34 AVOYAGETOTHE 



^ ^iif^ ^' From this to the 1 4th we were engaged in various ne- 



' ■ — ' celTary employments. About feven tons of ftone ballaft 



January. Were taken on board, and our boats like wife aflifted the 

 atur ay 14. Q^^gj^ Charlotte in the fame bulinefs, as fhe required a 

 much larger quantity of ballaft than the King George. A 

 number of feals and fea lions were killed for the fake of 

 their fkins and blubber ; and the carpenters were fully 

 employed in caulking the quick-work and other parts that 

 were found defective, in order that we might proceed to 

 fea as foon as poflible. I gave the people liberty to go on 

 fhore at every opportunity, being convinced that land-air 

 and exercife conduce very much to preferve the health of 

 feamen in long voyages. 



During this interval we in general had frefh gales at 

 South Weft, with fqually weather and frequent rain. 



Sunday 15. ^,p j-^i^e o'clock this cvemng a floop arrived in the 

 harbour, and anchored off the town. Early next morn- 

 ing, captain Coffin came on board the King George, and 

 informed me that his {loop is named the Speedwell, and 

 is tender to a fhip called the United States, commanded 

 by captain Huftey, and now lying in a good harbour at 

 Swan Ifland, in company with the Canton, captain Whip- 

 py : both thefe veiTels were employed in the oil trade, 

 and had nearly completed their cargoes ; the United States 

 having 300 tons of oil on board, and the Canton about 

 half that quantity. 



The chief part of their oil is procured from animals 

 they call fea elephants, Thefe creatures are certainly am- 

 phibious. 



