1821.] 



THE AUTHOR'S EARLY LIFE. 



xxiii 



tardy rate of about twice her length in twenty minutes. This slow 

 movement, however, was gradually accelerated, until, in about twenty- 

 five minutes, we found her approaching the outer edge of her ice-bound 

 prison with great velocity. It was now deemed necessary to shorten 

 sail, lest her still increasing speed should drive some sharp fragment 

 of ice through her bottom. Every sail was therefore taken in, except 

 the head of the foresail ; by which time we were in clear water, where 

 we hove the vessel to under two reefs in her foresail, which was now 

 as much canvass as she was able to stand under in such a gale. 



On the following day the gale abated, fine weather succeeded, and 

 the sea soon became smooth. It was now found necessary to get the 

 vessel into a safe anchorage as soon as possible. This was finally 

 effected by the discovery of a new and commodious harbour, to which, 

 in honour of our worthy captain, we gave the name of Johnson's Har- 

 bour. Here we came to anchor, and enjoyed a little respite after our 

 late danger and fatigue. 



The next morning my brother and myself, each in command of a 

 well-furnished whale-boat, started on a cruise in search of sea-ele- 

 phants. Our boats were equipped and stored with every thing neces- 

 sary for such service, — such as provisions, arms, fireworks, tent, &c. 

 After coasting along the shore for about thirty miles to the westward, 

 we discovered the objects of our search on the beach, in immense 

 multitudes, to the amount of at least ten thousand. Exulting in the 

 prospect of a successful enterprise, we immediately selected a con- 

 venient spot and pitched our tent, which was made of No. 1 canvass, 

 and of sufficient capacity to accommodate the crews of both whale- 

 boats. Here we encamped, in the midst of our unconscious victims, 

 which were scattered around us in numbers more than sufficient for 

 our present purpose, — which was merely to provide a cargo of seven 

 hundred barrels of oil for the brig Jane Maria, of New- York, and 

 which we effected in a very short time. 



As soon as the brig arrived and took charge of the oil, we weighed 

 anchor and shaped our course to the north-east, in search of fur-seals. 

 This unwearied activity was characteristic of our enterprising and 

 amiable commander. On the accomplishment of one object he pro- 

 ceeded to another without a moment's delay. But it is to be feared 

 that this laudable ambition at length carried him too far, and that he 

 has fallen a victim to that spirit of manly enterprise by which he was 

 always actuated. He sailed from New- York in 1826, on a voyage to 

 the South Seas, but has not been heard of since he left the south cape 

 of New-Zealand, in 1827. 



We arrived at the Seal Islands in the latter part of November, 1821, 

 but found very little game to reward us for the trouble of coming 

 thither. Captain Johnson, therefore, whose active spirit would not 

 permit him to linger among these islands in idleness, adopted the 

 resolution of sailing eastward in search of new lands. So we took 

 our boats on deck, and steered between the east and the south, until 

 the second day of December, at one o'clock, when the man at mast- 

 head gave the cheering cry of " Land, ho ! Land, ho !" 



This proved to be an island, bearing east-half-south, distant five 



