to rise in it to the level of the sea on the outside of the
vessel. In this the keel, which is of wood, 41 inches
thick, works up and down by means of a small wind
lass, and a strong chain which is attached to it. Thus
it is evident, that either the foremost or the aftermost
8 THE NEMESIS .
keel can be raised or lowered, independently of the other,
if circumstances require it.
As it would, however, be impossible to steer with
accuracy a vessel of this construction with a rudder
merely of the ordinary description, and which, from its
shallowness, would in a heavy sea be, in a great mea
sure, out of water, there is a contrivance by which a
moveable or false rudder is attached to the lower part
of the true or fixed rudder, and which descends to the
same depth as the two false keels, and, like them, can
be raised or lowered at pleasure .
The main or true rudder was composed of wood ,
but the lower or false rudder was made of iron, and
was so constructed as to grasp the lower part of the
upper or fixed one firmly on either side, but was bolted
through in such a way as to be moveable, as if it were
fastened by a hinge, so that, by means of a chain run
up to the taffrail from its outer edge, it could be hauled
up to any height required .
The next striking peculiarity in the construction of
the vessel was, that the entire vessel was divided into
seven water-tight compartments, by means of iron bulk
heads ; so that, in fact, it somewhat resembled a number
of iron tanks, cased over, so as to assume the external
form of one connected vessel. By this means, the occur
rence of any accident, such as striking on a rock, or
shot-holes, &c., which might occasion a dangerous leak
in one compartment, would have no effect upon any
other part of the vessel .
The advantages of this arrangement were often tested
during her three years' hard service ; and, indeed, within
THE NEMESIS . 9
a few days after her first departure from Liverpool, as
will be presently related, this contrivance sufficed to
save her from the almost certain destruction which would
otherwise have awaited her.
The last peculiarity which I think it necessary here
to mention, was the provision of some kind of instru
ment for counteracting the effect of the local attraction
of so large a mass of iron upon the compasses, and for
correcting the errors occasioned thereby. This difficulty
had been seriously felt by Colonel Chesney, on board X
the small iron steamers which he had under his orders,
during his expedition to the Euphrates ; although he
was of opinion that the placing of the compasses at a
certain height above the vessel, so as to be further re
moved from the sphere of the local attraction of the
iron , was sufficient to reduce their errors materially.
.
Without entering into the merits of Barlow's coun
teracting plates, or Professor Airey's interesting disco
veries, it will be sufficient here to mention, that the
Nemesis was fitted with correctors, very much accord
ing to the system of Professor Airey, but not under
his own superintendence ; that the experiments were
conducted at Liverpool under every disadvantage, and
that the result was never perfectly satisfactory. In
deed, the accident which shortly befel her has been
attributed, upon good grounds, principally to the imper
fection of her compasses . It is right, however, to
mention, that other vessels, such as the Phlegethon
and Pluto, which have been fitted with Airey's cor
rectors, tested according to the most approved princi
ples, and after experiments conducted with great atten
1
10 EXPERIMENTS ON THE COMPASS .
tion, have been totally relieved from this source of danger
and anxiety, and have been navigated with perfect accu
racy and confidence.
The first accurate experiments on the compass in iron
ships were made by Commander Johnson, on the Garry
Owen iron steam-ship ; but their object was rather the 1
+
discovery of some part of the ship in which compasses
could be used without requiring correction , than any
attempt to ascertain an efficient mode of obtaining that
correction. 1
For the investigation of the latter branch of the sub !
ject, the world is principally indebted to Mr. Barlow 1
and Mr. Airey ; and those who are desirous of studying
the subject more deeply are referred to the valuable
papers by those gentlemen, published in the Philoso
phical Transactions for 1839 .
We may now come to the interesting moment of the
departure of the Nemesis from Liverpool, where she was
built. Every thing seemed at first to prosper ; the wea
ther was favourable, and the machinery perfect in all
its parts. She had cleared the narrowest part of the
Irish Channel, had passed the coast of Wales, and
crossed the entrance to the Bristol Channel ; and the
course she had been steering would have taken her well
clear of the Land's End.
It was now the second day since her departure ; the
weather was hazy, and no observations had been taken ,
nor indeed were necessary . As night set in , a careful
1
look-out was kept, and the commander himself was
continually on the alert. About two o'clock in the
morning, the weather being still hazy and the night
STRIKING ON A ROCK . 11
dark, and aa leadsman having been already placed in the
chains, appearances began to indicate that land must
be near .
Her course was immediately altered, and all sail
taken in ; but scarcely was this manæuvre completed ,
when she struck heavily on a rock, so much so as to
cause a shock to be felt in every part of the vessel.
Of course the engines were instantly stopped , but the
way she already had on her appeared sufficient to carry
her over the reef ; and indeed the actual rocks them
selves could be seen outside of her, so that she had
evidently passed between them and the land, and had
merely struck the edge of the reef.
Finding that the vessel did not hang upon the reef,
and was therefore still afloat, her head was turned to
seaward, and the engines kept working slowly, while
the dawn was anxiously expected. It was now disco
vered that the rocks upon which she had struck were
aptly enough called “ The Stones, ” lying at the entrance
to the bay of St. Ives, in Cornwall, and not very far
distant from the Land's End . It was soon evident also,
that the accident had occasioned a very serious leak, in
one of the foremost compartments of the vessel. It was
with difficulty that the water could be kept lower in it
than the level of the sea outside, with the hand-pump ;
and , in fact, if the vessel had not been divided into these
water -tight compartments, it is difficult to imagine that
the accident would not have been fatal to her.
However, she was carried without much difficulty
round the Land's End, into Mount's Bay, where she
anchored about three miles from Penzance, off St.
12 EFFECT OF THE ACCIDENT.
Michael's Mount. The object here was to procure an
additional pump, in the hope of being able by that
means to empty the tank or compartment, so as to be
able to stop the leak from the inside. On shore, how
ever, no such pump was to be procured ; but, at length,
one perfectly adapted for the purpose was obtained from
a small coasting-vessel which was at anchor in the bay.
It was an iron one, and has been preserved on board
ever since, and on many occasions has been found of
the greatest utility. Indeed , no vessel of this descrip
tion should go to sea without being provided with an
extra pump of this kind, to be worked by hand, and
at all times ready to be placed into any compartment,
as an additional means of pumping it out , and also as
a security against fire, for the purpose of pumping water
into the vessel, in case of necessity.
With the assistance of this additional pump, the water
in the compartment was completely emptied, and then
it was discovered that a hole had been cut completely
through her bottom by the rock, but could now be
easily stopped from the inside.
This being speedily effected , the vessel pursued her
voyage without the least difficulty, and came to anchor
on the following evening in Yarmouth Roads, on the
coast of the Isle of Wight. Before going into Ports
mouth to repair her damages, she went on to South
ampton , to land one or two persons who had accompa
nied her round from Liverpool, to try her qualities.
It should here be mentioned, that every compartment
of the vessel was provided with a small pipe and cock,
by means of which the water could be let out of one
PRECAUTIONS . 13
compartment into another, and so passed on, from one
to the other, into the engine-room, where it could be
pumped out by the machinery. But as this appeared a
rather clumsy mode of doing it, namely, by floating
nearly half the ship unnecessarily, it was not resorted
to. But, in vessels more recently constructed, a great
improvement has been introduced in this respect. From
each of the compartments a pipe leads directly into the
engine-room itself, without communicating with any
other part ; so that, by means of a cock, the water can
at once be pumped out by the engine, or else can be
confined to the compartment itself, and pumped out
by hand, when it is not desirable to let it flow into
the engine-room. This is evidently a great point gained,
and gives an immense advantage to iron vessels over
wooden ones, particularly steamers .
The necessary repairs were very easily effected, by
merely cutting out the injured plates, and riveting new
ones in their places ; and the whole quantity of material
required did not exceed three hundred weight of iron.
It is impossible to draw a comparison with the probable
expense of repairing a wooden vessel after a similar
accident, as it would be difficult to calculate the extent
of injury she might have received .
As little time as possible was lost in completing her
repairs, and in rendering her in all respects fit to un
dertake the long and unknown voyage she was about
to perform At length she was cleared out for the
Russian port of Odessa, but those who gave themselves
time to reflect hardly believed it possible that such could
be her destination .
14 LEAVE-TAKING .
She was armed with two 32 -pounder guns, mounted
on swivel carriages, for the purpose of throwing either
shot or shell, one being placed forward and the other
aft, as in all armed steamers. She subsequently, also,
carried five long brass 6 -pounders, two on each side,
and one upon the bridge ; and had also ten small iron
swivels along the top of her bulwarks, besides boat
guns and small arms. A list of all the officers who
served on board her at different periods, during her long
service, will be found in the Appendix.
All ulterior arrangements being at length completed
at Portsmouth, the usual visits paid , and the thousand
little details which precede a departure from England
for distant service having been at last satisfactorily
settled, the word was given to get under weigh, and
those who had so strenuously lent their efforts towards
the completion of the Nemesis took their final leave of
her, with unlimited confidence in the capabilities of the
vessel, and earnest and hearty wishes that her career
might be successful and honourable to all concerned.
Three years have now elapsed, and it is but justice at
>
once to declare that every anticipation which could
have been formed by the most sanguine of those con
nected with her, has been more than realized in her
adventurous career .
Unusual interest was excited by the expected depar
1
Among those who so readily contributed their time and talents to
forward the object in view, no one stood more conspicuous than the
Secretary to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors, Mr. Pea
Х cock. Likewise to Mr. Blake and others, who so readily lent their services
during the detention of the vessel at Portsmouth, the best thanks of all
are due.
MYSTERY. 15
ture of this strange vessel upon a voyage of which both
the purpose and the destination were alike unknown.
Even the Admiral himself was ignorant of the service
which she was called upon to perform ; and it is there
fore scarcely a matter of wonder that the visitors should
have been numerous, and anxious at the last moment.
Suffice it here to record , that the fair and young, the
grave and gay, the civilian and the seaman, had all
come to take a parting look at this favoured, but as yet
mysterious vessel .
At length, on the 28th of March, 1840, the last boat
had left the ship, and she was fairly gone, and the
cheers of parting friends still lingered in the ears of all
on board. Away she stood towards St. Helen's, and,
boldly as she pursued her course, she found herself
alone, and soon was lost to sight.
The haze that gathered round her as the night set
in accorded well with the mystery which had clung
about her, not only during the progress of her con
struction, but even when riding gaily among the floating
batteries of Portsmouth Harbour.
It is not necessary here to discuss the reasons which
may have suggested the expediency of the secrecy which
was observed respecting her. Doubtless there were good
grounds for what in England , in these “ piping times
of peace,” when war itself actually assumes her name,
must have otherwise appeared unaccountable. At last,
however, she really had sailed , and for once the world
were no wiser about her. The Needle Rocks, the high
cliffs at the back of the Isle of Wight, the shores of
England herself, had gradually sunk below the horizon ,
16 ARRIVAL AT MADEIRA .
and the excitement attending departure had at length
settled down into the cold reality of aa first night at sea.
On the third day, the 30th of March, at daylight,
the last glimpse was taken of the land of our birth . The
Lizard disappeared, and nothing was around but the
wide expanse of the blue ocean . On the gallant vessel
went gaily through the Bay of Biscay, at an average
rate of seven to eight knots under steam , moving grace
fully to the heavy swell which at all times prevails there.
On the 2d of April, five days after leaving England,
she was well in sight of Cape Finisterre, the dread of
seamen, on the rock-bound coast of Portugal, and en
countered a moderate gale of wind (one of those trifles
which landsmen are apt to call a terrible storm ) directly
against her. But our bark behaved nobly ; she floated ,
X as sailors say, like a duck, and made head against the
gale without difficulty.
On the 6th of April, the lovely island of Madeira came
full in sight, the ninth day since she had left Portsmouth,
and only the seventh from the Land's End. What a rapid
change from the chilly winter of the north, which had been
so lately left behind, just verging into dubious spring!
How the spirit wakes with new life, as it once more
breathes the reviving warmth of the genial South ! And
X
if, to the strong and hardy, long used to brave the
storm and bid defiance to the wintry blast, it brings
this soft refreshing sense of buoyancy and strength,
how must it revive the hopes, and feed the failing ener
gies, of the weak and timid invalid , who is so often
doomed, as it might seem , to follow this self-same
track ! And what a blessing is it to him, that what has
HARBOUR OF FUNCHAL . 17
so often been dreaded , as the hazardous voyage of weeks,
may now be completed by steam in a few days !
At daylight, the little island of Porto Santo having
been passed, the full prospect of the larger island of
Madeira lay exposed , and between its north -eastern
corner, and the little islands called the Desertas, the
vessel hastened on towards the delightful harbour of
Funchal. Passing close in shore, several little towns
were distinctly traced upon the coast, lying close down
upon the very bosom of the waters.
Though sailors are seldom poets, there is something
in the aspect of this lovely island which speaks poetry
to the least poetical ; and where nature looks so elo
quent, and the fresh green of the loaded vineyard con
trasts so beautifully with the wilder rocks above it,
while the sun of its scarce- failing summer sheds its glow
upon the varied woods around, even the iron Nemesis
and her iron-hearted crew were cheered and gladdened ,
as she glided close along the shore.
After passing the point called Brazen Head, the view
of Funchal, the capital of the island, burst suddenly
into sight. Its fortifications, its churches, and its nume
rous convents, form a pleasing contrast with each other.
There is something new and un-English about them , and
the fine country -houses in the rear, with the rich gar
dens around, clothed in all the luxury of southern
climes, make the sudden change seem more like a
dream than the realization of one.
The Nemesis was not long in coming to anchor within
the bay, on the western side of the town, and between
it and the remarkable rock called the Loo Rock . A
VOL . I. с
18 HARBOUR OF FUNCHAL.
moment's busy stir soon takes place, upon the arrival of
any steamer in a quiet spot like Funchal, where little
passes to vary the monotony of its every -day life. Al
though the Nemesis was not a man - of-war, she had all
the appearance of one, and as such was regarded with
à degree of attention and civility from the port and
quarantine boats, not usually accorded to ordinary ships
which touch there .
But time was precious, and the great object of her
visit was to be accomplished as soon as possible — namely,
in the stoker's language, “ coaling” —an operation any
thing but pleasant. But they who would enjoy the
steamer's “ stately march upon the waters ” must be
content to purchase it at the price of this necessary evil.
There is something very pleasant in revisiting a place
you have long been absent from , and were once happy
in, particularly a foreign port, after a cruise at sea.
Indeed, it is scarcely possible for those thoroughly to
enjoy the pleasures of the shore, who have not made a
voyage upon the great waters. Whatever the land may
be on which we first set foot after such a voyage, it
always presents something new and agreeable. In short,
we tread the Earth again .
FUNCHAL, 19
CHAPTER II.
Funchal Excursion into the interior of Madeira -- Voyage continued
-Princes' Island - Kroomen - Port St. Antonio - Fuel to be obtained
there and at Fernando Po — The “ Mystery" — Island of St. Thomas's
-St. Anne de Chaves the principal town - Productions— Kroomen
Their character -Resemble Abyssinians- Are never slaves — Gover
nor's house - Interview with his Excellency — Black Aide -de -camp
-
Request not to fire a salute- - “ Badly off for powder ”-Secret trading
place for slaves— Major Sabine's observations - Cross the Line - Ex
periments with one engine and one boiler - Rudder carried away -
New contrivance — Compelled to stand out to sea under sail — Adap
tation of a lee-board — Voyage continued - Arrival at the Cape of Good
Hope.
There is something very peculiar in the appearance
of Funchal on your first landing. The surf breaking
upon the beach, as the heavy waves roll in, warns you
that it is not one of the safest harbours in the world .
The boats are backed in stern-foremost, and, before
you can step fairly out of them , they must be hauled
some way up the beach, when a good spring, with the
help of the high sternpost of the native boats, which
seems made for the purpose, sets you fairly on the
beach .
It commonly occurs that the first objects which meet
your eyes, and the first impressions they make on land
ing at a foreign port, are the most characteristic of the
C 2
20 FUNCHAL .
country. This is the case at Madeira ; all is bustle and
noise at the landing-place ; muleteers and cattle-drivers
throng the shore ; huge casks of wine are being rolled
out of the sledges on which they are brought down from
the mountains ; the noise and confusion of embarking
and disembarking the various cargoes of the boats amidst
the surf ; and, above all, the peculiar costume and cast
of countenance of the people — all these at once mark
the place as Funchal , and none other.
Many old faces were now remembered, and even the
muleteers, the guides, and the boatmen employed on
former visits, recognised their old masters again ; and,
to ascend from low to high, the governor was most con
descending, and even honoured the ship with a personal
visit, while the fair ladies were most gracious, and old
friends most hospitable .
A delightful excursion was made to an estate belong
ing to one of the old Portuguese nobles, beautifully
situated upon an elevated plain , about seven miles from
Funchal. The difference of temperature between the
higher and lower parts of the island cannot be less
than 12 to 15 degrees, so that great variety of climate
is to be found here, according to the elevation of the
spot ; a circumstance remarkably favourable for invalids.
The road towards this fine estate is very characteristic
of the island, exbibiting vineyards and gardens, villages
and hamlets, ravines and mountains, each in its turn .
Other excursions brought to view richly cultivated
valleys, well watered with the winding streams from
the mountains above, while the ascent to them , along
the narrow paths and craggy steeps, might puzzle almost
DEPARTURE . 21
any but the native mule to carry his burden safely.
Indeed, so delightful is the appearance of the country,
so varied are the little excursions that can be made,
and, withal, so delicious the climate, that it is probable
the island will become more frequented than ever, now
that the facilities of steam -navigation are becoming more
extensive.
But we have a very long way to travel yet in our
friendly Nemesis, and must basten onward. Accord
ingly, on the evening of the 8th April, we again accom
>
pany the Nemesis, steaming out of the Bay of Funchal,
after being detained there only three days. It has been
already stated that the vessel was not under the articles
of war ; this was well known to all the crew, although
the majority of her officers belonged to Her Majesty's
navy. Even in this early part of her career, the diffi
culty had been seriously felt ; and none but those who
have been placed in similar circumstances, as command
ing officers, can form any notion of the great forbearance,
tact, and judgment which are daily required on their
part, in the management of their men . Although not a
merchant ship, the Nemesis had to contend with the
same wilful neglect of orders, and the same dogged and
vexatious conduct on the part of some few of lier crew,
which is the bane of our merchant service . It therefore
says much for the judgment and good management of
her officers that they were enabled to keep her at all
times, even throughout the war in China, efficiently
manned ; that she was always ready to go into action,
and always came out of it with credit and success .
On the 11th , she passed quietly through the Canary
22 THE COAST OF AFRICA .
Islands, between Palma and Teneriffe, the high peak of
the latter, however, not being visible, owing to the hazy
weather. The Nemesis was now entirely under canvass ,
and the steam was not got up for twelve or thirteen
days after her departure from Madeira . The north-east
trade-wind soon carried her smoothly along, as she passed
about midway between the Cape de Verd Islands and
the coast of Africa, and it was only in a calm, not far
from Sierra Leone, that she had occasion to use her
engines. She was found to sail remarkably well without
steam, although so flat-bottomed .
A breeze again springing up soon after, as she passed
about two hundred miles from Cape Palmas, on the
deadly coast of Africa, on the 26th, she again trusted
entirely to her sails. On approaching nearer to the
land, she encountered very heavy and sudden squalls or
tornadoes, which she bore remarkably well, shewing
excellent qualities as a seaboat, though, as might be
expected from her build , making rather more lee-way
under canvass than could be wished.
Thus she proceeded quietly along the coast, until she
reached the neighbourhood of Cape Formoso, towards
which she was set by strong and unusual southerly
winds and a lee -current. It was therefore necessary
oncemore to get up her steam, which carried her against
a head-wind and pitching sea, in very little more than
three days, to Princes' Island, situated near the coast of
Africa. This is a settlement belonging to the Portu
guese, and the principal place of resort for our cruisers
in that quarter, not very far from Fernando Po. She
cast anchor in West Bay, Princes' Island, on the even
PRINCES' ISLAND . 23
ing of the 14th May, forty -four days from England,
principally under sail. Here she remained , undergoing
a necessary refit, cutting wood for fuel, and preparing
for sea, until the evening of the 23rd .
It is the practice here for every English man -of-war,
of those stationed on the coast , which resort to the
island, to leave a Krooman 1 in her pay, for the purpose
of cutting wood for the ship, in readiness for her return .
As there are generally several vessels on the coast, so are
there also several Kroomen belonging to them, who join
together, and go out to cut wood, lending each other
mutual assistance. The wood is then brought down to
the coast, and stacked in piles, one for each ship, the
name of the particular ship being written on it.
As the Nemesis was furnished with a letter from the
Admiralty, requiring all Her Majesty's ships to give her
every assistance in their power, she was not long in taking
on board the whole stock of wood already laid up for
the little squadron. Captain Tucker, then commanding
the Wolverine, was most active in lending his aid, and
even gave up the supply of wood he already had on
board . In this way about seventy tons of good hard
wood were at last taken on board the Nemesis, and,
as plenty of coal still remained, there could be little
doubt that, with this reinforcement, she would be able
to reach the Cape of Good Hope without difficulty.
Water is easily procured in the immediate neighbour
hood of the landing -place, of excellent quality ; and thus
two very important items for the recruiting of a ship
1 A native African from the so - called Kroo country.
24 PORT ST . ANTONIO .
are to be found in abundance in Princes’ Island . Pigs,
poultry, and goats are to be had in any quantity, as
well as yams, Indian corn, coffee, bananas, pineapples,
and limes. Above all, the anchorage at Princes’ Island
is good in all seasons, and of easy access, either by day
or night. It is consequently a very valuable place of
call for vessels going by the eastern passage to the Cape,
which in some seasons is to be preferred to the western
route, particularly for steamers.
On the side of the island opposite to West Bay, or
the north -east, is the town and harbour of Port St. An
tonio, where the governor of the island resides. It is
tolerably secure, but confined, and by no means equal to
West Bay for shipping. There is a respectable Portu
guese merchant there, who is in the habit of supplying
the ships at West Bay with various stores that they may
require ; and, with the view of furnishing all the infor
mation which could be procured, in case any other
steamer should touch there, application was made to
Mr. Carnaero, the reply to which was, that he would
supply any quantity, at the rate of one Spanish dollar
for every hundred logs ;? but if they were required to
be cut into smaller pieces it would cost more, as negroes
would have to be hired for the purpose, at the rate of
one dollar a day for every three men . Further, as re
garded the time necessary, he thought it would require
from thirty to forty days to provide five thousand logs.
Coals were to be had at West Bay, of course imported
from England, but only at the enormous rate of about
1
About one thousand logs make up twenty -two tons and a half of fire
wood.
STATIONS FOR WOODING . 25
£6 sterling per ton . The wood which the Nemesis ob
tained was extremely good, but, as it was only just cut,
it was necessary to burn a small quantity of coal with it.
It was found to answer best, and to give most heat, when
split into pieces about four or five inches thick, and three
feet long ; and in this way half a ton of wood an hour
(a very little coal being used) was sufficient to keep up
the full pressure of the steam with six fires.
From Captain Hall's former experience on this coast,
he was of opinion that no good wood fit for steamers was
to be procured in any quantity, at any of the slave ports
on the coast to the southward of the Line, either at
Loango Bay or Kabenda, or other places, although the
Portuguese at Princes' Island stated the contrary. On
falling in, a day or two after leaving that island, with
H. M. brig Waterwitch, he was completely borne out in
this opinion by her commander, Lieutenant Matson, who
stated that, at the places named, the wood was not suffi
>
ciently hard and solid for steamers , and was, moreover,
excessively dear, which is also sufficient to point out that
it is not to be had in large quantities. He further agreed
that Fernando Po and Princes’ Island are the only places
on the coast where sufficient good hard wood is to be
procured.
The latter island is being greatly benefitted already
by the demand for its wood . Land is, in consequence,
being cleared and planted, and the coffee grown there is
of good quality, and cheap. In fact, from its position
and capabilities, it is likely to become a place of greater
resort, as steam communication, viâ the Cape of Good
Hope, gradually becomes more extended .
26 KROOMEN .
It must be mentioned here, that ships sailing much
along the coast are pretty sure to get their bottoms
covered with large barnacles ; and the Nemesis, so far
from being exempt from this annoyance, being entirely
of iron, was, perhaps, more troubled with them than a
coppered ship would have been. The quantity, in fact,
was enormous, and they adhered so firmly , that it was
with some difficulty they were taken off, commonly bring
ing away the paint with them . Kroomen belonging to
the men -of-war were employed to dive under the ship’s
bottom for the purpose, and a very curious and amusing
scene it was. It is quite astonishing how long these
hardy men can remain at work under water, and no
light work either. Great, muscular, black, curly -headed
fellows, bobbing down under water, some with broom
sticks, some with scrapers, and others with bits of iron
bar ; anything, in short, with which they could attack
the tenacious visiters which clung so lovingly to the iron
Nemesis. The Kroomen are an active, laborious, and
faithful race , as all will testify who have occasion to
employ them on the coast. They are received as seamen
in ur men - of-war upon the station , and, on her return
to Calcutta, after long and arduous service, the Nemesis
had still two of them remaining on board, out of three
who accompanied her from the coast, the other poor
fellow having died in the service. They were, of course,
sent back to their own country, at the expense of go
vernment, according to their original agreement.
At length, on the 22nd of May, all arrangements
being completed, the steam was once more got up, boats
hoisted in, anchor weighed, and the word “full speed
THE MYSTERY. 27
being passed below, away went the still mysterious Ne
mesis, as the sun had just dipped below the horizon ;
a hearty cheer was given from H. M. S. Wolverine and
Viper as she passed, which was heartily responded to
by all on board the Nemesis. The unknown service
upon which she was employed , and the uncertain con
jectures made concerning her, which none but her com
mander was able, and he unwilling, to clear up, added
at all times to the interest she created . In fact, she
at last got to be christened “ the Mystery,” and there
inquiry ceased. The efforts made to penetrate the veil
were curious enough. When she was about to leave
Madeira, people were placed on several high points of
land, in order to watch which way she went ; and it
afforded some amusement to the officers on board , to
devise means to puzzle them more than ever. On one
occasion, it was gravely announced, by way of a hoax,
that she was “ going to look for a passage between the
Niger and the Nile, and help to civilize the Africans.”
While we have thus been retracing our steps a little,
we have left our recruited steamer standing away from
Princes’ Island, on the evening of the 23rd of May.
Her course would necessarily lead her towards the
island of St. Thomas's, another Portuguese settlement,
lying as nearly as possible under the Line, and, there
fore, scarcely a day's voyage from Princes' Island. She
accordingly approached it on the following afternoon,
and did not lose the opportunity of entering the Bay of
Chaves, where lies the principal town called St. Anne
de Chaves.
Some parts of this small island are very pretty and
28 KROOMEN OF ST . ANNE .
picturesque ; others are wild and thickly wooded . It
produces large quantities of fruit and vegetables, but is
principally valuable on account of the excellence of its
coffee, which, however, is not cultivated in very large
quantity . St. Anne, the principal town, lies at the
bottom of aa lovely bay. The greater part of the inhabi
tants of St. Anne are Kroomen or negroes, but of a
much superior class to those we generally understand
by the term negro. They are tall, athletic men , very
industrious, ( in this respect different from most other
Africans) intelligent, and, when well treated , faithful
and honest. All the Kroomen are strongly attached to
the English , and willingly serve on board our ships,
making very good seamen . The three men who volun
teered to serve on board the Nemesis proved themselves
useful and trustworthy, courageous, and attached to their
officers. They have great faith in an Englishman's
word, and, to whatever part of the world they may be
carried, they always feel confident of being sent back to
their own country free of expense, whenever their ser
vices are no longer required . They are an independent
people, and have never been connected with slave
dealers, whom, indeed, they seem to hold in great con
>
tempt. Nevertheless, they have the woolly hair and
thick lips and nose of the true negro. Of all the Afri
cans whom I have seen , they appear most to resemble
the Abyssinians in their character and habits, though
improved by more frequent contact with our country
men .
The governor's house is the best in the place, and is
distinguished from the more humble ones around it by
VISIT TO THE GOVERNOR . 29
the luxury of a green verandah . Across the entrance
to the principal apartment, a large curtain or screen of
drapery was hung, richly emblazoned with the arms
of Portugal, and almost the only real token of her
power.
It was naturally a matter of curiosity to visit his Ex
cellency in state, and, accordingly, the officers were
ushered into the presence by a grand master of the cere
monies, who was also commandant of the island . This
person was a huge black negro, “ richly caparisoned ”
for the occasion, and , as he spoke a little English, he
proceeded, immediately after the presentation , to ex
pound to his Excellency the object of the visit. That
object was, first, of course, to pay respect to so distin
guished an officer, and next, to ascertain whether, in
case a steamer should happen to touch there at any
other time, a depôt for coal could be formed on the
island, and whether wood could be procured for fuel,
and a proper place provided for storing it until required .
His Excellency condescended to be extremely polite,
saying that both these matters could be accomplished,
and that he should be happy to lend his assistance in
any manner he could . He added that he perfectly well
remembered that the Enterprize, a wooden steamer, had
touched there on her way to India many years before,
but that he had never till now heard of an iron one.
The interview was soon ended , and was so far per
fectly satisfactory. But, as the officers were on the
way down to the ship again, the black master of the
ceremonies, aide-de-camp, commandant, &c . , made a
particular request that no salute should be fired, for
30 MAJOR SABINE .
that they happened to be “ very badly off for powder ”
themselves, and should find it inconvenient to be obliged
to return it : probably a gentle hint that aa little powder
would be acceptable.
Little time could be devoted to the further examina
tion of the island , which would seem to be of very small
value to its masters . There is reason , however, to
believe, that, to a certain degree, although unacknow
ledged and in secret, it is made use of as a sort of
intermediate trading-place for slaves.
It was on this island that the distinguished Major
Sabine conducted his scientific and interesting observa
tions upon the swinging of the pendulum in 1822, as >
it lies as nearly as possible under the Line.
With a sun always vertical, no refreshing change of
seasons can here be known ; there is even monotony in
splendour ; the glorious sun is here omnipotent : his rays
are fire ; his smiles, that clothe the earth in luxuries,
and make all nature tempting in her riches, are scorch
ing arrows to her earthly master, Man ; and one dull
round of glaring summer scarcely tempts his heart to
gratitude.
On the following morning, the 25th, the Nemesis
crossed the Line, with the thermometer at 96°, which
had been the average temperature for several days.
Strong adverse winds prevailed, with a heavy swell for
many days afterwards, against which she went ahead
very steadily, at the rate of five to five and a half knots
an hour ; but, as it was desirable to save fuel as much
as possible, it was at length determined to make a
hitherto untried experiment, viz. , to work the lee paddle
>
AN EXPERIMENT . 31
wheel only, while under sail, (the other wheel being
disconnected, and allowed to revolve by the motion of
the vessel ) ; and also to use only one boiler. The
weather had moderated, but still the engineers were of
opinion that the experiment would fail, because they
had neither seen nor heard of its having been attempted.
It was, however, determined to give it a fair trial, and,
accordingly, the weather-wheel was disconnected, all
sail put upon the ship, and her course slightly altered.
She was steered about five and aa half points from the
wind, and in this position, with a rolling sea and steady
breeze, she continued to inake head at the rate of six
and a half to seven knots an hour ; the active or lee
paddle-wheel making twelve to fifteen revolutions per
minute. Thus the success of the trial was complete,
particularly as it appeared to counteract the lee-way of
the vessel . The helm did not seem to be materially
affected by the unequal force applied to the two sides of
the vessel ; and, as regards the weather, it is reported
in the ship’s log to have been “cloudy, with fresh
breezes, and a heavy swell. ”
Some pains have been taken to ascertain from the
officers and the chief engineer, first, whether both en
gines could be worked to any good purpose with one
boiler.
In reply to this question , it appears that, except in
the river Mersey at Liverpool, with all circumstances
particularly favourable, the Nemesis was never able to
work both engines with one boiler, with more than very
inconsiderable effect. But it must be very evident
that any vessel, having power enough to do so in case
32 AN EXPERIMENT.
of emergency, must possess a great advantage ; and
there is little doubt that, with twenty or thirty horse
power more, she would have been able to accomplish it
in smooth water, particularly with sails set. It is, there
fore, to be regretted that her power (only one hundred
and twenty horse) was scarcely sufficient for her size
and weight .
It is known to all that, where two engines are at
work, the one helps the other, their movements being
so arranged, that the one shall act with its greatest
power at the moment when the other is acting with its
smallest, and thus their motions are uniform .
Not to dwell too long upon this matter, it may suffice
here to mention that, when the vessel was under sail in
moderate weather, it answered perfectly well to work
only one engine, (and, of course, only one boiler) either
with two wheels or one, but that it was preferable to
use only one wheel ( that on the lee-side) with the one
engine. It is very certain, however, that, when the sea
is heavy, both engines and both wheels must be used,
because, as the vessel rolls, each wheel becomes alter
nately immersed deeply in the water, and, if only one
engine were used, (either with both wheels or one) a sea
might catch the wheel at the moment when it is acted
on with least power (just over the centre) by the single
engine, and thus the wheel would be stopped altogether
for the moment ; and this, indeed, was found to be the
case. Nevertheless, as before stated, in moderate wea
ther, and with a tolerable breeze, one engine and one
wheel can be used with the best possible effect, and with
great saving of fuel.
AN ACCIDENT . 33
In the instance above referred to, the Nemesis was
working in the manner I have described, at the rate of
five and a half to six and a half, and for a short time
at seven and a half, knots an hour, against a swell from
the southward . Some days afterwards it fell quite calm,
and she was then tried with both wheels and one boiler ;
but she scarcely gained even steerage-way through the
water, so that both boilers and both engines were once
more made use .
of. A great many experiments of this
kind were made during the voyage ; but the details of
them would be unfitted for a narrative of this nature.
It may be added, however, that the use of one wheel
nd one engine is applicable when beating on a wind in
tolerable weather ; but, where the wind is abaft the
beam and moderate , both wheels can very advantage
ously be used with one engine.
On the 2nd of June, the ship all at once seemed to be
lost to the control of the helmsman, and, no other very
good reason suggesting itself, the rudder was naturally
examined with care. It was at once discovered that the
drop or false rudder had been carried away, but by what
means did not sufficiently appear ; except that, on exa
mination, there was reason to think it must have been
fairly worn through at the point of junction with the
lower edge of the upper or true rudder ; for, at this
part, nearly the whole strain of its action operated .
No time was to be lost in attempting to repair this
injury, as the vessel became almost unmanageable, the
true rudder at times being nearly above water, in the
heavy pitching of the ship. With the utmost exertion
on the part of the officers and the intelligent carpenter
VOL . I. D
34 TEMPORARY RUDDER .
of the ship, a temporary false rudder was constructed ,
and securely fixed before nightfall. It was moreover
found to act even better than the original one, having
more hold in the water, as well as a larger surface of
attachment to the upper rudder. Subjoined is a plan
of this contrivance, which will almost suffice to explain
its ingenuity. It was made of planks of wood, in
stead of solid iron, and was secured by chains, in such a
manner as to grasp the upper or true rudder firmly,
while it could also be raised or lowered at pleasure.
PLAN OF A TEMPORARY RUDDER, FITTED AND SHIPPED AT SEA, ON BOARD
THE H. C. STEAM - VESSEL NEMESIS.
Water Line
ి 0
ిద 00
కర 98 le
లం 00 op
పా 00 pe
B
A Main rudder . D Lower chain guys, which pass round the
B Side view of temporary rudder, made heel of the rudder, crossing it at the
double (out of six fluats ) so as to fore part, and leading up on each quar
clasp the main rudder on each ter,with a tackle attached to each side .
side. E Chain -head guys, passiug through bolts
C Pigs of ballast between the floats, rest. in the main rudder, and set up over
ing on the heel -piece . the stern .
F Strengthening pieces of iron .
The whole apparatus was found to answer remarkably
well, and , during the remainder of the voyage to the
DIFFICULTIES OF THE NEMESIS . 35
Cape (and that a trying one), it never got out of order,
or required additional support. Indeed, it was re
marked by every one, that the vessel was more easily
steered than it had been before ; and it was evident
that the original false rudder of iron had been neither
strong enough, nor had sufficient hold of the upper one
to which it was fastened .
But the difficulties which the Nemesis had to encoun
ter were not yet ended . Strong breezes from the south
ward still prevailed , without any prospect of a speedy
change ; her progress was slow, and there only remained
on board thirty-two tons of coal, with a little wood ;
nor was there any place at hand to which she could run
for fuel. It was therefore resolved to stand boldly out
to sea, trusting to her canvass only. Thus her remain
ing fuel would be reserved for any emergency, and
would suffice to ensure her being able to get into port
when within a reasonable distance. A reference to the
map will show her position at this time.
The engines were now stopped, some of the float
boards of the wheels taken off, and every preparation
made for an encounter with the ocean . As much sail
was set as she could carry, and her course was altered
according to the wind. Away stood the fearless Neme
sis, disdaining the land, and boldly venturing out to
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