368 THE CRUISE OF THE " CACHALOT.'' 



Provision had to be made now for a possible four or five 

 months' passage, during which we hoped to avoid any 

 further calls, so that the accumulation of firewood alone 

 was no small matter. We cleared the surrounding 

 neighbourhood of potatoes at a good price, those useful 

 tubers being all they could supply us with for sea-stock, 

 much to their sorrow. 



Then came the most unpleasant part of the whole 

 business — for me. It had been a part of the agreement 

 made with the Kanakas that they were not to be taken 

 home with us, but returned to their island upon the 

 termination of the whaling. Now, the time had arrived 

 when we were to part, and I must confess that I felt 

 very sorry to leave them. They had proved docile, 

 useful, and cheerful; while as for my harpooner and 

 his mate Polly, no man could have wished for smarter, 

 better, or more faithful helpers than they were. Strong 

 as their desire was to return to their homes, they too 

 felt keenly the parting with us ; for although they had 

 unavoidably suffered much from the inclemency of the 

 weather — so different from anything they had ever 

 previously experienced — they had been kindly treated, 

 and had moved on precisely the same footing as the rest 

 of the crew. They wept like little children when the 

 time arrived for them to leave us, declaring that if ever 

 we came to their island again they would use all their 

 endeavours to compel us to remain, assuring us that we 

 should want for nothing during the rest of our lives, if 

 we would but take up our abode with them. The one 

 exception to all this cordiality was Sam. His ideas 

 were running in quite other channels. To regain his 

 lost status as ruler of the island, with all the oppor- 

 tunities for indulging his animal propensities which 

 such a position gave him, was the problem he had set 



