The Endless Subdivision of Duties and the New Sailor's Experience

Properties

description

# The Endless Subdivision of Duties and the New Sailor's Experience ## Overview This is a section from Chapter III, "A GLANCE AT THE PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS, INTO WHICH A MAN-OF-WAR’S CREW IS DIVIDED," of Herman Melville's novel *White-Jacket*. It describes the complex division of labor aboard a man-of-war and the overwhelming experience of a new sailor trying to learn his duties. The text was extracted on January 30, 2026. ## Context This section is part of [Chapter III](arke:01KG8AJPBDD8KW998HV70PRFQT) of *White-Jacket*, which is contained in the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The source text was extracted from the file [white_jacket.txt](arke:01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY). This section follows the section titled [Troglodytes or “_holders_”](arke:01KG8AKV4V4GJ1NW28XS0T7K2Q), which describes the sailors who work below deck. ## Contents The section details the numerous specialized roles and responsibilities on a man-of-war, emphasizing the bewildering array of duties a new sailor must learn. Melville lists a multitude of positions, from Boatswain's mates to cooks and various "captains" of specific areas of the ship. He illustrates the initial confusion of a newcomer, overwhelmed by the sounds, orders, and the need to memorize numerous numbers assigned to him by the First Lieutenant. Melville uses the experience of the fictional "White-Jacket" to exemplify the challenges faced by new recruits, highlighting the necessity of mathematical skills and a good memory to navigate the complex environment of a naval vessel.

description_generated_at

2026-01-30T20:49:48.843Z

description_model

gemini-2.5-flash-lite

description_title

The Endless Subdivision of Duties and the New Sailor's Experience

end_line

517

extracted_at

2026-01-30T20:48:16.646Z

extracted_by

structure-extraction-lambda

source_file

01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY

start_line

454

text

Such are the principal divisions into which a man-of-war’s crew is divided; but the inferior allotments of duties are endless, and would require a German commentator to chronicle. We say nothing here of Boatswain’s mates, Gunner’s mates, Carpenter’s mates, Sail-maker’s mates, Armorer’s mates, Master-at-Arms, Ship’s corporals, Cockswains, Quarter-masters, Quarter-gunners, Captains of the Forecastle, Captains of the Fore-top, Captains of the Main-top, Captains of the Mizen-top, Captains of the After-Guard, Captains of the Main-Hold, Captains of the Fore-Hold, Captains of the Head, Coopers, Painters, Tinkers, Commodore’s Steward, Captain’s Steward, Ward-Room Steward, Steerage Steward, Commodore’s cook, Captain’s cook, Officers’ cook, Cooks of the range, Mess-cooks, hammock-boys, messenger boys, cot-boys, loblolly-boys and numberless others, whose functions are fixed and peculiar. It is from this endless subdivision of duties in a man-of-war, that, upon first entering one, a sailor has need of a good memory, and the more of an arithmetician he is, the better. White-Jacket, for one, was a long time rapt in calculations, concerning the various “numbers” allotted him by the _First Luff_, otherwise known as the First Lieutenant. In the first place, White-Jacket was given the _number of his mess_; then, his _ship’s number_, or the number to which he must answer when the watch-roll is called; then, the number of his hammock; then, the number of the gun to which he was assigned; besides a variety of other numbers; all of which would have taken Jedediah Buxton himself some time to arrange in battalions, previous to adding up. All these numbers, moreover, must be well remembered, or woe betide you. Consider, now, a sailor altogether unused to the tumult of a man-of-war, for the first time stepping on board, and given all these numbers to recollect. Already, before hearing them, his head is half stunned with the unaccustomed sounds ringing in his ears; which ears seem to him like belfries full of tocsins. On the gun-deck, a thousand scythed chariots seem passing; he hears the tread of armed marines; the clash of cutlasses and curses. The Boatswain’s mates whistle round him, like hawks screaming in a gale, and the strange noises under decks are like volcanic rumblings in a mountain. He dodges sudden sounds, as a raw recruit falling bombs. Well-nigh useless to him, now, all previous circumnavigations of this terraqueous globe; of no account his arctic, antarctic, or equinoctial experiences; his gales off Beachy Head, or his dismastings off Hatteras. He must begin anew; he knows nothing; Greek and Hebrew could not help him, for the language he must learn has neither grammar nor lexicon. Mark him, as he advances along the files of old ocean-warriors; mark his debased attitude, his deprecating gestures, his Sawney stare, like a Scotchman in London; his—“_cry your merry, noble seignors!_” He is wholly nonplussed, and confounded. And when, to crown all, the First Lieutenant, whose business it is to welcome all new-corners, and assign them their quarters: when this officer—none of the most bland or amiable either—gives him number after number to recollect—246—139—478—351—the poor fellow feels like decamping. Study, then, your mathematics, and cultivate all your memories, oh ye! who think of cruising in men-of-war.

title

The Endless Subdivision of Duties and the New Sailor's Experience