Chapter 2

Summary

First Voyage — in the Brigantine Victory, Martin Ernst Master - from Halifax to Berbice and Demerara, British Guiana, and back to Halifax, July 4, 1836 to October 2, 1836. [Salter essentially is sailing as a supercargo.]

1836

4th July

Weighed anchor at 20 to 3 o'clock, wind S.W. At 3 o'clock wind hauled to the westward affording us a fair option of running out. Cleared the land this night after taking a parting glass of Keith. 1 suppose I felt as others do who leave their home for the first time - it cannot be described well I believe.

7th [July] XXX

I need scarcely say what these crosses are for. I was not able to write or make anything else - being sea sick — which sweet feeling was not a little added to by my accommodations. I had a state room, it is true, all to myself except a few trifling things, which for fear I should forget - having a shocking memory — I shall proceed to name as near as possible. (The state room was 5 ft. 7 in. long by 2 ft. 8 in. broad and made athwart ships, consequently every tack I have to turn tails, or end for end, to keep my head up.) First, two hams and dry beef dangled at my head — then followed a box of codfish, sweated, 1 ditto smoked salmon, Rum keg, molasses ditto, mate's chest and my own, side ladder and ropes - reef points and gaskets and old canvas and rope, Cremona [Salter's violin], gun, hat box, clothes bag, cloak etc., etc., graced the apartment. A barrel containing ale, in bottles, half barrel flour, a cheese, a keg crackers, oil jars etc., etc.

The bulkhead not being over tight, I had the benefit of all that emanates from bilge water, which to a novice in sea voyaging is…everything that's bad. Besides this, the bunk leaked at the companion and when it happened that my head was that way, the only plan was to double up and let it pass.

8th July

A Brigantine took the resolution to pass us — which she did — bound to Antigua.