I myself
lived almost exclusively on bread, porridge, and soup, precisely as
it was supplied to them, and found it, if not luxurious, at least
sufficient. But these working men were loud in their outcries. It
was not 'food for human beings,' it was 'only fit for pigs,' it was
'a disgrace.' Many of them lived almost entirely upon biscuit,
others on their own private supplies, and some paid extra for better
rations from the ship. This marvellously changed my notion of the
degree of luxury habitual to the artisan. I was prepared to hear him
grumble, for grumbling is the traveller's pastime; but I was not
prepared to find him turn away from a diet which was palatable to
myself. Words I should have disregarded, or taken with a liberal
allowance; but when a man prefers dry biscuit there can be no
question of the sincerity of his disgust.
With one of their complaints I could most heartily sympathise. A
single night of the steerage had filled them with horror. I had
myself suffered, even in my decent-second-cabin berth, from the lack
of air; and as the night promised to be fine and quiet, I determined
to sleep on deck, and advised all who complained of their quarters to
follow my example.
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