August 9. Captain J. has just discovered that a cask and a half, or one hundred and fifty pounds of raisins have been abstracted from the store-room. He has made rigid inquiries, but has not elicited any evidence against the purloiners; nor is there any probability that he will. The excuse for this theft seems to have been, that a cask of raisins had been previously opened for the use of the occupants of the ladies' cabin, and it was thought that justice required a more equal distribution of them among the whole ship's company.
There has been gross negligence in the care of the ship's stores, and great waste and loss of many articles of provisions, which should have been used. A few days since an examination was ordered, and three casks of decayed potatoes, that had been shipped at Frankfort, were discovered and thrown overboard. Many messes, which have been cooked up for the passengers in the course of the voyage, and which they could not eat, however hungry they may have been, have been disposed of in the same manner. How many pans of the richest sort of scouse the birds and the fishes are indebted to the bark James W. Paige for, it is impossible to tell. Much of the oil has been carelessly wasted, and many a long evening has been passed in the dark for want of it.
[CHAPTER XI.]
An Arbitrary Prohibition—Card Playing and Checker Playing—Dancing—Treachery of Mr. Johnson—Some Passengers—A Comical Character, and a Pugnacious Character—A Beautiful Bird—Closing the Hatches—A Question of Jurisdiction—The Hatches Re-opened—A Sudden Transformation—Neglected Duties of the Chaplain—His Influence with the Captain.
I have spoken of the amusement the passengers have had in making wooden trinkets from the wood taken on board at Talcahuana. The captain and first mate have been made the recipients of many of these toys; but to-day they have issued an order prohibiting any further manufacture of them. The passengers all remonstrated against the arbitrary order, but were obliged to submit; for the captain has control of the wood.
One of the principal sources of amusement during the voyage has been card playing. It has helped many, who had no other occupation or source of amusement, to pass their time pleasantly; and to others it has proved an agreeable relaxation. Much mischief has doubtless been prevented by it, and many a quarrel avoided. I have not heard of an unpleasant dispute or altercation from card playing since we set sail, though there are seldom less than six or eight companies engaged in it during the pleasant weather. Several packs of cards were included in my outfit, but though I have not, in a single instance, had occasion to use them myself, they have nevertheless, done good service. Captain J. has often threatened to break up this wicked amusement, but I think he has not dared to attempt it. Though very strong in his denunciations of card playing, there are other games which meet his approbation. He has himself made a checker-board, and spends many a leisure moment in playing checkers with Mrs. L—t.