22 WHITE— A Sketch of the Life of Samuel WhiU. 



coral. As soon as the anchor was heaved upon she cleared 

 and was soon under way. The wind was very light up to 2 

 o'clock, when it freshened, and a good run was made. 



The following night was beautifully clear and wind fresh, 

 so that up to noon the next day the little vessel made 180 miles. 

 A good big sea was met with which was not expected in this 

 shallow region. This part of the voyage seemed very monoto- 

 nous after the beautiful and varied scenery of the Barrier Pas- 

 sage. This was the second day without seeing land. The wea- 

 ther became cloudy more or less both night and day. During 

 the night of the 22nd the water shallowed suddenly and upon 

 sounding it was found that the water was only 4 fathoms and 

 even by the dim night-light looked white and muddy. The 

 captain altered the course from JN7W. to S.W. and the water 

 soon deepened. It was surmised that the vessel was .close 

 to Frederic Henry's Island, but although the night was not 

 dark and .the moon shone out at times, no trace of land could 

 be seen. All day a good breeze was blowing, and a good 

 headway was made, and the Aru Islands were expected to be 

 in sight the next day. As soon as the yacht left Booby Island 

 she .was attended by numerous birds, Terns, Gulls, Noddies, 

 and Gannets, two of the latter following the vessel for a long 

 time, making attempts to alight on deck or .spars. In his 

 notes my father says: — 



"Just after sunset the man at the wheel struck one of 

 the gannets which was attempting to alight upon his 

 head. I was standing close up, the bird rolled over 

 and made off uttering a loud hoarse croaking noise, and we saw 

 him no more. His mate sailed round a few times and rested 

 on the weather end of the square sail yard, and ,-as there was 

 another sail set above it the bird was safe, as, a man could not 

 reach the end of the yard while the sail was set. All the 

 efforts of some of the crew who exerted themselves failed to 

 drive the bird off. They shook the braces, and pelted him with 

 coal and although several pieces struck him, he refused to quit 

 the yard. While bracing the yard the bird was knocked off by 

 the flapping of the sail, but he managed to regain ,his place, 

 and when I went below, was sitting with his head .under his 

 wing. When I returned to the deck in the midnight watch, he 

 was comfortably perched on the main crosstrees, while the 

 ship was .rolling and sails flapping. At 6 a.m. I found the 

 bird with his legs tied. One of the crew had gone aloft and 

 captured him while asleep. I gave him his liberty, and in way 

 of showing his gratitude he bit my fingers severely." 



