THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 343 



Our visitors have three Marquesas Kanakas on board. 

 They were carried off against their will, to replace three of 

 the crew who deserted on one of the group. The captain 

 demanded of the chief to return the deserters under reprisal. 

 The chief refused, and the captain double-shotted his nine- 

 pound guns, sent a round into the crowded grass huts of the 

 village, and carried off the three natives. We Christians 

 must not be unduly shocked when we hear of retaliation by 

 the savages on the next ship's crew that falls into their pow- 

 er. The surgeon of the Eliza came on board to administer! 

 to four of our men who were on the sick-list ; and in return 

 for this kindness, on the following morning we sent our | 

 neighbors a present of fish. 



Aug. 31. Since the 9th we have had much squally weath- - 

 er and rain, with some lightning and thunder. The season t 

 of typhoons is coming round, and it is time that we' were ! 

 east of the meridian. To-day we set regular watches, and 

 ran during the night the first omission of reefing and furl- 

 ing close for three months. We were spoken by the Charles 

 Frederick, of New Bedford, Captain Young, eight months 

 out, eight hundred barrels of oil. She is the most fortunate 

 ship we have met. Whales are getting very wild, and dim*- \ 

 cult of approach. 



Sept. 3. We are working our way to the eastward ; have 

 had several very hard chases. Once we lowered soon after 

 sunrise, and chased to the end of the day without success. 

 To make this day's mishaps the harder to bear, we had three 

 first-rate chances on large whales. Two were fairly missed : 

 the boat-steerers seemed gallied ; the third iron twisted off 

 near the head. The second mate's boat-steerer was broken, 

 and Posey appointed in his place. Now is the lover's chance. 

 None who know of the bright hopes which hang on this op- 

 portunity can doubt his success ; and could true love have 

 its way on the next whale, he would throw his iron clean 



