BOURBON. 167 



which we sailed past so beauteous a land without 

 being permitted to place our feet on its shores. 

 For an entire week did we .ruise around this de- 

 lightful isle, never more than five miles from its 

 bold shores. It was a torture fit for Tantalis, 

 And I vowed that let me once get my foot on 

 shore, any where, I would bid good-bye to a ser- 

 vice in which such treatment was considered le- 

 gitimate. The balance of our crew were also 

 dissatisfied, and longed to have a run over the 

 beautiful land so long in view. Even the boat- 

 steerers grumbled. But the captain gave us 

 plainly to understand that before we had three 

 hundred barrels of oil on board, we need not ex- 

 pect a run ashore " and even then," added he, 

 coolly, "you need not expect to go ashore on 

 Bourbon." 



Thought I, let me get ashore once, and Til take 

 care of the balance. 



On standing over toward Madagascar again, 

 after a fruitless search for whales, we one day fell 

 in with ti New London vessel, the James Eodgers, 

 the captain of which proposed to our captain that, 

 as sperm whales seemed to be scarce, and it was 

 hist the season for humpbacking, we should make 

 i joint expedition to one of the bays in Madagas- 

 car, " Where," said he, " from my former experi- 

 ence, I know we'll get some fish." 



Our captain liked the idea, and it was agreed 

 that we should cruise for a week in company, 

 looking for speim whales, and if none wore in 



