THE AMERICAN WHALEMAN. 359 



This is about the sum of our knowledge of water-spouts. 

 Let us suppose that Newton had seen cohimns of sea-water, 

 as spirals of glass three feet in diameter, ascending to the 

 clouds, instead of that noted apple falling from a tree. Que- 

 ry : Might not his reflective and ingenious mind have worked 

 out a different theory of gravitation ? And would not the 

 schools have been just as well satisfied? Much of science 

 might be different had that gifted Englishman, instead of sit- 

 ting in his orchard, observed nature in a mast-head watch 

 on some South Sea whaler. 



Jan.1'7. Until yesterday the weather continued wet, dis- 

 agreeable, and squally, quite contrary to the idea that the 

 Pacific is pacific. But this morning is calm, sunny, and beau- 

 tiful in the extreme. From the forecastle-deck the voices 

 of the Kanakas are heard in hymns of praise and thanksgiv- 

 ing, in airs familiar to my ear. Their voices are not remark- 

 able, but their time is admirable. I account for this in the 

 fact that it is in recitative and chorus that their histories 

 and traditions are preserved and handed down. By the aid 

 of an interpreter, we have added much Hawaiian lore to the 

 old-fashioned yarns of our forecastle. I might almost say 

 that their chant has replaced the rollicking fun and instruct- 

 ive discourses which prevailed before our unfortunate visit 

 to the islands. In consequence of uncongenial surroundings, 

 I feel very lonely and restive. Only three foremast hands 

 in our watch speak English, and but one with whom I can 

 speak on subjects other than those of our passing life. The 

 yarn, the song, and the skylark are seldom heard charming 

 the hours and banishing the drowse of the nightwatch as of 

 old. The books of our library are of such a class as only to 

 increase the gloom and melancholy. A few books of worth 

 would serve much to brighten the dark, long, lone path 

 which opens before us. But cast on my own resources, I 

 may be weeding tares from my garden, and growing truer to 



