Narrative of a Whaling Voyage round the Globe, from the year 1833 to 1836. Comprising sketches of Polynesia, California, the Indian Archipelago, etc. With an account of Southern whales, the sperm whale fishery, and the natural history of the climates visited

Front matter

NARRATIVE OF A WHALING VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE, "ROM THE YEAR 1833 TO 1836 .J . f COMPRISING SKETCHES OF POLYNE&E&, CALIFORNIA, THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO, etc WITH AN ACCOUNT OF SOUTHERN WHALES, THE SPERM WHALE FISHERY, AND THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CLIMATES VISITED. BY FREDERICK DEBELL BENNETT, Esq. F.R.G.S. FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS, LONDON. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, fjublteljfr in ©rilinan* to ?i?rr filai.-tu. 1840. LONDON : J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, PRINTERS, -5, PARLIAMENT STREET. TO GEORGE LEITH ROUPELL, M. D., FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, PHYSICIAN TO ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOS.PITAL, F.TC ETC. THESE VOLUMES ARE INSCRIBED, IN TESTIMONY OF THE VERY GREAT RESPECT AND ESTEEM OF THE AUTHOR.

Preface

The Voyage narrated in the ensuing pages was undertaken, in the latter part of the year 1833, chiefly, on my part, with a view to investigate the anatomy and habits of Southern Whales, and the mode of conducting the Sperm Whale Fishery, (a subject then untouched by the literature of any country,) and to make as many observations on the state of the Polynesian, or other lands we might visit, and to collect as many facts and examples in Natural History, as opportunities might offer. For the voyage was to be one of adventure — the world was before us — and our destination was in volved in an agreeable uncertainty. In communicating the result, it has been my endeavour to take, as it were, my reader with me, that he might see what I have seen and hear what I have heard, and thus obtain the VI

PREFACE.

. same amount of information I have myself been enabled to acquire. To do so the more faith fully, it has been my wish to cast aside every prejudiced or preconceived opinion, and to avoid drawing hasty conclusions. This, I be lieve, is all that can be required from a voyager author ; and if I have failed in the task, my ability, and not my will, is in fault. To all who look upon the propagation of civilized habits as a blessing to mankind in general, it must now be agreeable to remember the despondent tone adopted by our celebrated navigator, Captain Cook, when, but Uttle more than half a century ago, he described the beauty and fertility of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and lamented, in hopeless sorrow, that no charm of lucre existed on their shores, to in duce refined nations to cull their produce and introduce, in return, the comforts of civilized life.

How little could he have then anticipated, that, in a few years, numerous British and American fleets would be constantly traversing that ocean, engaged in a lucrative commerce, and incessantly visiting those islands, and hold ing friendly intercourse with their inhabitants ! Or, how little could he then foresee the noble spirit of philanthropy, which would so soon

PREFACE.

. VII actuate his countrymen to depute many of their number to reside with this people of a new world, and pave the way for raising them to the rank of civilized nations. The gleanings I have brought from Polynesia may not, therefore, be unacceptable, although many more able labour ers have been busy on the same field. Changes are yearly occurring in that region of the globe, which cannot but prove interesting to the phi lanthropist ; and Nature has endowed those islands with gifts which will long demand our closest scrutiny. Should the appended description of the Sperm Whale Fishery appear too minute, the apology I must offer for it is, that while I wished to make that description thorough, I have felt that some such tribute is due to the Whaler, that he might appear to the world in his true position.

By the uninitiated, he is too often regarded as ignorant, and of a degraded caste ; whereas, in fact, his occupation is one of extreme anxiety and trial, requires considerable talent and energy for its proper performance, and is, with out exception, the noblest branch of our mer chant-navy ; since, in the absence of war, it is the best adapted to display the courage, perse verance, and enterprising spirit of British sea-

PREFACE.

. men, in their truest and brightest colours. The national importance of the service, in a com mercial point of view, none can be bold enough to question. The collection of objects in Natural History brought to this country by the Tuscan, consisted of 743 dried specimens of plants, illustrating the vegetation of the lands visited, and 233 preparations of animals, most of which are rare, and many of them unique. The principal part of the botanical collection is now in the possession of A. B. Lambert, Esq. and Professor Don. The zoological I have deposited in the Hunterian Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. To Captain Stavers and the officers of the Tuscan, I feel a pleasure in acknowledging deep obligations for their extreme kindness towards me during the ordeal of so long a voyage, as well as for their voluntary, valuable, and indis pensable aid in furthering my inquiries. F. D. BENNETT. Kent Road. April 14, CONTENTS OF VOL. 1.

Chapter I

Departure from England — Madeira — Phenomenon of a " wind-gall," or " sun-dog " — A tempest — Marine ignis-fatuus, or St. Elmo's fire — Capture a Black-fish— See the first Sperm Whales — Calm on the Equator — Moral effects of a calm on voyagers — Line-currents — Their denizens — The dying dolphin — -Second encounter with Sperm Whales — Its results — Brazil-bank — Passage round Cape Horn — Oceanic birds — Voracity of the albatross — Mother Carey's chickens — Peron's dolphin — Ice-islands — Parhelion, or " mock-sun " — Floes of Salpæ — Speak a French right-whaler — Extraordinary assemblage of oceanic birds — Unusually phosphorescent state of the sea — Its causes ascertained by the capture of nondescript luminous medusæ and fish — A "lone" whale in sight — Visit Goat Island — -Juan Fernandez Page 1

Chapter II

Visit Pitcairn Island — Bounty Bay — Reception by the Inhabitants — Description of the Island and its population — Isabella Christian — Susan Christian — Physical, social, and X CONTENTS. moral state of the natives — Climate — Salubrity of the soil — Historical notice of the Island and its present occupants — Mutiny of the Bounty — Fate of the mutineers and their Polynesian companions — Biographical notice ofthe Patriarch Adams — Emigration of the Pitcairnians to Tahiti — Its disastrous results — Their return, and condition in 1834 — Re flections — Hospitality of the islanders — Proceed on our voyage — Facts connected with the presumed prior existence of an aboriginal race on Pitcairn Island . 25

Chapter III

See Maitea — Visit Tahiti — General description of the island — The Guava-tree — Native villages and dwellings — March of civilization— Commercial state and prospects of the island — Laws and government — Pedigree of the reigning family — The Queen Aimata — Revolution of 1831 — Its effects — Religious, moral, and physical condition of the natives- Present state of the Missionaries — Taata taehae, or wild men — Climate — Natural productions . . 59

Chapter IV

Leave Tahiti — Visit Raiatea — Scenery of its coast — Our reception by the natives — Description of the Island — Its coral formations — Reefs — Reef-apertures — Their causes considered — Peculiarities and beauties of the shore-reefs — Motus — Their character and apparent origin — Tides — Anchorages — Settlement at Utumaoro — Division and cultivation of the land — Native dwellings — Futile attempts of the missionaries to improve them — Public buildings — Present state of the inhabitants — Their moral and physical character — Clothing — Ornaments — Food — Baneful effects of the abuse of ardent spirits — Fei'-tumours — Native modes of fishing — Divided occupations of the sexes ... CONTENTS. XI

Chapter V

Commerce — Navy — Spiritual state of the natives — Great Morai of Opoa — Progress of Education amongst the people — Tamatoa II — Tamatoa Vahine — The Queen Dowager, Mahama — Defensive state of the Island — The late war with Borabora — Tara, Chief of Tubuai — His wife Butoe — Her courage in the field— Reliques of ancient songs and dances — Musical taste of the natives — Primitive dances — Peculiarities of the Tahitian language — Its written form — -Examples — Eccentric names of persons — Comparative dearth of population — Its causes considered — Half-castes — Deplorably diseased state of the natives — Fe fe, or Elephantiasis — Other native diseases — Their causes and effects — Parturition and management of infants — The Raiateans " contagionists " — Native remedies — Albinos, or Pupure . . 131

Chapter VI

Extension ofthe N. W. monsoon to eastern Polynesia — Climate of Raiatea — Meteoric phenomenon during a thunder-storm at Utumaoro — Natural productions of the island — Terns — Frigate-birds — Tropic-birds — Sharks — Scorpœna antennata — Turtle — Violation of an ancient royal privilege regarding them — Water-snakes — Lizards — Crustacea — Secretive habits of a species of Hyas — Calappa tuberculata — Hermit-crabs — Prawns — Land-crabs — Sea-urchins — Description of a kind possessing an offensive power — Star-fish — Turbo setosus — Water-clam — Beche-de-mer, or sea-slug — The flower-animal, Diazona — Sea-anemonies — Their peculiar changes of colour — Insects — Their increase on these Islands — The squeaking-cockroach — Spectre mantis — Vegetation — Botanical knowledge of the natives — Geological observations . CONTENTS.

Chapter VII

Hospitable custom of the Raiateans — Departure — Passage to the Sandwich Islands — Remarks on Sailors' fare and sailors' tastes — Gale on the Equator — Historical notice of the Sandwich group — General description of Oahu — Harbours and anchorages — Coral-reefs — Tides— Fort-hill and Diamond-hill, extinct craters — -Valleys — Their situation and scenery — Description ofthe Pari at Anuanu — Waterfall — Native tradition concerning it — Town of Honoruru — Present state of the native population — Manufactures — Recreations — Progress of Christianity — American Missionaries — Observance of Church ordinances — Mourning for the dead — Aboriginal mode of disposing of the dead — Peculiarities of the Hawaiian dialect — Progress of education amongst the natives . . . . . .186

Chapter VIII

Historical notice of the royal chiefs of Hawaii — Account of the reigning sovereign, Kauikeaouli — The Princess Tabu Nahiennaena — Incestuous privilege of the royal family State of the government — Military — Police — Laws and Penalties — Navy — Commerce — Foreign residents — Jealousy of the natives — Account of the late Mr. John Young, the Patriarch of Hawaii — Minini, " Father of the Foreigners " Half-castes — The late Isaac Davies — Particulars of his capture and detention by the Sandwich Islanders — Duplicity of Tamehameha— Meet the crew of a Japanese junk at Oahu Their adventures and disasters — Diseases of the Islanders Native physicians — The remedies they employ — Decrease of population — Its causes considered — Physical effects of civilisation — Climate— Natural productions — The aboriginal, or poe dog — Exotic breed of oxen — Birds — Uses to which their plumage is applied by the natives — Plovers The CONTENTS.

XIII Sandwich Island Goose — Fish — Crustacea — Teredo navalis, or " ship-borer " — Insects — The Sphinx pungens — Native mode of capturing it — Indigenous and exotic vegetation 227

Chapter IX

Departure from Oahu — Cruise to the northward — Effects of a current — Capture Sperm Whales — Nondescript oceanic birds — Curious illustration of an ornithological fact — Speak an American South-Seaman — Arrival off Queen Charlotte's Islands — Return to the southward — Health of the crew — Whaling operations — Albacore — Flying squid — Floating oceanic shells — Panic amongst the albacore assembled near the ship — The sword-fish — Extraordinary accident to the South-Seaman Foxhound — Return to the Sandwich Islands — Visit Maui — General description of the island and its inhabitants — Second visit to Oahu — Revolt of the chiefs against the crown — Visit of H. B. M. S. Challenger — Execution of two natives for the murder of a British subjects — Death of Mr. David Douglas, the enterprising traveller — Departure — Description of three Marquesans, natives of Roapoa— Island of Guadaloupe — Arrival off Cape St. Lucas — Remarkable phenomenon of a luminous sea — Whaling operations — Capture a pelican — Duncan's Island — Animated pursuit of Sperm Whales — Arrival at Santa Christina, Marquesas group ...... 257

Chapter X

Account of the Marquesas group — Description of Santa Christina — Native huts — Population of the island — Physical character of the people — Their attire and ornaments — Their moral character — Food — Eating-houses set apart for the men — Public banquets to celebrate the bread-fruit harvest — Diseases of the natives — Form of government — Eutiti, chief CONTENTS. of Vaituhu — Temples dedicated to the children of royal chiefs — Spiritual state of the people — Extent of missionary exertions amongst them — Prospects of the present resident missionaries — Aboriginal marriage customs — Disposal of the dead — Wars — Defensive state of the valleys — Recreations of the islanders — Their songs — Peculiarities of the Mar quesan dialect — Capabilities of the soil — Native manufactures — Canoes — Advantages the island offers for the re freshment of ships — Necessary precautions to be taken by the commanders of vessels — Instances of the treachery and ferocity of the Marquesan natives — Natural productions of the island ...... 297

Chapter XI

Leave Santa Christina — Visit Roapoa — Its position — Anchorages — Coast scenery — The ship visited by natives- — Land our Marquesan passengers — Departure — Second visit to Raiatea — Death of Mr. Loxton — Altered condition of the islanders — Their moral and physical degradation by the abuse of ardent spirits — Journey to the summit of a mountain, to investigate some natural phenomena described by the natives — Island of Tahaa — Geological observations — Departure from Raiatea — Visit Maurua — Beauties of its lagoonwater — Trade with the natives — General description of the island and its inhabitants — Natural productions of the soil — Its geological character — Tubui, or Motu-iti — Visit Caroline Island — Send two boats on shore — Discover a boat entrance into the lagoon — Form and structure of the island — Its natural productions — Snowy terns — Boobies — Peculiar species of shark — Hermit-lobsters— Vegetation — Quit the lagoon by the reef-aperture — Hazardous situation of the boat ...... CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XII

Visit Christmas Island — Its discovery and position — Form and structure of the land — Natural productions — Peculiar species of Booby — Tropic-birds — Eggs of the Snowy tern — Vegetation — Increase of cocoa-nut palms — Discover a low coral island — Cruise to the northward — Hazardous navigation in the North Pacific Ocean — A vertical sun — Whaling operations — Part of the crew suffer from eating salted albacore — Remarks on " poisonous fish " — Return to Oahu — Marriage of Tabu Nahiennaena — Collection of a poll-tax — Description of the salt-pond at Mounaroa — Increasing commerce of the port of Honoruru . . .379 NARRATIVE OF A WHALING VOYAGE ROUND THE GLOBE.

Chapter I

Departure from England — Madeira — Phenomenon of a " wind-gall," or " sun-dog" — A tempest — Marine ignis-fatuus, or St. Elmo's fire — Capture a Black-fish — See the first Sperm Whales — Calm on the Equator — Moral effects of a calm on voyagers — Line-currents — their denizens — The dying dolphin — Second encounter -with Sperm Whales — Its results — Brazil-bank — Passage round Cape Horn — Oceanic birds — Voracity of the albatross — Mother Carey's chickens — Peron's dolphin — Ice-islands — Parhelion, or " mock-sun" — Floes of Salpæ — Speak a French right-whaler — Extraordinary assemblage of oceanic birds — Unusually phosphorescent state of the sea — Its cause ascertained by the capture of nondescript luminous medusæ and fish — A " lone" whale in sight — Visit Goat Island — Juan Fernandez. October 17, 1833.

The ship Tuscan, of 300 tons burden, T. R. Stavers, commander, (in which I was embarked,) sailed from the port of London on a whaling expedition to the Pacific Ocean. It is not very usual for ships engaged in VOL. I. B this service to take charge of passengers ; but, on the present occasion, our party was agreeably increased by three ministers of the London Missionary Society, Messrs. Loxton, Rodgerson, and Stolworthy, who, together with the wives of the two first-named gentlemen, were destined for the islands of the Marquesa and Society groups. Adverse winds, occasioning a detention of six days at Portsmouth, did not permit us to clear the British Channel until the 29th, when we launched into blue water,* and continued * Few Englishmen, who have not extended their nau tical excursions to more than a hundred miles beyond the mouth of the British Channel, can form any correct idea of the appearance the sea presents throughout the greatest portion of the globe ; or how little applicable is the term " sea-green,'' when the shallow and troubled waters of our own coasts are exchanged for the clear and deep-blue bosom of fathomless oceans.

In the latter, the vast ex panse of fluid presents one uninterrupted field of a lapis lazuli tint; (the ultra-marine of painters;) and its lifting waves, crested with foam, bear a close resemblance to robes of the richest purple, edged with swansdown or fine lace. This intense blueness of the ocean has been ascribed to the salts of iodine contained in sea-water ; but it is more probable that the blue of our atmosphere, or sky, and that of the deep sea, have both the same origin ; namely, the clearness and vast accumulation of their respective, ele ments. an undeviating course to the southward and westward. A few hours after we had lost sight of the British coast, a flock of goldfinches, sFringella carduelis,) driven off the land by some previous heavy gales, took refuge on the ship, and con tinued with us for two or three days.

As every unusual appearance must have its meaning, this was regarded as a good omen by our crew. At noon on the 6th of November, the moun tain land of Madeira bore from us S. S. E., distant twelve miles. We passed sufficiently close to its coast to observe the general aspect of the country, its houses, and cultivated lands ; but at the same time incurred the penalty of a calm, which delayed us until the following morning. While thus detained, we noticed the phe nomenon named by nautical men a " wind-gall," (query, "wind-gale?") or "sun-dog;" — abroad and perpendicular streak of iridescent colours, placed opposite the sun, and extending from a dark cloud to the verge of the horizon. It ma}' be considered to be a fragment of a rainbow ; though its colours are much less delicate and diversified than those of the ordinary meteor of that name, and chiefly consist of a lurid-red, or copper-colour, and a bright olive-green, dividing b the column vertically and in nearly equal pro portions.

Sailors consider its appearance a pre cursor of foul weather; nor had we, in this instance, any reason to doubt the correctness of their conclusion ; since the succeeding night brought a heavy gale of wind, attended with thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain ; and the presence of an ignis fatuus * on the summit of each mast-head, gleaming with its peculiar sickly and supernatural light. Upon entering the northern tropic, the mo notony of a voyage across the Atlantic was somewhat relieved by the appearance of a school of small whales, or Blackfish, (Phoccena Sp.,) spouting and gamboling on the surface of the * These mysterious meteors, so frequently observed during a thunder-storm at sea, have invariably a globular form, are about the size of a tennis-ball, and emit a pale blue light. They occasionally appear to pass rapidly from one part of the ship to another, or to drop from the mast-head to the yards beneath, remaining stationary on each for a few moments.

Many names have been given to them. When one only is visible it is called Corpo Santo, or St. Helena ; when two, Castor and Pollux ; and more, Tyndaridæ, or St. Elmo's fire. It is probable that their origin is to be found in the effects of evaporation ; for, however much the atmosphere may have been sur charged with electricity, during tempests at sea, I have never observed them but as attendants upon rain. sea. They were very numerous, and easily approached by the boats lowered in pursuit of them. Three were harpooned. One, however, escaped by the harpoon drawing ; the second sunk immediately after death ; but the third, which was secured without misadventure, was brought to the ship and taken upon deck entire. It measured sixteen feet in length ; and produced about thirty gallons of oil for the use of the ship's company.

On the 14th of November we felt the first influence of the N. E. trade-wind, in lat. 21° N. ; and at noon on the 16th came in sight of the island of St. Antonio, of the Cape de Verd group, passing it to the eastward, at the distance of twenty-six miles. In lat. 9° N., long. 23° W., (where the accession of calms and light airs denoted that we had exceeded the limits of the N. E. trade-wind,) a school of sperm whales was first observed, and announced by the usual exclamations. A strong excitement instantly pervaded the entire crew ; an animating scene of bustle and activity en sued ;* and in a few minutes the boats were low- * On these occasions, something like the following ex pressions are heard from the look-out at the mast-head and the commander and others on deck. There she spouts! — There she blow-o-os ! — Where away? — Two points on ered and spread over the ocean in pursuit of their prey, leaving the ship almost tenantless and deserted.

The whales had been alarmed at the approach of the ship, and proved particularly watchful and timid. One individual, however, was approached by a boat as it lay motionless on the water, in the act of listening, and before it could take the alarm received two harpoons in its body, and was subsequently despatched by the lance in little more than ten minutes. The dead cachalot (which was a female of adult size) was brought to the ship, when the operation of " cutting in" was immediately commenced, and completed in three hours. To obtain oil at so early a period of the voyage greatly exhilirated the spirits of the crew, and naturally led them to anticipate a short and prosperous voyage. Nor had our the lee-bow, sir, a school of whales. — Bring up the glass, boy. — Aye, aye, sir. — How far off do you see them ? — About four miles, sir. — Back the main-yard ; brail up the trysail. — There she blow-o-s ! — Th-e-r-e again ! — Flukes ! — (An expectant pause ensues, and all are intent to discover the next rising.) — There she breaches! — There she blow-o-s ! — Th-e-r-e a-gain ! — on the lee-quar ter. — >Get your boats ready for lowering. — Th-e-r-e a-gain ! — Lower away !

I see there is a large whale amongst them that wants a passage to London. missionary passengers any reason to be other wise than pleased with the result, since it re lieved them from the suspicion of being " un lucky people ; " an odium a sailor is always inclined to attach to religious professors, of whatever persuasion. A continuance of calms or light and variable airs detained us a few degrees north of the equator for ten days, during which the weather was oppressively sultry, and rain of very frequent occurrence. Of all the minor inconve niences attending a journey by sea, a protracted calm is certainly the most annoying both to sailors and landsmen. Whatever length of time a passage may occupy, if the motion of the ship is rapid, it is endured with patience ; whilst, on the other hand, but a few successive days of perfect calm appear as a tedious century, and destroy the equanimity of the most resigned voyager.

On those who have not the inclination to resort to intellectual pursuits to beguile their time, the affliction falls with greater force. With them the ship becomes at once a floating illustration of the Castle of Indolence, where " Labour only was to pass the time ; And labour sore it was, and weary woe." This usually indolent period, however, was not entirely so with our small community. The boats were frequently lowered to exercise their respective crews ; and the decks daily exhibited the busy occupations of many artisans. The sea, also, at this time, presented a very animated appearance, owing to the currents which prevailed thus near the line, as well as to the calm that lay on the surface of the deep and rendered all natural marine objects more distinctly visible. Sharks, attracted probably by the late effusion of blood, were numerous around us ; and many examples of the albacore or tunny, (Scomber Thynnus,) and dorado, or " dolphin " of sailors, (Coryphœna hippuris,) were taken by hook and line, or by the barbed spikes of the " granes."

The changes of hue displayed by the dying " dolphin " are peculiar ; but have been much exaggerated by the poetical descriptions of travellers. Soon after the fish has been removed from the water, the bright yellow with rich blue spots, which constitutes the normal colour of the animal, is exchanged for a brilliant silver, which, a short time after death, passes into a dull-gray, or lead-colour. The original golden hue occasionally revives in a partial manner, and appears above the silver field, producing a very interesting play of colours ; but the diver sity of tints is not greater than I have described. When off the east coast of Brazil, in lat. 22° S., long. 35° W., we experienced a gale from the N. W., which had the effect of bringing about the ship many land birds and lepidopterous in sects.

Among those we captured was a small heron, (Ardeola, or "paddy-bird " of Bengal,) with cinnamon -coloured plumage ; and a large moth, the Hydaspus Jatrophæ of Fabricius. December 24. — In lat. 38° S., long. 51° W., a party of sperm whales was seen from the mast head, and the boats lowered in pursuit. One of the school, moving slowly through the water, and conspicuous for his large size, was selected as the object of attack, and successfully harpooned. The creature plunged violently upon being pierced with the weapon, and, setting off swiftly with the attached boat, was not destroyed until after a conflict of nearly five hours' duration. The barometer having fallen in twenty-four hours from 30" 10 to 29*60, and other indications of an approaching storm being observed, some anxiety was felt to preserve the valuable prize that had been obtained with so much labour.

The body of the cachalot was disposed of the same evening ; but the approach of night did not permit the same care to be taken of the head, which was, consequently, left floating astern, secured by a strong hawser to the capstan. The night brought a furious gale from the S. W., with a sea running so high that it became necessary to cast off the head of the whale, both to ease the ship, and to avoid the danger which might result from the waves setting such a weighty mass against her stern. On the 26th the wind moderated ; but the sea remained turbulent, and presented the green hue of soundings, marking the extent to which the " Brazil bank" stretches forth in an easterly direction from the American continent. The temperature of this tract of discoloured water was much higher than that of the sur rounding atmosphere ; and communicated to the hands immersed in it a very agreeable sensation of warmth.

Many ocean birds of the high south latitudes were now visible around us, as nellies (Procel laria gigantea); blue-petrels, or sperm-birds (Prion pachyptila); pintados, or cape-pigeons ; and pios, or cape-hens sDiomedia fuliginosa) ; with several other species of the albatross family. Among the number of these birds we captured by hook and line, baited with fat meat, was a kind of petrel, which has not been described by our ornithologists. In size * and blackness of plumage, beak, and legs, it bears a close resemblance to the sooty-petrel (Procel laria fuliginosa) ; but it is distinguished from that species by white bands encircling the head and throat in the form of a bridle. The wandering albatross sDiomedia eoculans), often appeared to us in the very gray garment that characterises the young bird ; while most of the adult specimens we obtained displayed a vertical line of delicate rose-coloured plumage on each side of the neck ; a peculiarity which I had never observed in the many examples of this bird I had in former voyages procured off the Cape of Good Hope.

We witnessed an amusing instance of the voracity of this species. A slip of porpoise blubber, that could not have weighed less than three or four pounds, had been thrown over board and was floating on the sea, when it was pounced upon by a large albatross, and although, as we watched the result, it appeared impossible that the bird could manage such a bulky morsel, with a few moments' strenuous exertion he contrived to swallow it entire. Although * Length twenty-three inches ; expanse of wing four feet seven inches. unable to rise from the water after the under taking, he continued to swim pertinaciously in pursuit of a hook and line, baited with the same tempting food, and only escaped being captured by the hook breaking in his beak. Stormy-petrels were frequently about the ship, skimming over the waves in their peculiar rapid flitting manner; every moment dipping to the sea and raising a slight splash on its sur face, then rebounding to renew their mazy flight through the air.