Morgan Praises Glamorgan Cheese
In the subsequent dialogue, Morgan undertakes to prove that though the stench he complains of does not flow from the steward’s own body, the steward is nevertheless the author of it by serving out damaged provisions to the ship’s company. He particularly blames putrified cheese, affirming that only from the use of such provisions could such unsavoury steams arise. Morgan then launches into the praise of good cheese, giving an analysis of it, explaining the different kinds of that commodity with the methods practiced to make and preserve it, concluding that in yielding good cheese, the county of Glamorgan might vie with Cheshire itself and was much superior to it in the produce of goats and butter.
Salmagundy Supper Preparation
Mr. Morgan, descending from the role of accuser, returns to his culinary duties. Ordering the boy to bring a piece of salt beef from the brine, he prepares the salmagundy by cutting off a slice and mixing it with an equal quantity of onions. After seasoning with pepper and salt and bringing the dish to consistence with oil and vinegar, he tastes it and assures his companions it is the best salmagundy he has ever made. The narrator does honor to this preparation, though no sooner has he swallowed a mouthful than he thinks his entrails are scorched and endeavors to allay the heat with a deluge of small-beer.
Hammock Entry Difficulty
After supper and Morgan’s consumption of a couple of pipes and several cans of flip, yawning admonishes the narrator that it is time to repair by sleep the injury he has suffered from want of rest the preceding night. Their hammocks immediately unlash and the narrator beholds his messmates spring with great agility into their respective nests. Though initially reluctant to trust himself in a narrow bag suspended above the ground, the narrator eventually allows himself to be persuaded. Taking a leap to get in, he throws himself quite over with such violence that had he not luckily got hold of Thompson’s hammock, he would have pitched upon his head on the other side and in all likelihood fractured his skull.
Morning Boatswain Summons
The narrator remains awake with apprehension until the morning watch when sleep finally overpowers him, but he is soon awakened by a loud and shrill noise followed by a dreadful summons from a hoarse voice. One of the quartermasters passing by with a lantern informs him that the noise was occasioned by the boatswain’s mates who called up the larboard watch. He is told to lay his account with such an interruption every morning at the same hour. Being now more assured of his safety, the narrator undresses himself again to rest and sleeps until eight o’clock.
Sick Care Hand Bell Invitation
After rising and breakfasting with his comrades on biscuit and brandy, the sick are visited and assisted as before. Thompson then explains and performs another piece of duty to which the narrator remains a stranger. At a certain hour in the morning, the boy of the mess goes round all the decks ringing a small hand-bell and, in rhymes composed for the occasion, invites all those who have sores to repair before the mast, where one of the doctor’s mates attends with applications to dress them.
CAPÍTULO XXVII.
This chapter chronicles the narrator’s rise to become surgeon’s mate aboard the Thunder, his subsequent conflicts with the tyrannical Captain Oakum, and the tragic consequences of the captain’s brutal policies regarding the sick. The narrative culminates in a violent confrontation when a confined madman, released by the captain’s order, attacks both Oakum and the surgeon with ferocious abandon.
Friendship with the Surgeon
While practicing medicine with his friend, the narrator attracts the notice of the ship’s doctor, who examines him on surgery and inquiries about his circumstances. The surgeon takes a particular interest upon learning the narrator is nephew to Lieutenant Bowling, whom he holds in high regard. Through this connection, the surgeon promises to assist in obtaining a warrant for the narrator. Meanwhile, the surgeon reveals his intention to leave Captain Oakum’s service, having been treated poorly during the previous voyage.
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