the crew rig the head pump, and wash down the decks.  The chief mate is always on deck, but takes no active part, all the duty coming upon the second mate, who has to roll up his trousers and paddle about decks barefooted, like the rest of the crew.  The washing, swabbing, squilgeeing, &c. lasts, or is made to last, until eight o’clock, when breakfast is ordered, fore and aft.  After breakfast, for which half an hour is allowed, the boats are lowered down, and made fast astern, or out to the swinging booms by geswarps, and the crew are turned-to upon their day’s work.  This is various, and its character depends upon circumstances.  There is always more or less of boating, in small boats; and if heavy goods are to be taken ashore, or hides are brought down to the beach for us, then all hands are sent ashore with an officer in the long-boat.  Then there is a good deal to be done in the hold,—­ goods to be broken out, and cargo to be shifted, to make room for hides, or to keep the trim of the vessel.  In addition to this, the usual work upon the rigging must be going on.  There is much of the latter kind of work which can only be done when the vessel is in port.  Everything, too, must be kept taut and in good order,—­ spun-yarn made, chafing gear repaired, and all the other ordinary work.  The great difference between sea and harbor duty is in the division of time.  Instead of having a watch on deck and a watch below, as at sea, all hands are at work together, except at mealtimes, from daylight till dark; and at night an ``anchor watch’’ is kept, which, with us, consisted of only two at a time, all the crew taking turns.  An hour is allowed for dinner, and at dark the decks are cleared up, the boats hoisted, supper ordered; and at eight the lights are put out, except in the binnacle, where the glass stands; and the anchor watch is set.  Thus, when at anchor, the crew have more time at night (standing watch only about two hours), but have no time to themselves in the day; so that reading, mending clothes, &c., has to be put off until Sunday, which is usually given.  Some religious captains give their crews Saturday afternoons to do their washing and mending in, so that they may have their Sundays free.  This is a good arrangement, and goes far to account for the preference sailors usually show for vessels under such command.  We were well satisfied if we got even Sunday to ourselves; for, if any hides came down on that day, as was often the case when they were brought from a distance, we were obliged to take them off, which usually occupied half a day; besides, as we now lived on fresh beef, and ate one bullock a week, the animal was almost always brought down on Sunday, and we had to go ashore, kill it, dress it, and bring it aboard, which was another interruption.  Then, too, our common day’s work was protracted and made more fatiguing by hides coming down late in the afternoon, which sometimes kept us at work in the surf by starlight, with the prospect of pulling on board, and stowing them all away, before supper.