The captain could mess with his officers or dine alone, or he could 'keep a table', which meant that he would invite the officers to come and dine with him at his expense.
Ukhapteyini wayedla ngokutya nabaphathi-majoni bakhe okanye atye yedwa, okanye 'agcine itafile', nto leyo ethetha ukuba uza kumema abaphathi-majoni ukuba beze kutya naye kwincitho yakhe.