Humorous sayings concerning the contents transported aboard a crusing vessel usually play on the distinction between expectations and actuality. These quips steadily subvert the romanticized picture of maritime commerce, suggesting as an alternative the mundane, surprising, and even absurd nature of a ship’s holdings. For instance, a jest may suggest the first transport is just not worthwhile spices or gold, however relatively leaky barrels of pickled herring and a maintain filled with rats.
The importance of such witticisms lies of their skill to humanize the historic narratives of seafaring. They supply an accessible and entertaining lens by which to view the realities of maritime commerce, difficult idealized perceptions. Traditionally, ships carried all the pieces from treasured commodities to much less glamorous requirements. The jokes acknowledging this variety supply a lighthearted counterpoint to the often-serious accounts of commerce and exploration. The humor usually derives from the surprising juxtaposition of assumed wealth and the often-commonplace actuality.
