NINE MONTHS IN THE ARCTIC. 29 



With seasickness, homesickness follows ; and 

 then it is that many of the inexperienced, having 

 left good homes and quiet life, wish a thousand 

 times that they had never " learned the trade." 

 But all such wishes are now in vain. With 

 a new life On shipboard and in the forecastle, ro- 

 mance passes away, and leaves in its place the 

 stern outlines of a living reality. Seasickness, 

 however, is only a temporary affair ; in most 

 cases, indeed, it soon subsides, and then spirits 

 and hope revive with recruited and invigorated 

 health. 



We took our departure from the islands on 

 the 6th, in company with the ship Benjamin 

 Tucker, Captain Sands ; strong breezes, north- 

 east trades. The first whales were seen about 

 lat. 30° S., Ion. 31° 41/ W., distant about seven 

 miles — light winds. W r e set signal for the 

 Benjamin Tucker, four or five miles distant, to 

 notify Captain Sands that whales were in sight 

 — an agreement we made while sailing in com- 

 pany. Boats were lowered; the mate fastened 

 to a whale, which brought the shoal to. The 

 second mate was less successful; his boat was 

 stoven by a whale, and his men were floating 

 about upon scattered and broken pieces of the 

 wreck. Other boats soon came up and rescued 

 their companions. The ship now ran down to 



