Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/46

20 He had been kind in speech on shore, but he was nothing but a growl to those about him and me in particular.

When the time came for observation the next day, the Capt sent for me and directed me to take our observation. This I readily did and at once made the calculations and gave him the latitude, at which he was very much displeased, for I readily saw he was apparently ignorant or made the calculations with difficulty, if he knew how; instead of getting credit for my expertness, I was told to keep "my gab." This was a dreadful discomfiture as I prided myself at that early day on my acquirement. Besides, there were passengers present, among whom was Mr & Mrs De Rham of New York who were very intimate with my family.

The Sea was a great novelty to me and the working of the Ship, for I had from my reading become acquainted with many of the maneuvers and took great delight in watching how things were done practically. I do not believe I could have fallen into the worst hands I did. A more ignorant brutal set of fellows could scarcely have been collected together. Altho' I was not sea sick, I had suffered greatly from erratic pation [passion] of the bowels and was quite unable to move about, no one to whom I could apply but the little Malay steward who administered to me & gave me relief. He was an active & excellent steward & seemed adapted to his situation and from him I received what provisions I needed when he was eating his meals. The fare of the forecastle was not to my liking and I seldom partook of any left in the mess kits, from which the sailors had picked all that was edible. I can remember the loathing I had of seeing these lowest type of sailors at their meals & having to wait upon them, always with a growl or curse upon their lips. In truth, I was heartily sick and disgusted and could I have set my foot on shore, I never would have again consented to be again afloat.

The Capt had left New York without his charts & he was bound for the English Channel. Suddenly one day about midpassage, he called me & told me he had left his charts behind & [wanted] to know if I could make one of the English Channel. I answered that I could if I had any paper and a place to draw on. At this he appeared greatly surprised & said he would try me, evidently doubting my word. The next day I was called into the cabin and sheets of letter paper handed me, bidding me to go to work. So at it I went with a will and made great progress. In fact, I had almost completed it, when I overheard a conversation between Mr De Rham & the Captain relative to his leaving his Charts behind and the idea of his trusting me to construct one. The Capt was obstinate & I thought rude, and, when he left, I took occasion to speak to Mr De Rham & show him that there was no difficulty in my doing it and that if the Capt could not use it, I could. He had great doubts about it and his wife, Miss Moore that was, still greater—"the idea," boy that I was and on my first voyage, to make a chart to sail the vessel by. The Capt, however, was well satisfied when my task was completed & spoke more highly of the performance than was due. He had, however, begun to have some idea of my capacity as I was frequently called upon to take Lunar