358 
SOUTH SEA 
of their united efforts, and still more strengthened the 
buoyancy of their minds. And indeed good fortune 
attended us with an unsparing hand, for in about six 
weeks we obtained above six hundred barrels of sperm 
oil, which completed our cargo. Never shall I forget 
the pleasurable excitement that prevailed among all 
around, when the last slain whale measured its huge 
length along the limpid waves— cheer after cheer as- 
cended, and made the decks resound with their recoil. 
The exciting grog was quaffed to dearest wife or maid, 
or nearest friend, with joyous heart and generous throb 
of warmest hope. And when the rich amber-coloured 
store was placed below in the sure hold, then up ran 
the busy mariners, and stretched upon the yards with 
willing hands the whitened sails, and heaved with urgent 
hope for kindly gales to waft them to their homes. 
We now steered to the north-east, being bound again 
to the Sandwich Islands, it being necessary to refit the 
ship and refresh the crew, before we attempted to pass 
through the distant regions, or witness the uncommon 
scenes that might present themselves. We soon found 
ourselves in the latitude of forty degrees north of the 
equator ; it being necessary to make so much northing 
in order to get to windward of the Sandwich Islands 
during our passage — because of the north-east trade 
winds which prevail all around them, so that if a ship 
attempted to make the straight course, she w T ould soon 
find herself far to leeward of the islands. 
From the time of completing our cargo up to our 
arrival in forty north, we had passed through an immense 
