Nat the Navigator. A Life of Nathaniel Bowditch. For Young Persons

by Henry I. Bowditch

For some weeks afterwards, the ship met with severe weather, until September 7, when, according to previous expectation, they saw the land of the Island of Java. The day before their arrival at that place, a curious phenomenon was observed, the account of which I will copy from the Journal. “At seven P. M., the water, as for the two nights past, became of a perfect milk color, through the whole extent of the horizon. We drew a bucket of it in order to determine whether there was anything in it to account for the curious phenomenon. When seen by candlelight, nothing could be observed; but, when carried into a dark place, it appeared full of small, bright, cylindric substances, of the nature of a jelly, about the size of a small wire, and a quarter of an inch long. Some large jellies floated on the water at the same time, and looked like long pieces of wood. The sky all this time was perfectly clear; not a cloud to be seen. About three A. M. the water began to take its usual color. Next morning we examined the water which had appeared so shining in the night; but nothing could be discovered in it, although it was viewed in a very dark place. In the forenoon the sea appeared somewhat colored, of a greenish hue; but some of it, being taken up and carried from the light, appeared colorless.”

ISLAND OF JAVA.

ARRIVAL AT MANILLA.

The next morning the high lands of the Island of Java came in sight on the horizon, at the distance of about twenty miles towards the east. The Journal kept during his passage through the Straits of Sunda is interesting, because the greatest care was necessary to keep the ship off from the shoals which abound there. The current runs at times very swiftly, the strait being between the large islands of Sumatra and Java, and on the 9th, the force of this current, and strong headwinds, compelled the captain to cast anchor two or three times. Finally, on the 17th, the ship was fairly out of the Straits of Sunda and Straits of Banca, having been ten days, during sultry weather, toiling, with much danger, amid coral reefs and shoals. The remainder of the voyage along by the coast of Borneo to the city of Manilla, the capital of the chief of the Philippine Islands, was more speedy. At six in the morning of Sunday, October 2, 1796, the Island of Luzon was in sight towards the east, about eighteen miles off. That same evening they cast anchor in Manilla Bay, it being a little more than six months since the sailor had left his home in Salem.

COSTUMES OF THE PEOPLE.

The following are some extracts from his Journal while in the city. Under date of October 4, he says, “No coffee can be procured here; the Spaniards, not being very fond of it, cultivate the cocoa instead. The common drink of the natives is sweetmeats and water, which beverage, they say, is wholesome and agreeable. Large quantities of wax are produced here; but it is very dear, owing to the great consumption of it in the churches, of which there are a great number in Manilla and its environs. There are a few bishops in the island, and one archbishop, whose power is very great. The priests are very powerful, every native wearing the image of the Virgin Mary, a cross, or some such thing. No books are allowed to be imported contrary to their religion. The commandant who makes the visit examines every vessel.... The inhabitants of the city and suburbs are very numerous, amounting to nearly three hundred thousand. In the Philippines there are about two or three millions. A great number are Chinese; and in general they are a well-made people. Their common dress is a shirt, and trousers, or jackets and trousers. The women have great numbers of handkerchiefs about them, so as to be entirely covered. The natives are well used by the Spaniards, the King of Spain, in all his public papers, calling them his children.” From these extracts you may judge of Mr. Bowditch’s mode of studying a people when residing with strangers. He afterwards speaks of their games, &c.

SINGULAR BOAT.

The following description of a boat appears on record of October 5: “At twelve, set sail for Cavite in one of the passage-boats, which is very inconvenient for passengers; being nearly three hours before arriving at Cavite, during which time I was basking in the sun. Their boats and manner of sailing are very curious. Having generally light winds, they make their mat sails very large, and the boats, made of the bodies of trees, are very long and narrow; so that there would be great danger of upsetting, if it were not for “out-riggers,” which they have on each side, consisting of two bamboos about eight or ten feet long, whose ends are joined to another long bamboo, running lengthwise of the boat. The lee one, on a flaw of wind, sinks a little in the water, and, being buoyant, keeps the boats from upsetting; and on the weather [that is, towards the wind] ones the persons in the boat are continually going out and in, according to the force of the breeze. In a fresh breeze there will be six or eight men at the end of the bamboo, there being ropes leading from the top of the mast to different parts of the bamboo, to support them as they go. By this means they keep the boat always upright, and make it sail very fast, in a good breeze going five or six knots.” After this, a good account is given of the mode of counting used by the Malays.

EARTHQUAKE.

“November 5. About two P. M. there came on, without any preceding noise, a very violent shock of an earthquake. It commenced towards the north, and ran very nearly in a southerly direction. It continued nearly two minutes; everything appeared in motion. When it happened, the captain and myself were sitting reading, and we immediately ran out of the house. All the natives were down on their knees, in the middle of the streets, praying and crossing themselves. It was the most violent earthquake known for a number of years. It threw down a large house about half a league from the city, untiled one of their churches, and did considerable damage to the houses about the city and its suburbs. Nothing of it was felt on board the shipping.”