TSE AMESIOAN WBALEMAN. 289 



that these animals collect to pasture. By the establishment 

 of the regular watch to-night, and our putting on top-gallant 

 sails, we are informed that the present cruise is over, and 

 that we are bound for the islands to recruit. It is full time, 

 for the old crew are in a worn condition, and incapable of 

 the best service in the boats ; and pains in the bones, loss of 

 color and elasticity in the muscular flesh, and ugly blue spots 

 on the legs are evidences of scurvy among them. 



March 7. The weather in the morning was mild, calm, 

 and showery. Great numbers of porpoises were playing un- 

 der the bows, and we darted the iron into one ; but the weap- 

 on drew, and the injured creature fell back among its com- 

 panions, who make short work of relieving the suffering. 

 Such, at least, is the belief among sailors. 



At about 11 P.M. we entered the north-east trade-winds by 

 a well-defined line. South of lat. 5° 40' N. we experienced 

 calms, alternated with squalls and sudden puffs, accompanied 

 by a great depression of our spirits and lassitude of body. 

 It is a hopeless, doleful region, where whales are very small 

 and hard to get. We thanked God audibly when the clean, 

 bracing north-east wind struck our sails and laid us almost 

 on our beam-ends — so sudden was it. We handed top-gal- 

 lant and gaff-top sails, and hauled close to the wind, but we 

 could not lay a course for the Islands by three points, and 

 must work a traverse to gain the weather-gauge. It is 

 guessed that we may make the Sandwich Islands, in about 

 twenty days. 



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