128 DAGGER FROM THICK WOOLEN CLOTHING. 



in capturing them — having taken but five hundred 

 barrels of oil from the time they left home. This 

 ship then purposed returning, and was anxious for 

 us to accompany her. 



Whilst we were in the Bight, the barque Austral- 

 asian Packet captured a sperm whale. The weather 

 was boisterous, and they did not succeed in getting 

 him alongside until after dark. The boat that was 

 running the line to the ship was struck by the vessel, 

 and stoven : two of her crew clung to the boat, and 

 escaped ; the others were drowned. The whale was 

 allowed to go adrift, and was picked up on the fol- 

 lowing day by the ship Hunter, of New Bedford. 

 By this sad disaster the crew of the Packet were 

 intimidated, and refused to do any more whaling; 

 therefore the captain was forced to return with her 

 to Hobartown. 



On the 10th of October we gammoned the barque 

 Rodman, of New Bedford, twelve months out, with 

 twelve hundred barrels of oil. She was by far the 

 most successful ship we encountered. Much of her oil 

 was taken oflF Desolation ; and her crew, like that of 

 the Stephania, represented that whaling-ground as a 

 perfect purgatory. They said that the weather was 

 so intensely cold, that it was necessary to envelop 

 the person in three or four thicknesses of warm 

 woolen clothing w^hen going in the boats. This 

 practice cost one of their crew his life ; for the boat 

 in which he was being stoven, from the heaviness 

 of his clothing when saturated he was unable to swim, 

 though he knew how, and he perished — his boat- 

 mates bavins: as much as thev could do to save 

 themselves. They had also been into Shark's Bay, 



