CHAPTER VII [Part]
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CHAPTER VII.
Soldiers.. Last Night in Auckland.. Passengers.. Crew.. Visitors.. Leaving Auckland.. William Hyde.. Mrs. Applethwaite.. Gastronomic Incidents.. Description of the Passengers.. Change of Weather.. Succession of Storms.. Sea Sickness.. Soldier's Provisions.. Robert Martin.. His Death and Burial.. J. B. Smith.. Robinson.. Night and Morning.. Sufferings of the Stock.. Intense Cold.. Terrific Storm.. Dark Nights.. Cooking the Ducks.. Rudder Chains fast daring a Gale.. Awful Thunder Storm.. Auction.. Provisions.. Cabin Scene -- Preserved Meats--Sunrises and Sunsets--Trinidada--Flying Fish--The Sultana Schooner --Privations of the Soldiers--Marlow.. Robinson--The Azores --Terceira--Calling there--Bill of Health--Provisions--State of the Crew from Drinking--The Mate--His Conduct--Leaving Angra.. Gulf Stream.. Fair Winds.. In the Channel.. At. Anchor in the Downs.. Parting Scenes.. Gale.. Sailing up the Thames .. London Dock.. Berkhampstead. Journey to Liverpool.. Home.
ON the morning of the 15th of April the soldiers were brought on board; eleven belonged to the 65th regiment; three to the artillery; one to the royal sappers and miners; a sergeant named Griffiths and his wife, and others, to the 58th regiment. Some of the poor fellows were sadly emaciated by rheumatism, heart disease, ophthalmia, and dysentery. Mr. Wade, the ship's surgeon on her outward voyage, was engaged to be their medical attendant. He was a native of Leeds, and although young, was accounted very skilful; he had been on board some time waiting to receive them.
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At night, the principal part of the crew went on shore for the last time, and I went with them. The night was dreary, wet, and exceeding dark. The streets were ankle deep in mud; and the Maories were wandering about chanting their monotonous night songs. Groups of them were gazing into the shop windows, their appearance forming a strange contrast to the shop window admirers at home. Our party dispersed over the place to take leave of their friends. We were all to meet again on the Wynyard pier. The ship's cook and I visited several places, the last was a barber's shop in Story-street, where we parted with our superfluous locks, to be in trim for the voyage. It was midnight when we arrived at the pier, and none of our party was there. After waiting some time, we went to the Caledonian pier, and were fortunate enough in persuading a Maorie to convey us on board in a punt. He much doubted our paying him, and frequently entertained us by repeating the word "gammon," till we got to the ship. On reaching it, we each gave him a shilling, and he seemed perfectly satisfied. The night continued dark and wet, as if foreboding nights to come. We had only been on board a few minutes when the remainder of the party arrived with a good stock of spirits both in themselves and in bottles. A pint of rum (bottle included) cost 2s. 6d., and many measures of that "precious" stuff was consumed during the...
