Thanks Q for the leading. I did find where Hugill talks of Hilo& following that brought me to your mention of Colcord. I was most interested, not in Hilo or Ilo as place names but it's use as a verb. Thanks again.
I do agree that in the Navies there were a different kind of sailor where the phyical differences were more a cause of concern. I do belive the start of this (in the Navies) happen after the time of the Civil War but in the merchant lines this (the sea) was a place of last resort for sailor of color or differences. As the work became harder because of shorter crews (even though there was advances in machinery), & the pay bacause less of a living wage & treatment was less harsh elsewhere, the sailors of color & differences stayed where they knew there was a job & where they were likely to be treat more as an equal, while white greenhorns started to only make fewer & fewer passages & sought out other forms of employment.
Any way a lot of this should be for a different thread.
Thanks
Barry