NOTES. 299 



there is an overruling Providence who watches over and pro- 

 tects the poor mariner. 



Well do I recollect my own feelings on several occasions of 

 this nature, one of which happened on the coast of California. 

 We were sailing in company with another whale ship, when 

 a gale of wind came on which was favourable for the course 

 we were steering toward Cape St. Lucas ; both ships were kept 

 before the wind during the day, but after sunset our captain 

 thought it advisable to heave to, after which, from the position 

 of our ship, it appeared probable that the other vessel, which 

 was still kept on her course, would pass quite close to us, and a 

 good look-out was therefore ordered to be kept to windward. 

 In a short time it was very dark, the sea running "mountains 

 high," and a gale blowing very hard, so that it was impossible 

 to see any distance to windward. 



When the other ship was last visible, she appeared to be 

 heading right for us ; and well do I remember with what 

 anxiety I waited until I thought sufficent time had elapsed for 

 her to pass. I know not why, but the thought seemed at that 

 time to press very heavily on me, what the consequence would 

 be should the other ship run into ours; very probably we 

 should have all gone to the bottom ; and my feelings were the 

 more acute by the circumstance that the ship in question be- 

 longed to the same owners as ours, and had on board several 

 young men who had often been my companions in pleasant 

 parties. 



At another time, while employed in trying out, on the coast 

 of Kamtschatka, one very dark night the watch was busily 

 employed on deck ; we were boiling bur last whale, and car- 

 rying more sail than is usual while boiling, for the purpose of 

 making a port, when another vessel approached to leeward 

 unseen by us ; at this time, as it was blowing fresh, and the 

 ship had a considerable heel, the officer of the deck ordered the 

 helm to be put up to keep the ship before the wind, and con- 

 sequently on an even keel, while the watch rolled a very large 

 cask of oil away from the cooler. While running off for this 



