REPORTED LOSS OF THE SHIP TWILIGHT. 125 



finally adopted by them ; but their mode of life being 

 distasteful to him, he engaged in the coasting-trade, 

 was cast awaj-, and carried into Hobartown, where 

 he at length joined the brig Jane. Both these men 

 possessed talents above mediocrity. They were good 

 seamen, and their qualifications would have rendered 

 tiiem good citizens also, had not a roving, restless 

 spirit of adventure led them to throw away their time 

 rambling over the world. 



These ships pursue the blackfish with almost as 

 much eagerness as they do the whale, and their 

 manoeuverings for this small game often deceived us. 

 The crews receive a large proportion of the vessels' 

 earnings ; but they get only forty pounds sterling per 

 ton for their oil, no matter what price it brings in 

 the market ; so that, although the lays are shorter, 

 the actual remuneration is about equal to ours. The 

 onl}^ advantage they possess over us is in the short- 

 ness of the voyage: during the whole continuance 

 of it, however, they allow no liberty, and only touch 

 at insignificant ports for vegetables. 



On the 22d we sighted sperm whales. Lowering 

 away the waist boat, we went on to the fish — the 

 boatsteerer darted ; but the irons struck the head, 

 and did not penetrate. The whales started to the 

 windward, and we saw no more of them — getting 

 nothing but fisherman's luck for our pains. 



On the 25th we were informed of the probable loss 

 of the ship Twilight, of New Bedford : it being sup- 

 posed that she had foundered at sea. The report 

 was originated b}- the captain of the barque Draco. It 

 appears that the two vessels sailed from King George's 

 Sound in company ; and, experiencing an exceedingly 

 11* 



