They employ themselves in reading, talking,
smoking, and mending their clothes. If the weather is pleasant, they
bring their work and their books upon deck, and sit down upon the
forecastle and windlass. This is the only day on which these
privileges are allowed them. When Monday comes, they put on their
tarry trowsers again, and prepare for six days of labor.
To enhance the value of the Sabbath to the crew, they are allowed on
that day a pudding, or, as it is called, a "duff." This is nothing
more than flour boiled with water, and eaten with molasses. It is very
heavy, dark, and clammy, yet it is looked upon as a luxury, and really
forms an agreeable variety with salt beef and pork. Many a rascally
captain has made friends of his crew by allowing them duff twice a
week on the passage home.
On board some vessels this is made a day of instruction and of
religious exercises; but we had a crew of swearers, from the captain
to the smallest boy; and a day of rest and of something like quiet,
social enjoyment, was all that we could expect.
We continued running large before the north-east trade winds for
several days, until Monday-
September 22d, when, upon coming on deck at seven bells in the
morning, we found the other watch aloft, throwing water upon the
sails; and looking astern, we saw a small clipper-built brig with a
black hull heading directly after us.
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