in those directions
before. Provision had to be made now for a possible four or five months'
passage, during which we hoped to avoid any further calls, so that
the accumulation of firewood alone was no small matter. We cleared the
surrounding neighbourhood of potatoes at a good price, those useful
tubers being all they could supply us with for sea-stock, much to their
sorrow.

Then came the most unpleasant part of the whole business--for me. It had
been a part of the agreement made with the Kanakas that they were not to
be taken home with us, but returned to their island upon the termination
of the whaling. Now, the time had arrived when we were to part, and
I must confess that I felt very sorry to leave them. They had proved
docile, useful, and cheerful; while as for my harpooner and his mate
Polly, no man could have wished for smarter, better, or more faithful
helpers than they were. Strong as their desire was to return to their
homes, they too felt keenly the parting with us; for although they
had unavoidably suffered much from the inclemency of the weather--so
different from anything they had ever previously experienced--they had
been kindly treated, and had moved on precisely the same footing as the
rest of the crew. They wept like little children when the time arrived
for them to leave us, declaring that if ever we came to their island
again they would use all their endeavours to compel us to remain,
assuring us that we should want for nothing during the rest of our
lives, if we would but take up our abode with them. The one exception
to all this cordiality was Sam. His ideas were running in quite other
channels. To regain his lost status as ruler of the island, with all
the opportunities for indulging his animal propensities which such
a position gave him, was the problem he had set himself, and to the
realization of these wishes he had determinedly bent all his efforts.

Thus he firmly declined the offer of a passage back in the ELIZA ADAMS,
which our captain secured for all the Kanakas; preferring to be landed
at the Bluff, with the goodly sum of money to which he was entitled,
saying that he had important business to transact in Sydney before he
returned. This business, he privately informed me, was the procuring of
arms and ammunition wherewith to make war upon his rival. Of course we
could not prevent him, although it did seem an abominable thing to let
loose the spirit of slaughter among those light-hearte