at the eastern end of it,
and obliged to anchor promptly to save ourselves from being swept down
the coast many miles to leeward of our port.

But the skipper was quite equal to the occasion. Ordering his boat,
he sped away into Bluff harbour, only a matter of six or seven miles,
returning soon with a tug, who for a pound or two placed us, without
further trouble, alongside the wharf, amongst some magnificent clipper
ships of Messrs. Henderson's and the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s, who
seemed to turn up their splendid noses at the squat, dumpy, antiquated
old serving-mallet that dared to mingle with so august a crowd. There
had been a time, not so very far back, when I should have shared their
apparent contempt for our homely old tub; but my voyage had taught me,
among other things, that, as far as true comfort went at sea, not a
"three-skysail-yarder" among them could compare with the CACHALOT. And
I was extremely glad that my passage round the Horn was to be in my own
ship, and not in a long, snaky tank that, in the language of the sailor,
takes a header when she gets outside the harbour, and only comes up two
or three times to blow before she gets home.

Our only reason for visiting this place being to discharge Captain
Count's oil, and procure a sea-stock of salt provisions and hard bread,
these duties were taken in hand at once. The skipper sold his venture of
oil to good advantage, being so pleased with his success that he gave us
all a good feed on the strength of it.

As soon as the stores were embarked and everything ready for sea,
leave was given to all hands for twenty-four hours, upon the distinct
understanding that the privilege was not to be abused, to the detriment
of everybody, who, as might be supposed, were anxious to start for
home. In order that there might be less temptation to go on the spree
generally, a grand picnic was organized to a beautiful valley some
distance from the town. Carriages were chartered, an enormous quantity
of eatables and drinkables provided, and away we went, a regular
wayzgoose or bean-feast party. It was such a huge success, that I have
ever since wondered why such outings cannot become usual among sailors
on liberty abroad, instead of the senseless, vicious waste of health,
time, and hard-earned wages which is general. But I must not let myself
loose upon this theme again, or we shall never get to sea.

Liberty over without any trouble arising, and all hands comfortably