WHALING VOYAGE. 
309 
On the 15 tli of January 1832, we were not far distant 
from “Lucansay ? s Islands” and reefs, which lie in the 
longitude of 149° 30' east, and in the latitude of 8° 20' 
south. They are very low, being scarcely above the 
level of the sea, but they are covered with trees and 
verdure. 
For several days before we arrived near these islands 
we had experienced light and variable winds, but on 
the day mentioned above we found ourselves totally 
becalmed, and the motion of the sea gradually ceased 
until it became entirely motionless, and appeared like an 
immense sheet of polished glass. When the calm had 
continued for three days and nights, and we still found 
not a breath of wind stirring, impatient uneasiness 
became depicted in every face ; the ship had been 
repaired in her rigging, the casks in her hold had been 
re-stowed, and everything connected with the business of 
the ship requiring smooth water had been done, and we 
now only waited for a pleasant breeze to waft us along. 
But it came not, and nights and days passed away, and 
not even a “flaw” ruffled the blue surface of the even 
deep ; the sails hung motionless from the yards, the 
ship lay perfectly still, a dead silence reigned around. 
Many of our sailors lay below, drowning their sorrows 
in oblivious sleep, while of those who were on deck to 
keep the formal watch, some leaned drowsily upon the 
rail, others sat musing over their past fate, while a few 
beguiled the dull time by working the “ cinnit ” hat, 
carving the whalebone stick, or fashioning the tortoise- 
shell ring for those who were far, very far, away. The 
