308 
SOUTH SEA 
changed. The young man who was so active in going 
on shore to procure the vegetable we wanted, and whom 
I have mentioned in a former part of this account, still 
followed us in his little canoe, leaving all the rest behind ; 
but he also gradually fell astern, and when he found 
that we were getting so far ahead that there was no 
chance of his coming up with us, we saw him reluctantly 
give up paddling, and crouch down in his canoe and 
observe our approach to the ship. When we arrived on 
board we found the captain had determined to steer 
immediately to the southward, and a fresh breeze spring- 
ing up, we soon lost sight of our new acquaintances, 
leaving them to wonder at the purport of our visit, and 
enjoy their strange fancies, caused by our appearance, 
and the things which we possessed. 
Since our arrival at this place, we had not yet seen a 
single sperm whale, and therefore we still continued our 
course to the southward, in the hope that we should 
meet with more success, shaping our course towards the 
north-eastern part of New Holland, or Australia ; but 
before we arrived there, we were doomed to endure the 
inactivity and listlessness of a calm of no ordinary 
duration, and which was the most trying occurrence 
that we had suffered during the whole voyage, because 
of its long continuance, and our impatience, which was 
much heightened from our ill success in not seeing 
whales, and also because our time was of great conse- 
quence ; and moreover we stood in need of refreshment 
for the crew, some of whom began to shew symptoms 
of great debility. 
