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CHAPTER XrV. 



LIBERTY DAY AND AFTER. 



There is generally current among seamen a notion that 

 all masters of ships are bound by law to give their 

 crews twenty-four hours' liberty and a portion of their 

 wages to spend every three months, if they are in port. 

 I have never heard any authority quoted for this, and 

 do not know what foundation there is for such a belief, 

 although the practice is usually adhered to in English 

 ships. But American whale-ships apparently know no 

 law, except the will of their commanders, whose con- 

 venience is always the first consideration. Thus, we 

 had now been afloat for well over a year, during which 

 time, except for our foraging excursions at the Cocos 

 and Aldabra, we had certainly known no liberty for a 

 whole day. 



Our present port being one where it was impossible 

 to desert without the certainty of prompt recapture, 

 with subsequent suffering altogether disproportionate to 

 the offence, we were told that one watch at a time 

 would be allowed their liberty for a day. So we of the 

 port watch made our simple preparations, received 

 twenty-five cents each, and were turned adrift on the 

 beach to enjoy ourselves. We had our hberty, but we 



