s Dock (an
obstruction long since removed) a common sailor, so intensely black that he must
needs have been a native African of the unadulterate blood of Ham. A symmetric
figure much above the average height. The two ends of a gay silk handkerchief
thrown loose about the neck danced upon the displayed ebony of his chest; in his
ears were big hoops of gold, and a Scotch Highland bonnet with a tartan band set
off his shapely head.
    It was a hot noon in July; and his face, lustrous with perspiration, beamed
with barbaric good-humour. In jovial sallies right and left, his white teeth
flashing into view, he rollicked along, the centre of a company of his
shipmates. These were made up of such an assortment of tribes and complexions as
would have well fitted them to be marched up by Anacharsis Cloots before the bar
of the first French Assembly as Representatives of the Human Race. At each
spontaneous tribute rendered by the wayfarers to this black pagod of a fellow -
the tribute of a pause and stare, and less frequent an exclamation - the motley
retinue showed that they took that sort of pride in the evoker of it which the
Assyrian priests doubtless showed for their grand sculptured Bull when the
faithful prostrated themselves. To return -
    If in some cases a bit of a nautical Murat in setting forth his person
ashore, the Handsome Sailor of the period in question evinced nothing of the
dandified Billy-be-Dam, an amusing character all but extinct now, but
occasionally to be encountered, and in a form yet more amusing than the
original, at the tiller of the boats on the tempestuous Erie Canal or, more
likely, vapouring in the groggeries along the tow-path. Invariably a proficient
in his perilous calling, he was also more or less of a mighty boxer or wrestler.
It was strength and beauty. Tales of his prowess were recited. Ashore he was the
champion, afloat the spokesman; on every suitable occasion always foremost.
Close-reefing topsails in a gale, there he was, astride the weather
yard-arm-end, foot in stirrup, both hands tugging at the ear-ring as at a
bridle, in very much the attitude of young Alexander curbing the fiery
Bucephalus. A superb figure, tossed up as by the horns of Taurus against the
thunderous sky, cheerily ballooning to the strenuous file along the spar.
    The moral nature was seldom out of keeping with the physical make. Indeed,
except as toned by the former, the comeliness and power, always attractive in
masculine conjunction, hardly could have drawn the sort of homage