Kakemonos; Tales of the Far East (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897. Excerpt: ... THE PASSENGER AFT We had only one passenger aft for Bangkok, and he was a Siamese who came scrambling aboard at the very moment of our weighing anchor. I was in charge of the gangway at the time, and to my inquiry as to his business he replied in very good English: 'This ship--Antoy--go Bangkok?' 'Yes. We are starting now.' 'Very good, Oyes, very good, ' and he smiled complacently. Then turning to the sampan which still lay alongside, he beckoned to its occupants, and presently half a dozen of his countrymen came tumbling up on deck. 'Passengers?' I queried. 'Oyes, passengers, Oyes ' and he continued to smile upon me in the most absurd manner. I scowled, for I knew that oily Eastern smile, and the value one may attach to it. 'You've got your tickets?' I asked rather roughly. 'Oyes, tickets, Oyes, ' and with another charming smile he produced them from an inner pocket of his blouse. 'Very good, ' I said, handing them back to him after examination; 'you go that way, ' and I motioned for him to go aft: 'you chaps forward, ' and I pointed the way for his bodyguard, who salaamed and grinned, and seemed just as amiable as he was. The captain at that moment leant over the end of the bridge and yelled out, ' Are you all clear there aft?' 'All clear, sir.' Then the engines began to throb, the screw ground the water white astern, and we slipped through the shipping with the ease and dignity of a tramp that knows its way. The Amoy was only one of a well-known line of coasters. Sometimes our rivals called us the 'dust-carts of the China Seas, ' sometimes the ' scavengers'--it all depended on the mood they were in. At any rate, we were the very smallest of small fry. A mail-boat would not have condescended to signal us. As our greatest speed only amounted to between eight an...