind steady at northeast by east. This makes it quite cold, and flannels and thick coats are comfortable.

_June 16th._--In turning out this morning at four bells, found it quite calm; and on looking at the log slate, found that the wind had gone down within the past hour. Took advantage of the calm to practice at a target. Fired both batteries,--very good shooting; but the target escaped until the last shot, which knocked off the bull's eye, and dismounted the gun.