WHALING VOYAGE* 
387 
tion with one of the officers who was on watch, when 
we saw all at once arise a considerable degree of agita- 
tion in a part of the sea that was situated between us 
and the shore, and examining more intently we could 
perceive a number of dark-looking objects upon its 
surface, which were moving about with great velocity. 
We directly supposed them to be a “ school,” or drove of 
porpoises which appeared to be coming towards us. But 
it was not long before we heard human voices, and dis- 
covered the figures to be human beings who were swim- 
ming towards us, and as they came nearer, we could 
perceive that they were racing against each other with 
great animation ; but what was our surprise when we 
saw them come close to the ship, and seizing her chains, 
leap on board with the greatest alacrity and ease, and 
before we could scarcely find time to look around us, 
we found upwards of thirty women on board, who in a 
few minutes were scattered all over the ship, bargaining 
with the sailors for the various things which they had 
brought on board with them for sale. 
On the 16th of October 1832, we bade adieu to the 
Friendly Islands, and soon meeting with strong north- 
east winds, we made way at a rapid rate towards our 
native land ; the sailors saying, in consequence of our 
speed, that their wives and sweethearts had now got hold 
of the ship, and were giving “ a long pull, a strong pull, 
and a null altogether.” 
A CJ 
The 26th found us in the latitude of 41° o' south, 
and in the longitude of 152° 46' west, being not very far 
from New Zealand, where we fell in with the regular 
