l the
passengers who commence to crowd the upper deck; the stokers drop down a
dozen hose-pipes on the deck and run them out straight, and screw them
to nozzles leading down to the engine room. The engineers pop the pumps
on and up comes the water; every hose is now stiffened and the branches
are all directed over the ship's side, where they make a grand display.
All those of the ship's company who take no watches, as cooks, stewards,
bandsmen, etc., have each a pail full of water in hand, others a
blanket over their arm, all in exact line, and ready to help if
required; and after a few minutes' display of the hose-pipes, the
boatswain's whistle ends this drill for this voyage, and the hose-pipes
are disconnected, rolled up, and hung up, to be ready at any moment if
required. There are plenty of amusements on board, such as single-stick,
glove-boxing, wrestling, etc. But the game of the "Man in the Chair," is
one of the most laughable. A piece of board, 12 inches by 18 inches, in
which a strong rope is inserted in a hole in each corner and knotted on
the underside, the four ropes are carried upwards and made fast to the
forestay, and the "chair" has to be 6 feet from the deck. There are
perhaps thirty stokers in this game, and each one has twisted his black
silk neckerchief into rope shape, and a volunteer sits on the chair,
holding on to one of the chair-ropes with one hand and in the other his
silken rope. During these preliminary tactics the passengers are
crowding round to see what may happen. At last the man on the chair
gives the word "Ready Boys," and then commences a real slogging match,
hitting the chairman on legs, arms, face, neck, anywhere they can hit
him, and every hit being a matter of chance the passengers roar when the
man in the chair delivers a stinger to his tormentors; his blows come
with double force, as he is high above them, and swinging round and
round, and to and fro, they come unexpectedly and cause roars of
laughter; while this is going on a little tub, called a spitkin, is
surreptitiously pushed in view, and a few silver coins dropped into it
by one of our men, which causes the audience to dip their hands in their
pockets and a few pounds in silver are quickly thrown in; and after half
an hour's play this game comes to an end. One more specimen of the many
games that delight the passengers: about twenty men stand close together
and in line, their faces to the ship's head, the front man has a b