THE LABRADOR JOURNAL 



1833 



Eastport, Maine, June 4- Our vessel is being pre- 

 pared for our reception and departure, and we have con- 

 cluded to hire two extra sailors and a lad ; the latter to be 

 a kind of major-domo, to clean our guns, etc., search for 

 nests, and assist in skinning birds. Whilst rambling in 

 the woods this morning, I found a Crow's nest, with five 

 young, yet small. As I ascended the tree, the parents 

 came to their offspring crying loudly, and with such per- 

 severance that in less than fifteen minutes upwards of 

 fifty pairs of these birds had joined in their vociferations ; 

 yet when first the parents began to cry I would have 

 supposed them the only pair in the neighborhood. 



Wednesday, June 5. This afternoon, when I had con- 

 cluded that everything relating to the charter of the 

 " Ripley " was arranged, some difficulty arose between my- 

 self and Mr. Buck, which nearly put a stop to our having 

 his vessel. Pressed, however, as I was, by the lateness of 

 the season, I gave way and suffered myself to be imposed 

 upon as usual, with a full knowledge that I was so. The 

 charter was signed, and we hoped to have sailed, but 

 to-morrow is now the day appointed. Our promised 

 Hampton boat is not come. 



Thursday, June 6. We left the wharf of Eastport about 

 one o'clock P. M. Every one of the male population came 

 to see the show, just as if no schooner the size of the 



