Four light hands, of about the
same size and age, of whom I was one, formed the crew. Each had his
oar and seat numbered, and we were obliged to be in our places, have
our oars scraped white, our tholepins in, and the fenders over the
side. The bow-man had charge of the boat-hook and painter, and the
coxswain of the rudder, yoke, and stern-sheets. Our duty was to
carry the captain and agent about, and passengers off and on; which
last was no trifling duty, as the people on shore have no boats, and
every purchaser, from the boy who buys his pair of shoes, to the
trader who buys his casks and bales, were to be taken off and on, in
our boat. Some days, when people were coming and going fast, we were
in the boat, pulling off and on, all day long, with hardly time for
our meals; making, as we lay nearly three miles from shore, from forty
to fifty miles rowing in a day. Still, we thought it the best berth in
the ship; for when the gig was employed, we had nothing to do with the
cargo, except small bundles which the passengers carried with them,
and no hides to carry, besides the opportunity of seeing everybody,
making acquaintances, hearing the news, etc.
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