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arrival at Singapore on this occasion the seamen and firemen were paid off, and sent to London, a Japanese crew being engaged.
The Officers, Engineers, Stewards, Petty Officers, Boatswain, and myself, were retained in the ship.
A few days after the Japanese crew had joined, I was informed by one of the Petty Officers that he had overheard a conversation between the English and Japanese Boatswains and the Chief Officer; the Boatswains endeavouring to persuade the Chief Officer to engage two Japanese carpenters, both of whom it was stated could be had for less wages than I was receiving.
Immediately after this the Chief Officer's manner changed toward me entirely.
The first change noticed was, that I was informed I could have no assistance in the future.
On the first occasion of working cable after this, I appealed to the Chief Officer, in the presence of the Captain for assistance, it being absolutely impossible to carry on this work satisfactorily without, owing to the position of the windlass.
The reply I received from the Chief Officer in the Captain's hearing was that I required ... well nursing, and that I would get no assistance. I then appealed to the Captain who refused to interfere.
Before leaving Singapore to proceed on our voyage, I was ordered by the Chief Officer to clear away the cable fittings from the upper deck hatch of No.3 cable tank to facilitate the work of taking in cargo, in that tank; assistance was again refused me, and whilst endeavouring to carry out the work alone, I had one eye severely cut open through a ... of ... years of age being ...