66 



porter's journal. 



made. Several tubs full of them were collected and 

 thrown overboard, and it was supposed that, exclusive of 

 the young, which were killed in the nests, and could not 

 be found, we did not destroy a less number than from 

 twelve to fifteen hundred. The caulking and other re- 

 pairs of the ship went on with much expedition and regu- 

 larity, and among other defects we found our main-topmast 

 in a very decayed state. We were however enabled to 

 replace it with a spare one on board, and every thing pro- 

 mised that we should not meet with many embarrassments 

 or delays. As soon, however, as our painting commenced, 

 we felt the want of oil. We caught two remarkably large 

 sharks, and endeavoured to substitute the oil extracted 

 from their livers, but found it would not answer. We 

 next tried black-fish oil, but it did not succeed. Fortu- 

 nately, having a small quantity of the oil of the black whale 

 on board our prizes, we found it answered nearly as well 

 to paint as that which is extracted from flax-seed, and ge- 

 nerally known by the name of linseed oil. With this we 

 were enabled to improve the external appearance of the 

 ship, but had not a sufficient quantity to paint her inside^ 

 We afterwards, however, found that this island affords an 

 excellent substitute for linseed oil, in the oily walnuts, 

 formerly mentioned, as being used by the natives in ripen- 

 ing bananas, and for candles. The oil, of which they 

 afford a large quantity, is easily expressed, and is nowise 

 inferior to the best paint oil. As such, it is used not only 

 by the natives of the Sandwich Islands, where it abounds^ 

 for painting their clothes, but by vessels touching therCj 

 which need a supply of that article. 



We found our copper much injured in many parts a 

 little below the surface of the water, and were enabledy 

 by means of the supply we had obtained and secured from 

 our prizes, to make the necessary repairs, after giving 

 the ship a slight careen. Her bottom was found, on 

 examination, to have on it barnacles, in considerable 

 quantities, together with much grass and moss, which had 

 no doubt collected at the Gallipagoes. To cleanse it and 

 free the ship from those embarrassments which must great- 

 ly impede her sailing, the natives were employed, who^ 

 by diving down, with the assistance of the outer shell of 

 the cocoa-nut, soon removed them. The boatswain, as 



