INTO WHICH A MAN-OF-WAR'S CREW IS DIVIDED.
Having just designated the place where White-Jacket belonged, it must needs be related how White-Jacket came to belong there.
Every one knows that in merchantmen the seamen1 are divided into watches—starboard and larboard—taking their turn at the ship's duty by night. This plan is followed in all men-of-war. But in all men-of war, besides this division, there are others, rendered indispensable from the great number of men, and the necessity of precision and discipline. Not only are particular bands assigned to the three tops, but in getting under weigh, or any other proceeding3 requiring all hands, particular men of these bands are assigned to each yard of the tops. Thus, when the order is given to loose the main-royal, White-Jacket flies to obey it; and no one but him.
And not only are particular bands stationed on the three decks of the ship at such times, but particular men of those bands are also assigned to particular duties. Also, in tacking4 ship, reefing top-sails, or "coming to," every man of a frigate5's five-hundred-strong, knows his own special place, and is infallibly found there. He sees nothing else, attends to nothing else, and will stay there till grim death or an epaulette orders him away. Yet there are times when, through the negligence6 of the officers, some exceptions are found to this rule. A rather serious circumstance growing out of such a case will be related in some future chapter.
Were it not for these regulations a man-of-war's crew would be nothing but a mob, more ungovernable stripping the canvas in a gale7 than Lord George Gordon's tearing down the lofty house of Lord Mansfield.
But this is not all. Besides White-Jacket's office as looser of the main-royal, when all hands were called to make sail; and besides his special offices, in tacking ship, coming to anchor, etc.; he permanently8 belonged to the Starboard Watch, one of the two primary, grand divisions of the ship's company. And in this watch he was a maintop-man; that is, was stationed in the main-top, with a number of other seamen, always in readiness to execute any orders pertaining9 to the main-mast, from above the main-yard. For, including the main-yard, and below it to the deck, the main-mast belongs to another detachment.
Now the fore10, main, and mizen-top-men of each watch—Starboard and Larboard—are at sea respectively subdivided11 into Quarter Watches; which regularly relieve each other in the tops to which they may belong; while, collectively, they relieve the whole Larboard Watch of top-men.
Besides these topmen, who are always made up of active sailors, there are Sheet-Anchor-men—old veterans all—whose place is on the forecastle; the fore-yard, anchors, and all the sails on the bowsprit being under their care.
They are an old weather-beaten set, culled12 from the most experienced seamen on board. These are the fellows that sing you "The Bay of Biscay Oh!" and "Here a sheer hulk lies poor Torn Bowling13!" "Cease, rude Boreas, blustering14 railer!" who, when ashore15, at an eating-house, call for a bowl of tar2 and a biscuit. These are the fellows who spin interminable yarns16 about Decatur, Hull17, and Bainbridge; and carry about their persons bits of "Old Ironsides," as Catholics do the wood of the true cross. These are the fellows that some officers never pretend to damn, however much they may anathematize others. These are the fellows that it does your soul good to look at;—-hearty old members of the Old Guard; grim sea grenadiers, who, in tempest time, have lost many a tarpaulin18 overboard. These are the fellows whose society some of the youngster midshipmen much affect; from whom they learn their best seamanship; and to whom they look up as veterans; if so be, that they have any reverence19 in their souls, which is not the case with all midshipmen.
Then, there is the After-guard, stationed on the Quarterdeck; who, under the Quarter-Masters and Quarter-Gunners, attend to the main-sail and spanker, and help haul the main-brace, and other ropes in the stern of the vessel20.
The duties assigned to the After-Guard's-Men being comparatively light and easy, and but little seamanship being expected from them, they are composed chiefly of landsmen; the least robust21, least hardy22, and least sailor-like of the crew; and being stationed on the Quarter-deck, they are generally selected with some eye to their personal appearance. Hence, they are mostly slender young fellows, of a genteel figure and gentlemanly address; not weighing much on a rope, but weighing considerably23 in the estimation of all foreign ladies who may chance to visit the ship. They lounge away the most part of their time, in reading novels and romances; talking over their lover affairs ashore; and comparing notes concerning the melancholy24 and sentimental25 career which drove them—poor young gentlemen—into the hard-hearted navy. Indeed, many of them show tokens of having moved in very respectable society. They always maintain a tidy exterior26; and express an abhorrence27 of the tar-bucket, into which they are seldom or never called to dip their digits28. And pluming29 themselves upon the cut of their trowsers, and the glossiness30 of their tarpaulins31, from the rest of the ship's company, they acquire the name of "sea-dandies" and "silk-sock-gentry."
Then, there are the Waisters, always stationed on the gun-deck. These haul aft the fore and main-sheets, besides being subject to ignoble32 duties; attending to the drainage and sewerage below hatches. These fellows are all Jimmy Duxes—sorry chaps, who never put foot in ratlin, or venture above the bulwarks33. Inveterate34 "sons of farmers," with the hayseed yet in their hair, they are consigned35 to the congenial superintendence of the chicken-coops, pig-pens, and potato-lockers. These are generally placed amidships, on the gun-deck of a frigate, between the fore and main hatches; and comprise so extensive an area, that it much resembles the market place of a small town. The melodious36 sounds thence issuing, continually draw tears from the eyes of the Waisters; reminding them of their old paternal37 pig-pens and potato-patches. They are the tag-rag and bob-tail of the crew; and he who is good for nothing else is good enough for a Waister.
Three decks down—spar-deck, gun-deck, and berth-deck—and we come to a parcel of Troglodytes38 or "holders," who burrow39, like rabbits in warrens, among the water-tanks, casks, and cables. Like Cornwall miners, wash off the soot40 from their skins, and they are all pale as ghosts. Unless upon rare occasions, they seldom come on deck to sun themselves. They may circumnavigate the world fifty times, and they see about as much of it as Jonah did in the whale's belly41. They are a lazy, lumpish, torpid42 set; and when going ashore after a long cruise, come out into the day like terrapins43 from their caves, or bears in the spring, from tree-trunks. No one ever knows the names of these fellows; after a three years' voyage, they still remain strangers to you. In time of tempests, when all hands are called to save ship, they issue forth44 into the gale, like the mysterious old men of Paris, during the massacre45 of the Three Days of September: every one marvels46 who they are, and whence they come; they disappear as mysteriously; and are seen no more, until another general commotion47.
Such are the principal divisions into which a man-of-war's crew is divided; but the inferior allotments of duties are endless, and would require a German commentator48 to chronicle.
We say nothing here of Boatswain's mates, Gunner's mates, Carpenter's mates, Sail-maker's mates, Armorer's mates, Master-at-Arms, Ship's corporals, Cockswains, Quarter-masters, Quarter-gunners, Captains of the Forecastle, Captains of the Fore-top, Captains of the Main-top, Captains of the Mizen-top, Captains of the After-Guard, Captains of the Main-Hold, Captains of the Fore-Hold, Captains of the Head, Coopers, Painters, Tinkers, Commodore's Steward49, Captain's Steward, Ward-Room Steward, Steerage Steward, Commodore's cook, Captain's cook, Officers' cook, Cooks of the range, Mess-cooks, hammock-boys, messenger boys, cot-boys, loblolly-boys and numberless others, whose functions are fixed50 and peculiar51.
It is from this endless subdivision of duties in a man-of-war, that, upon first entering one, a sailor has need of a good memory, and the more of an arithmetician he is, the better.
White-Jacket, for one, was a long time rapt in calculations, concerning the various "numbers" allotted52 him by the First Luff, otherwise known as the First Lieutenant53. In the first place, White-Jacket was given the number of his mess; then, his ship's number, or the number to which he must answer when the watch-roll is called; then, the number of his hammock; then, the number of the gun to which he was assigned; besides a variety of other numbers; all of which would have taken Jedediah Buxton himself some time to arrange in battalions54, previous to adding up. All these numbers, moreover, must be well remembered, or woe55 betide you.
Consider, now, a sailor altogether unused to the tumult56 of a man-of-war, for the first time stepping on board, and given all these numbers to recollect57. Already, before hearing them, his head is half stunned58 with the unaccustomed sounds ringing in his ears; which ears seem to him like belfries full of tocsins. On the gun-deck, a thousand scythed59 chariots seem passing; he hears the tread of armed marines; the clash of cutlasses and curses. The Boatswain's mates whistle round him, like hawks60 screaming in a gale, and the strange noises under decks are like volcanic61 rumblings in a mountain. He dodges62 sudden sounds, as a raw recruit falling bombs.
Well-nigh useless to him, now, all previous circumnavigations of this terraqueous globe; of no account his arctic, antarctic, or equinoctial experiences; his gales63 off Beachy Head, or his dismastings off Hatteras. He must begin anew; he knows nothing; Greek and Hebrew could not help him, for the language he must learn has neither grammar nor lexicon64.
Mark him, as he advances along the files of old ocean-warriors; mark his debased attitude, his deprecating gestures, his Sawney stare, like a Scotchman in London; his—"cry your merry, noble seignors!" He is wholly nonplussed65, and confounded. And when, to crown all, the First Lieutenant, whose business it is to welcome all new-corners, and assign them their quarters: when this officer—none of the most bland66 or amiable67 either—gives him number after number to recollect—246—139—478—351—the poor fellow feels like decamping.
Study, then, your mathematics, and cultivate all your memories, oh ye! who think of cruising in men-of-war.
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1
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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tacking
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| （帆船）抢风行驶，定位焊[铆]紧钉 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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negligence
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| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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pertaining
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| 与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to) | |
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fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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subdivided
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| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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culled
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| v.挑选，剔除( cull的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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digits
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| n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾 | |
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29
pluming
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| 用羽毛装饰（plume的现在分词形式） | |
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glossiness
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| 有光泽的； 光泽度 | |
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tarpaulins
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| n.防水帆布，防水帆布罩( tarpaulin的名词复数 ) | |
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32
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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consigned
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| v.把…置于（令人不快的境地）( consign的过去式和过去分词 )；把…托付给；把…托人代售；丟弃 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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troglodytes
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| n.类人猿( troglodyte的名词复数 )；隐居者；穴居者；极端保守主义者 | |
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burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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torpid
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| adj.麻痹的，麻木的，迟钝的 | |
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terrapins
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| n.（北美的）淡水龟( terrapin的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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48
commentator
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| n.注释者，解说者；实况广播评论员 | |
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49
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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52
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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scythed
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| v.（长柄）大镰刀( scythe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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62
dodges
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| n.闪躲( dodge的名词复数 )；躲避；伎俩；妙计v.闪躲( dodge的第三人称单数 )；回避 | |
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gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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lexicon
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| n.字典，专门词汇 | |
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nonplussed
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| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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