THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 313 



intelligible to us, recounted our wonderful prowess in chas- 

 ing and killing the big fish of the sea, and our great posses- 

 sions in "Amelica." On the way we were joined by some 

 of our Kanaka crew, and we bade them join in, as we felt 

 sure that we six could not eat two hogs, the turkey, a big 

 fish, and much over half a bushel of roasted roots. Nothing 

 loath they consented, and joined in a chorus about the great- 

 ness and goodness of white men, paying special tribute of 

 praise to Poehee, Chippee, and Davikhee. 



Reaching our destination through an admiring and, judg- 

 ing by their longing eyes, a hungry crowd, the feast was 

 spread on a clean mat of plaited flags on the floor of a large 

 room. Around this we arranged ourselves in a classical at- 

 titude, while opposite to us squatted our happy hosts. Mi- 

 nus knife and fork, the carving was effected by dexterous 

 twists and jerks, detaching head, leg, or wing, and bringing 

 all connected muscles in convenient form for biting at. The 

 stone stuffing rattled out, still steaming from heat ; and with 

 the hind leg of a hog in one hand, and a great potato in the 

 other, with occasional nips at turkey, or fish, we sea-dogs 

 reveled in the abundant rations before us. As I reluctantly 

 abandoned the idea of scaling Mauna Loa, I attacked my 

 second quarter of pork, and at length had to admit that my 

 eating tackle was exhausted, much to the disappointment of 

 My White Shirt who kept urging me to the encounter. All 

 I could do was to sit contentedly watching the Kanakas 

 polishing off the last bones. The pipe then passed from 

 mouth to mouth, and we took the hearts of Our White 

 Shirts by storm when we distributed the calico for their 

 women, and the needles and hooks for themselves. The set- 

 ting sun found us ready to take canoes, and our friends 

 paddled us to our home. 



March 26. Yesterday following our carousal was our day 

 on duty aboard, and the watch was busy getting off wood, 



14 



