THE EUROPA — ALTERATIONS OF WHALESHIPS. 287 



The Enropa went out rigged as a barque. Her miz- 

 zenmast being defective, carrying sail on it would be 

 rather hazardous; so her crossjack, mizzen topsail, 

 and topgallant yards, were sent down, and the leg- 

 of-mutton-shaped gaff-topsail substituted in the stead 

 of the canvas pertaining to them. 



These whaleships often undergo striking changes 

 between the date of their leaving home and the 

 period of their return : the captain possessing a dis- 

 cretionary power to pull down and build up any of 

 his ship's arrangements. But, woe betide him ! if 

 he does anything that results disastrously, unless he 

 makes a good voyage (which last is the New-Bedford 

 apology for a multitude of sins). Some old-fashioned 

 skippers are content with leaving things as they 

 find them ; whilst those of the more modern school 

 want their quarter-deck made clear, so that when in 

 port a fore-aud-after can be indulged in by the select 

 assemblages who then ordinarily rendezvous aboard 

 whalers. 



By the way, I recently heard a story about a party 

 of such visitants, who boarded the ship Twilight in 

 King George's Sound. Amongst them were the 

 daughters of one of the most aristocratic families in 

 the town. The steward of the vessel, supposing of 

 course that they were ladies, had gone to consider- 

 able pains in preparing a collation, which the guests 

 seemed much to enjoy. After concluding their re- 

 past, they stuffed their pockets with the cakes they 

 were unable to eat; indeed, one went so far as to 

 make her bosom a storehouse for provender. They 

 then adjourned to the quarter-deck for a dance; and, 

 as they displayed much activity during its progress, 



