210 WHAI ING AND FISHING 



CHAPTER XII, 



ftr. MARY, Madagascar Applying for Liberty It is granted 

 Sickness Ashore The Town and Fort Two Men remain ovei 

 night They are taken sick and die An Auction Eeflec- 

 tions The Seychelles Plans for leaving the Vessel We raise 

 a School of Whales How a dead Whale makes headway 

 against the Wind Striking a Finback "There blows" 

 The excitement of " going on to " a Whale Fast and Loose A 

 Whale's Revenge The Boat Stove. 



ON getting clear of the land once more, the ship 

 was headed to the southward, and the ruinor soon 

 got afloat that the captain intended running into 

 St. Mary's, a French colony on the eastern coast 

 >f Madagascar, about two days sail from the mouth 

 of Antongil Bay. The third day thereafter, hav- 

 ing in the meantime seen no whales, both ships 

 entered the harbor of St. Mary's. The town, or 

 settlement, and fort lie upon an island separated 

 by a narrow strait from the main island. 



This is known among whalemen as the most fatal 

 place upon the entire coast, for whites ; but it is 

 the only place on this part of the ..coast whore 

 fruits and vegetables are obtainable, and is, there- 

 fore, frequently resorted to by whaleships. 



On coining to an chor, all hands proceeded afV 



