George Brown: In his own words (Going to sea III)

CONTENTS

Family Background / My father: the able man / My father: the lay preacher / School days / Dangerous Occupations / Going to Sea I / Going to Sea II / Going to Sea III / Passage to America / First Steps / The Great Lakes / Return to England / A Narrow Escape / Passage to New Zealand / Auckland / Finding a Mission / Fit for Mission Work? / A Suitable Helpmeet / A Bush Honeymoon / Our Worst Night / Missionary Heroes / Sydney to Samoa
Acknowledgments & Links

We had a very long and stormy passage on this my first voyage. I had no favour shown, and had to do my full share of work in all weathers. We had new sails, and there were no double topsails in those days. I well remember being up with others on the topsail yard for hours as we vainly tried to handle a new sail frozen and stiff until it was almost as hard as a board, as we tried to reef it in some of the fierce gales that were blowing. If anything would have disgusted a lad with the sea, that voyage from London to Cork would certainly have done so. At Queenstown we took on board a regiment for Corfu, which was then a British protectorate. From Corfu we moved another regiment to Malta, and whilst in that part I saw a very grand sight. The Mediterranean fleet were all assembled there under Admiral Dundas, who had his flag on board the Britannia. They were waiting for orders from England, and whilst we were there the Admiral received instructions to take up a station at the Dardanelles, which was one of the first acts prior to the declaration of the Crimean war. I think there were no ironclads in those days, and I shall never forget the sight of such a large number of wooden walls of England as were gathered together in that port.

George Brown: In his own words

The Early Years
and The Call

Index