THE SEA:

Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism.

BY

F. WHYMPER,

AUTHOR OF "TRAVELS IN ALASKA," ETC.

ILLUSTRATED.

*

CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED:

LONDON, PARIS & NEW YORK.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER 1.

MEN-OF-WAR.

PAGE

Our Wooden Walls-The Victory-Siege of Toulon-Battle of St. Vincent-Nelson's Bridge-Trafalgar's Glorious Day-

The Day for such Battles gone-Iron v. Wood-Lessons of the Crimean War-Moral Effect of the Presence of our

Fleets-Bombardment of Sebastopol-Red-hot Shot and Gibraltar--The Ironclad Movement-The Warrior-Expe-

riences with Ironclads-The Merrimac in Hampton Roads-A Speedily-decided Action-The Cumberland sunk

and Congress burned-The First Monitor-Engagement with the Merrimac-Notes on Recent Actions-The Shah

and Huascar-Bombardment of Alexandria .

CHAPTER II.

MEN OF PEACE.

Naval Life in Peace Times-A Grand Exploring Voyage-The Cruise of the Challenger-Its Work-Deep-sea Soundings

-Five Miles down-Apparatus employed-Ocean Treasures-A Gigantic Sea-monster-Tristan d'Acunha-A

Discovery Interesting to the Discovered-The Two Crusoes-The Inaccessible Island-Solitary Life-The Sea-

cart Swimming Pigs -Rescued at Last-The Real Crusoe Island to Let -Down South-The Land of Desolation-

Kerguelen The Sealers' Dreary Life-In the Antarctic-Among the Icebergs

CHAPTER III.

THE MEN OF THE SEA.

28

The Great Lexicographer on Sailors-The Dangers of the Sea-How Boys become Sailors-Young Amyas Leigh-The

Genuine Jack Tar-Training-Ships versus the old Guard-Ships-"Sea-goers and Waisters "-The Training Under-

gone-Routine on Board-Never-ending Work-Ship like a Lady's Watch-Watches and "Bells "-Old Grogram

and Grog-The Sailor's Sheet Anchor-Shadows in the Seaman's Life-The Naval Cat-Testimony and Opinion

of a Medical Officer-An Example-Boy Flogging in the Navy--Shakespeare and Herbert on Sailors and the

Sea
. 42

CHAPTER IV.

PERILS OF THE SAILOR'S LIFE.

The Loss of the Captain-Six Hundred Souls swept into Eternity without a Warning-The Mansion and the Cottage

alike Sufferers-Causes of the Disaster-Horrors of the Scene-Noble Captain Burgoyne-Narratives of

Survivors-An almost Incredible Feat-Loss of the Royal George-A Great Disaster caused by a Trifle-Nine

Hundred Lost-A Child saved by a Sheep-The Portholes Upright-An Involuntary Bath of Tar-Rafts of

Corpses-The Vessel Blown up in 1829-40-The Loss of the Vanguard-Half a Million sunk in Fifty Minutes -

Admirable Discipline on Board- All Saved-The Court Martial
54

CHAPTER V.

PERILS OF THE SAILOR'S LIFE (continued).

The Value of Discipline The Loss of the Kent-Fire on Board-The Ship Waterlogged-Death in Two Forms-A Sail

in Sight-Transference of Six Hundred Passengers to a Small Brig-Splendid Discipline of the Soldiers-Imper-

turbable Coolness of the Captain-Loss of the Birkenhead-Literally broken in Two-Noble Conduct of the

Military-A Contrary Example-Wreck of the Medusa-Run on a Sand-bank-Panic on Board-Raft constructed-

Insubordination and Selfishness-One Hundred and Fifty Souls abandoned-Drunkenness and Mutiny on the

PAGE

Raft-Riots and Murders-Reduced to Thirty Persons-The Stronger Part massacre the Others-Fifteen Left-

Rescued at Last-Another Contrast-Wreck of the Alceste-Admirable Conduct of the Crew-The Ironclad

Movement The Battle of the Guns.

67

CHAPTER VI.

ROUND THE WORLD ON A MAN-OF-WAR.

The Mediterranean--White, Blue, Green, and Purple Waters-Gibraltar-Its History-Its First Inhabitants the Monkeys

-The Moors-The Great Siege preceded by Thirteen Others-The Voyage of Sigurd to the Holy Land-The Third

Siege-Starvation-The Fourth Siege-Red-hot Balls used before ordinary Cannon-balls-The Great Plague-

Gibraltar finally in Christian Hands-A Naval Action between the Dutch and Spaniards-How England won

the Rock-An Unrewarded Hero-Spain's Attempts to regain it-The Great Siege-The Rock itself and its

Surroundings-The Straits-Ceuta, Gibraltar's Rival-The Saltness of the Mediterranean-“Going aloft "-On to

Malta.

87

CHAPTER VII.

ROUND THE WORLD ON A MAN-OF-WAR (continued).

MALTA AND THE SUEZ CANAL.

Calypso's Isle-A Convict Paradise-Malta, the "Flower of the World"-The Knights of St. John-Rise of the

Order The Crescent and the Cross-The Siege of Rhodes-L'Isle Adam in London-The Great Siege of Malta-

Horrible Episodes-Malta in French and English Hands-St. Paul's Cave-The Catacombs-Modern Inci-

dents-The Shipwreck of St. Paul-Gales in the Mediterranean-Experiences of Nelson and Collingwood-

Squalls in the Bay of San Francisco-A Man Overboard-Special Winds of the Mediterranean-The Suez Canal

and M. de Lesseps-His Diplomatic Career-Saïd Pacha as a Boy--As a Viceroy-The Plan settled-Financial

Troubles-Construction of the Canal-The Inauguration Fête-Suez-Passage of the Children of Israel through

the Red Sea

· 93

CHAPTER VIII.

ROUND THE WORLD ON A MAN-OF-WAR (continued).

THE INDIA AND CHINA STATIONS.

The Red Sea and its Name-Its Ports-On to the India Station-Bombay : Island, City, Presidency-Calcutta--Ceylon,

a Paradise-The China Station-Hong Kong Macao-Canton-Capture of Commissioner Yeh-The Sea of Soup-

Shanghai-" Jack" Ashore there-Luxuries in Market-Drawbacks: Earthquakes and Sand Showers-Chinese

Explanations of Earthquakes-The Roving Life of the Sailor-Compensating Advantages-Japan and its People-

The Englishmen of the Pacific-Yokohama- Peculiarities of the Japanese-Off to the North

CHAPTER IX.

ROUND THE WORLD ON A MAN-OF-WAR (continued).

NORTHWARD AND SOUTHWARD THE AUSTRALIAN STATION.

The Port of Peter and Paul-Wonderful Colouring of Kamchatka Hills-Grand Volcanoes-The Fight at Petropaulovski

-A Contrast--An International Pic-nic-A Double Wedding-Bering's Voyages-Kamchatka worthy of Further

Exploration-Plover Bay-Tchuktchi Natives-Whaling-A Terrible Gale-A Novel "Smoke-stack"-Southward

again The Liverpool of the East-Singapore, a Paradise-New Harbour-Wharves and Shipping Cruelties

of the Coolie Trade-Junks and Prahus-The Kling-gharry Drivers-The Durian and its Devotees-Australia--

Its Discovery-Botany Bay and the Convicts-The First Gold-Port Jackson-Beauty of Sydney-Port Philip

and Melbourne

117

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CHAPTER X.

ROUND THE WORLD ON A MAN-OF-WAR (continued).

THE PACIFIC STATION.

Across the Pacific-Approach to the Golden Gate-The Bay of San Francisco-The City-First Dinner Ashore-Cheap

Luxury-San Francisco by Night-The Land of Gold, Grain, and Grapes-Incidents of the Early Days-Expensive

Papers-A Lucky Sailor-Chances for English Girls-The Baby at the Play-A capital Port for Seamen-Hospitality

of Californians-Victoria, Vancouver Island-The Naval Station at Esquimalt-A Delightful Place-Advice to

Intending Emigrants-British Columbian. Indians--Their Fine Canoes-Experiences of the Writer-The Island on