274 WHALING AND FISHING. 



civilized parts. . Some indolence, some hopeless- 

 ness, and a vehement desire for once to enjoy life, 

 probably brought me to this conclusion. 



And to this will come every one who takes tc 

 the sea for a livelihood. It is very well to th'io. 

 rize on the ennobling and elevating character o* a 

 perilous life like that of the seaman. It is true, 

 beyond doubt, that in those scenes where he con- 

 tends with and overcomes the powers of nature, 

 his spirit, let it be sunk low as it will, is refreshed 

 and elevated. But the excitement once over, the 

 life is altogether too commonplace, too void of 

 purpose to keep up a manful spirit. Its degrada- 

 tion is too great, its associations too wretched to 

 leave the aspiring soul room for a better hope. 



And so the sailor boy who has leaped into life 

 with a trustful determination to do and dare, and 

 deserve at least the good will of his fellow men, 

 emerges into manhood with all of good within 

 /iim, not killed^ but fearfully crushed beneath the 

 ,veight of evil and down-dragging associations. 

 And so I began to look for a ship, content to do 

 as others did, satisfied to accept the place appa- 

 rently determined for me by fate, and willing to 

 make the best of it. 



Wanting a ship, and getting one, seem to te 

 or.tviely different things in Port Louis. My 

 friends the French captains were, unfortunately 

 for me, all gone on their voyages, the regular sea- 

 son for starting on a long trip to the Ked Sea 

 having arrived while I was still boating. "Work 



