The bedding from the berths was then spread on deck, and dried,
and aired; the deck-tub filled with water; and a grand washing begun
of all the clothes which were brought up. Shirts, frocks, drawers,
trowsers, jackets, stockings, of every shape and color, wet and
dirty- many of them mouldy from having been lying a long time wet in a
foul corner- these were all washed and scrubbed out, and finally
towed overboard for half an hour; and then made fast in the rigging to
dry. Wet boots and shoes were spread out to dry in sunny places on
deck; and the whole ship looked like a back yard on a washing day.
After we had done with our clothes, we began upon our own persons. A
little fresh water, which we had saved from our allowance, was put
in buckets, and with soap and towels, we had what sailors call a
fresh-water wash. The same bucket, to be sure, had to go through
several hands, and was spoken for by one after another, but as we
rinsed off in salt water, pure from the ocean, and the fresh was
used only to start the accumulated grime and blackness of five
weeks, it was held of little consequence. We soaped down and
scrubbed one another with towels and pieces of canvas, stripping to
it; and then, getting into the head, threw buckets of water upon
each other.
Pages:
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597