reach—­at least we could only ransom the ship, the cargoes being all neutral—­that is to say, such of them as get cargoes, now not many.  And then there is no cruising or chasing to be done here successfully, or with safety to oneself, without plenty of coal; and we can only rely upon coaling once in three months at some English port.  At the other ports there would probably be combinations made against us, through the influence of the Yankee Consuls.  So I will try my luck around the Cape of Good Hope once more; then to the coast of Borneo; and thence perhaps to Barbadoes, for coal; and thence—–?  If the war be not ended, my ship will need to go into dock, to have much of her copper replaced, now nearly destroyed by such constant cruising, and to have her boilers overhauled and repaired; and this can only be properly done in Europe.  Our young officers, who had had so agreeable a change from the cramped ship to the shores and forests of Condore, with their guns and their books, had become so attached to the island that they left it with some regret.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

In the East—­Aor—­Marine nomads—­Suspicious—­At Singapore—­A busy city—­Chinese merchants—­Whampoa and Co.—­Calculating machines—­Under way—­The Martaban of Maulmain—­Transformation—­The Texan Star—­Evasive—­Getting at the truth.—­Sonora—­To the Cape.

The Alabama was now steering for Singapore, and for three or four days kept her course without the occurrence of anything particularly noteworthy.  On the 19th December she anchored for a time in the bay on the south-east side of the island of Aor, with its lofty hills clothed with green to their summits, and its little sandhills and groves of cocoa-nut trees.  The island is unclaimed by any European nation.

Sunday, Dec, 20th.—­To-day being Sunday, and the weather being still thick, and blowing, I have resolved to remain until to-morrow before making the run for Singapore.  Weather improved this morning, however, and the barometer going up.  Several islands visible that were hid from us yesterday.  Pulo Aor looking beautiful and picturesque.  Some of the natives on board with their scant stores of fowls, eggs, and cocoa-nuts.  They are larger than the natives of Condore, and stouter, and more developed, but with countenances not very prepossessing.  The Governor, a rough-looking, middle-aged fellow, above the common height, pulled out some greasy papers, the recommendations of former visitors, and desired that I also would give him one, which I declined, as I knew nothing about him.  Their canoes are light and graceful, and occasionally they present quite a picture with their gaily-dressed or half-dressed occupants.  We heard their tom-toms and banjoes last night as evening set in, but a music much sweeter to our ears was a chorus from some frogs, with notes somewhat finer than their relatives on our side of the earth.  These islanders are nothing more than marine nomads, that lead an idle, vagabond life, intermixed with a good deal of roguery.  They have a fine physique, as might be supposed from their open-air mode of life, in which they have plenty of healthful exercise without being overworked, as Mother Nature feeds them spontaneously, and they require little more clothing than they brought into the world with them.