AUCTION-SALE OF EFFECTS OF THE DECEASED. 157 



better home above ; and, if any one on board our sliip 

 had a prospect of a bright hereafter, surely he, the 

 least oiFender of us all against the Divine law, would 

 be the one. 



On the following morning we ran down and spoke 

 the Allen. They were cutting in their whale ; and 

 the cheerful note of their merry chaunt, as they 

 worked the windlass, contrasted strongly with our 

 own bitter feelings and heavy hearts. 



The captain gave directions to have all the lost 

 man's property gathered together, which was done ; 

 and, a few daj's after, the whole ship's company was 

 mustered aft, on the quarter-deck, and all his efiects 

 were disposed of by auction, the captain acting as 

 auctioneer. Every one bought something — each 

 wishing to secure a memento of the deceased; and 

 as the bidding was spirited, much more than the 

 intrinsic value was realized for each article. This is 

 a rule of the sea, but whether a maritime law or 

 not, I do not know : the money produced by such 

 sale being handed over to the friends of the deceased, 

 if they can be found ; but if unable to do "so, it is 

 usually given to the Seamen's Friend Society. 



After this event, we remained in the locality 

 several weeks. Sometimes a boat was lowered, and 

 sent into one of the bays a fishing, which always re- 

 turned with a number of the finny tribe of different 

 varieties — cod, trumpeter, blue, white, and red fish. 

 The last fish, of a red color and covered with fins, 

 was known to the whalemen on the coast as the 

 devil-fish, and another variety is known as the groper. 

 It often equals the porpoise in size. All these fish 

 are excellent eating, and are eagerly welcomed by a 

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