month we saw sperm
whales, lowered our boats, and succeeded in taking one; the blubber of
which, when boiled out, yielded us seventy-five barrels of oil.
Pursuing our voyage, on the twenty-third of February we passed the
Falkland Islands, and about the 5th of March, doubled the great
promontory of South America, Cape Horn, and stood to the Northward.
We saw whales once only before we reached the Sandwich Islands, which
we made on the first of May early in the morning. When drawing in with
the Island of Hawaii about four in the afternoon, the man at the mast
head gave notice that he saw a shoal of black fish on the lee bow;
which we soon found to be canoes on their way to meet us. It falling
calm at this time prevented their getting along side until night fall,
which they did, at a distance of more than three leagues from the
land. We received from them a very welcome supply of potatoes, sugar
cane, yams, cocoanuts, bananas, fish, &c. for which we gave them in
return, pieces of iron hoop, nails, and similar articles. We stood off
and on during the next day, and after obtaining a sufficient supply of
vegetables and fruit, we shaped our course for Oahu, at which place we
arrived on the following day, and after lying there twenty hours,
sailed for the coast of Japan, in company with the whaling ships
Palladium of Boston, and Pocahontas of Falmouth; from which ships we
parted company when two days out.--After cruising in the Japan seas
several months, and obtaining five hundred and fifty barrels of oil,
we again shaped our course for the Sandwich Islands, to obtain a
supply of vegetables, &c.
While lying at Oahu, six of the men deserted in the night; two of them
having been re-taken were put in irons, but one of them having found
means to divest himself of his irons, set the other at liberty, and
both escaped.
To supply their places, we shipped the following persons, viz: Silas
Payne, John Oliver, Anthony Hanson, a native of Oahu, Wm. Humphries, a
black man, and steward, and Thomas Lilliston.--Having accommodated
ourselves with as many vegetables and much fruit as could be
preserved, we again put to sea, fondly anticipating a successful
cruise, and a speedy and happy meeting with our friends. After leaving
Oahu we ran to the south of the Equator, and after cruising a short
time for whales without much success, we steered for Fannings Island,
which lies in lat. 3, 49 N. and long. 158, 29 W. While cruising off
this Isl
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