TURTLES AND PORPOISES 53 



are not hunted unless a whaling ship is hard up 

 for oil. 



We gradually worked into the trade winds that 

 blew steadily from the southeast. These winds 

 stayed with us for several weeks or rather we 

 stayed with the winds ; while in them it was rarely 

 necessary to take in or set a sail or brace a yard. 

 After we had passed through these aerial rivers, 

 flowing through definite, if invisible, banks, we 

 struck the doldrums — areas of calm between 

 wind currents — they might be called whirlpools 

 of stillness. Later in the day light, fitful breezes 

 finally pushed us through them into the region 

 of winds again. 



The slow voyage to the Hawaiian islands — 

 on the sperm whale grounds, we cruised under 

 short sail — might have proved monotonous if we 

 had not been kept constantly busy and if divert- 

 ing incidents had not occurred almost every day. 

 Once we sighted three immense turtles sunning 

 themselves on the sea. To the captain they held 

 out prospect of soups and delicate dishes for the 

 cabin table, and with Long John as boatsteerer. 



