was not served out to us, but was kept in a great scuttle-butt by
the cabin door, to which every one who needed a drink had to go,
and from which none might be carried away. No water was allowed
for washing except from the sea; and every one knows, or should
know, that neither flesh nor clothes can be cleansed with that.
But a cask with a perforated top was lashed by the bowsprit and
kept filled with urine, which I was solemnly assured by Goliath
was the finest dirt-extractor in the world for clothes. The
officers did not avail themselves of its virtues though, but were
content with lye, which was furnished in plenty by the ashes from
the galley fire, where nothing but wood was used as fuel. Of
course when rain fell we might have a good wash, if it was night
and no other work was toward; but we were not allowed to store
any for washing purposes. Another curious but absolutely
necessary custom prevailed in consequence of the short commons
under which we lived. When the portion of meat was brought down
in its wooden kid, or tub, at dinner-time, it was duly divided as
fairly as possible into as many parts as there were mouths. Then
one man turned his back on the carver, who holding up each
portion, called out, "Who's this for?" Whatever name was
mentioned by the arbitrator, that man owning it received the
piece, and had perforce to be satisfied therewith. Thus justice
was done to all in the only way possible, and without any
friction whatever.

As some of us were without clothes except what we stood upright
in, when we joined, the "slop chest" was opened, and every
applicant received from the steward what Captain Slocum thought
fit to let him have, being debited with the cost against such
wages as he might afterwards earn. The clothes were certainly of