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got caught in a cyclone, they and their leadsmen had to turn to and get the canvas off her and upper yards down, as the natives become utterly paralysed. I have witnessed the same thing myself, for in the Calcutta cyclone of 1867 native craft by the dozen came to grief across our mooring chains, and the crews were so stupified by sheer 'funk' that they made no attempt to save themselves; we actually had to lower ourselves over the side into their sinking boats, put a bowline round them, and haul them up on to our deck. During the night we thus saved some twenty of them. Scandinavians and Germans, classed by Jack under the generic term 'Dutchman,' also fail in such cases …… Poor Paddy makes a good sailor if well led; he wants leading, in the same way that British officers are a necessity to our native regiments in India. If you are in a really tight place at sea, an Irishman will follow you anywhere. Mind! It is of sailors I speak, not firemen. Those awful firemen! Lord, send us a new motive power, or liquid fuel, for 'tis the fireman who makes things so unpleasant in the sea life of to-day."

In the chapter on the "Hub of the Universe," Alan Oscar continues:

"I heard of a sailing ship where a second mate was wanted, and interviewed the ship's-husband, Arbecam. He cocked his eye at me and examined my papers. ' Wal, you might do,' he said at last, 'But you're British, ain't you?' 'Yes,' 'Wal, you see we don't work our ships as you do; we want discipline, and get it. I guess you are rather light of weight to boss one of our crews; we calc'late to handle every man in the forecastle before we get so far as Boston Light.'

"The prospect of 'handling' a Yankee crew did not appeal to me, but I would have tried my hand had there been nothing else for it. However, Arbecam sent to say he was suited and didn't want me; I have no doubt he got a rougher specimen—a 'bucko' who would have 'blood for supper.'

"It is certainly true that far better discipline is kept on board American and Nova Scotian sailing ships than in ours. There, a man has to know his work and do it or he had better be in Hades, though a good man is well treated and fed. At sea you never meet them with their sails set anyhow, but every sheet is 'home,' every sail set flat. In an easy going Britisher the sails often look as if they were merely hung out to dry, whilst the men shamble along when an order is given as if they thought there was no need to hurry. In the Yankee if they didn't jump at the word of command they would probably find a belaying pin hurtling about their ears. I consider, and always have done so, that Nova Scotian and Yankee masters and mates are the finest seamen afloat; yes, better, as a class, than ourselves."

The laws of discipline, as they obtain in the present day merchant service, are peculiar and difficult to define. The cult of the boot and belaying pin is not of the kind to be advocated for adoption by those on whom the incidence of maintaining