WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 96, 18 January 1924, Page 6

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

NOTES AT RANDOM

(By

T.D.H.)

It is a reckless man who buys a return ticket when taking an airship voyage. Four years of prohibition in the United States, according to a cable message to-day, seems to have achieved everything except cutting off the liquor supply. Eighty years ago by order of the old term “larboard” was banished from nautical language. From to-day’s news it seems that “port” and “starboard” may be replaced by plain “left” and “right’ when ships are in the hands of pilots. The history of these words is interesting. Starboard dates right back to the days of Alfred the Great, who founded Britain’s Navy over a thousand years ago, for in one of the books he wrote King Alfred speaks of “steorbord” and “baeebord.” The early Teutonic ships were steered by means of paddles worked on the right side of the vessel, and as “bord” meant the side of the ship “steorbord” naturally followed to denote the steersman’s side of the ship. The steersman had his back to the other side, and this became the “baeebord,” a term generally adopted in Germanic countries, and also found in the French “babord.”

Both “larboard” and “port” have their origins wrapped in mystery. Larboard began as “laddebordte,” and was supposed to signify the side on which the ship was laden, as with the steersman working his paddle on the starboard side the obvious method of berthing would be to bring the other side against the quay. In Henry Vll.’s time the nautical folk of the period wrote it “latebord,” but by Elizabeth’s dav it was converted into “larboard,” but how the change came no one seems te know. In the Admiralty Order of November 22, 1844, it was laid down that “as the distinction between ‘Port’ and ‘Starboard’ is so much more marked than that between ‘Star hoard and ‘Larboard,’ it is their Lordships’ direction that the word •Larboard’ shall no longer be used.” “Port” is much older than that, for Manwayring’s quaint old seamen’s dictionary of three hundred years back says: “To Port is a word used in conding the Ship, they will use the word steddv a-Port, or Steddy a Star-board; the Ship heeles to Port, bring things neere to port, or the like”—and. now they want to wipe out these picturesque old terms that have braved the battle and the breeze a thousand years or more.

It is only a day or two since I printed a storv" about tile; way thev tell an Aberdeen ship, and now, as if to cive that libel the lie comes news of how Salvation Army converts at Aberdeen cast their idols into thb fire and burnt perfectly good pipes., playing cards, cigarette's, in a public bonfire of re-pentance.—-This is an unusual demonstration, and Dr. Bumpus (who is. of course, a mere Sassenach. or worse than that) is of opinion that such an event in Aberdeen, must be regarded as the world’s high-water mark of revivalistio fervour.

Did the Maoris or their ancestors drink salt water on their long voyages across the Pacific? This question is discussed by Mr. Elsdon Best in his .interesting monograph, on Polynesian Voyagers.” The Rev. J. B. Stair, a Samoan missionary, is quoted as testifyina to a tradition in Samoa that anciently the leaves of some plant were carried at rea, and after chewing these It was possible to drink sea water with! impunity. What the plant was the modem Samoans idid not know, .the inhabitants of Easter Island are also on record as drinking water tnth a strong admixture of brine. Le Maire in 1616 observed Paumotn natives drinking sea water after their, fresh water was gone. A New Caledonia, missionary declared that the natives there “drank enormous quantifies of salt water .“—lt lobks as if there must hav« been something in it.

The Maoris of the Auckland Islands* of whom I wrote the other day, musfi be counted 'among the most southerly settlers of Polynesia. How they got so ter south after their of the Jean Bart’s crew at the Chathams is told by “H.F.,” who writes:— “The seventy New Zealanders found, living at the Auckland Islands by the Endefry settlers in 1849 were, as advised in vour notes of January erstwhile Port Nicholson Natives, with their two chiefs, Mateoro and Ngangatere, had nroceeded there from the Chathams in a colonial trading vessel, giving the sailing-master some 100 pigs in payment thereof, at the same time taking about 50 for their own use. These Natives settled at Sandy Bay, Enderby Island._ north of the groun, raised a quantity of vegetables and hunted the wild p ; gs,. whose ancestors had been left in 180/ by Cantnin Bristow, discoverer of the group. Quarrels soon arose among them, and they separated into three groups, 30 rem ninin g on Enderbv Island. 25 proceeding southwards, both under chiefs, the remainder forming a separate independence. However, these surrendered, all their territorial end fishing rights to Li§utenanf-Gouornqr Enderby’s South Sea Whaling Co. in consideration for n sum of money and employment found for them in the fisheries, and Mr. Enderby has left on record they were not only lawful and industrious, but made capable boatmen and whalers.”

Mr. Sidney Webb, whoso name has been mentioned for the Labour Secretaryship for the Colonies, is addicated Co Socialism and water, and that veteran Socialist, the late .Mr. H. M. Hyndman, in his reminiscences decliarcd that Mr. Webb and his Fabian Society had halted at a half-way house where very indifferent Honor was provided. Mr.. Webb is the chief exponent of Socialism _ by stealth and compromise, and has wieldu pd immense influence in connection with the moulding of Britain’s local government system. » In fact, Mr. Hyndman unkiindlv declared that Mr. Webb’s astounding success in mixing ui> schools with drains and tramways had put back the cause of education by half a century in England. To-dav we wofry about the cost of living, but what must have been the cost of dying in Tutankhamen's time? That the world is going to the bowwows is tho emphatic opinion of an elderly clubman whom Mr. Will Dyson depicts in a cartoon in the London "Mercury.” Beneath tho picture runs the following legend : — "In our dav, sir. what were the women doing', sir? Thinking unutterable thoughts about us! Nowadays what are they doing? Thinking unprintable, ones —and, damme, they print ’em!” THE SWEEPER. Frail, wistful guardian of the broom, The dwelling’s drudge and stay. Whom destiny gave a single task, To keep the dust away! Sweep off the floor and polish ths chair. It will not alwavs last. Some day, for all your arms can do, The dust will hold you fast. r—Agues LoGm