Chapter 25

QUARTER-DECK FURNITURE

Though, for reasons hinted at above, they would not let me steer, I

contented myself with learning the compass, a graphic facsimile of which

I drew on a blank leaf of the "Wealth of Nations," and studied it every

morning, like the multiplication table.

I liked to peep in at the binnacle, and watch the needle; arid I

wondered how it was that it pointed north, rather than south or west;

for I do not know that any reason can be given why it points in the

precise direction it does. One would think, too, that, as since the

beginning of the world almost, the tide of emigration has been setting

west, the needle would point that way; whereas, it is forever pointing

its fixed fore-finger toward the Pole, where there are few inducements

to attract a sailor, unless it be plenty of ice for mint-juleps.

Our binnacle, by the way, the place that holds a ship's compasses,

deserves a word of mention. It was a little house, about the bigness of

a common bird-cage, with sliding panel doors, and two drawing-rooms

within, and constantly perched upon a stand, right in front of the helm.

It had two chimney stacks to carry off the smoke of the lamp that burned

in it by night.

It was painted green, and on two sides had Venetian blinds; and on one

side two glazed sashes; so that it looked like a cool little summer

retreat, a snug bit of an arbor at the end of a shady garden lane. Had I

been the captain, I would have planted vines in boxes, and placed them

so as to overrun this binnacle; or I would have put canary-birds within;

and so made an aviary of it. It is surprising what a different air may

be imparted to the meanest thing by the dainty hand of taste. Nor must I

omit the helm itself, which was one of a new construction, and a

particular favorite of the captain. It was a complex system of cogs and

wheels and spindles, all of polished brass, and looked something like a

printing-press, or power-loom. The sailors, however, did not like it

much, owing to the casualties that happened to their imprudent fingers,

by catching in among the cogs and other intricate contrivances. Then,

sometimes in a calm, when the sudden swells would lift the ship, the

helm would fetch a lurch, and send the helmsman revolving round like

Ixion, often seriously hurting him; a sort of breaking on the wheel.

The harness-cask, also, a sort of sea side-board, or rather meat-safe,

in which a week's allowance of salt pork and beef is kept, deserves

being chronicled. It formed part of the standing furniture of the

quarter-deck. Of an oval shape, it was banded round with hoops all

silver-gilt, with gilded bands secured with gilded screws, and a gilded

padlock, richly chased. This formed the captain's smoking-seat, where he

would perch himself of an afternoon, a tasseled Chinese cap upon his

head, and a fragrant Havanna between his white and canine-looking teeth.

He took much solid comfort, Captain Riga.

Then the magnificent capstan! The pride and glory of the whole ship's

company, the constant care and dandled darling of the cook, whose duty

it was to keep it polished like a teapot; and it was an object of

distant admiration to the steerage passengers. Like a parlor center-

table, it stood full in the middle of the quarter-deck, radiant with

brazen stars, and variegated with diamond-shaped veneerings of

mahogany and satin wood. This was the captain's lounge, and the chief

mate's secretary, in the bar-holes keeping paper and pencil for

memorandums.

I might proceed and speak of the booby-hatch, used as a sort of settee

by the officers, and the fife-rail round the mainmast, inclosing a

little ark of canvas, painted green, where a small white dog with a blue

ribbon round his neck, belonging to the dock-master's daughter, used to

take his morning walks, and air himself in this small edition of the New

York Bowling-Green.