216 WHALING AND 



gcnerali} r felt than is usual. Our crew were not 

 seamen. They had not the many finer traits of 

 character which distinguish the true sailor. They 

 were selfish, and their many months of close 

 intercourse with each other had not called out 

 hose strong feelings of affectionate regard which 

 obtain among merchant seamen under such cir- 

 cumstances. 



We were now cruising off the beautiful shores 

 of Bourbon again, but meeting with no whales 

 there our captain determined to take a short cruise 

 around the Seychelle Islands, and then pass on to 

 the Sooloo sea. Several of our boatsteerers and 

 officers had visited the Seychelles, and described 

 them as most beautifully situated, fertile, and 

 inhabited by a very innocent and quiet-lived 

 people, the descendants of French settlers and the 

 natives. We therefore looked forward to having 

 at last a pleasant run ashore, when we should 

 arrive there, as it was understood that the vessel 

 would make a stay of at least a week at one or 

 o*jher of the Islands. 



Our passage, which was made much in the 

 marner of a continuous cruise, the vessel being 

 hov-^ to under reefed sails every evening, and 

 standing on under short canvas all day, was the 

 pleasantest we had yet experienced. Foi part ol 

 the way the south-east tradewinds wafted us softlj 

 along through a climate which seemed that of ai\ 

 eternal spring, filling us with joyous anticipations 



