unmake human nature; the same in cabin-boy and commodore, its
only differences lie in the different modes of development.

At sea, a frigate houses and homes five hundred mortals in a
space so contracted that they can hardly so much as move but they
touch. Cut off from all those outward passing things which ashore
employ the eyes, tongues, and thoughts of landsmen, the inmates
of a frigate are thrown upon themselves and each other, and all
their ponderings are introspective. A morbidness of mind is often
the consequence, especially upon long voyages, accompanied by foul
weather, calms, or head-winds. Nor does this exempt from its evil
influence any rank on board. Indeed, high station only ministers
to it the more, since the higher the rank in a man-of-war, the
less companionship.

It is an odious, unthankful, repugnant thing to dwell upon a
subject like this; nevertheless, be it said, that, through these
jaundiced influences, even the captain of a frigate is, in some
cases, indirectly induced to the infliction of corporal punishment
upon a seaman. Never sail under a navy captain whom you suspect
of being dyspeptic, or constitutionally prone to hypochondria.

The manifestation of these things is sometimes remarkable. In the
earlier part of the cruise, while making a long, tedious run from
Mazatlan to Callao on the Main, baffled by light head winds and
frequent intermitting calms, when all hands were heartily wearied
by the torrid, monotonous sea, a good-natured fore-top-man, by
the name of Candy--quite a character in his way--standing in the
waist among a crowd of seamen, touched me, and said, "D'ye see
the old man there, White-Jacket, walking the poop? Well, don't he