Grave, melancholy-looking men, who
talked much and ominously of the prevailing disorder, and the
impossibility of strangers escaping from its fearful ravages.
This was not very consoling, and served to depress the cheerful
tone of mind which, after all, is one of the best antidotes
against this awful scourge. The cabin seemed to lighten, and
the air to circulate more freely, after the departure of these
professional ravens. The captain, as if by instinct, took an
additional glass of grog, to shake off the sepulchral gloom
their presence had inspired.
The visit of the doctors was followed by that of two of the
officials of the Customs - vulgar, illiterate men, who, seating
themselves at the cabin table, with a familiar nod to the captain,
and a blank stare at us, commenced the following dialogue: -
Custom-house officer (after making inquiries as to the general
cargo of the vessel): "Any good brandy on board, captain?"
Captain (gruffly): "Yes."
Officer: "Best remedy for the cholera known. The only one the
doctors can depend upon."
Captain (taking the hint): "Gentlemen, I'll send you up a dozen
bottles this afternoon."
Officer: "Oh, thank you. We are sure to get it genuine from you.
Any Edinburgh ale in your freight?"
Captain (with a slight shrug): "A few hundreds in cases. I'll send
you a dozen with the brandy."
Both: "Capital!"
First officer: "Any short, large-bowled, Scotch pipes, with metallic
lids?"
Captain (quite impatiently): "Yes, yes; I'll send you some to smoke,
with the brandy. What else?"
Officer: "We will now proceed to business."
My readers would have laughed, as I did, could they have seen how
doggedly the old man shook his fist after these worthies as they
left the vessel. "Scoundrels!" he muttered to himself; and then
turning to me, "They rob us in this barefaced manner, and we dare
not resist or complain, for fear of the trouble they can put us to.
If I had those villains at sea, I'd give them a taste of brandy and
ale that they would not relish."
The day wore away, and the lengthened shadows of the mountains fell
upon the waters, when the Horsley Hill, a large three-masted vessel
from Waterford, that we had left at the quarantine station, cast
anchor a little above us. She was quickly boarded by the
health-officers, and ordered round to take up her station below the
castle. To accomplish this object she had to heave her anchor; when
lo! a great pine-tree, which had been sunk in the river, became
entangled in the chains. Uproarious was the mirth to which the
incident gave rise among the crowds that thronged the decks of
the many vessels then at anchor in the river.
