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They ^[[insertion]] of the Gibbs [[/insertion]] had left, as they alledged, because of the [[strikethrough]] outragous[[/strikethrough]] treatment of the [[strikethrough]] Capt. of [[/strikethrough]] Captain who would not give men half enough to eat - & what he did give usually consisted of simply hard-bread & coffee for breakfast. On this ^[[insertion]] breakfast [[/insertion]] they were often forced to go out & be gone all day in quest for whales. They made up their minds to start for the States which ^[[insertion]] purpose [[/insertion]] they put into execution by taking a Whale Boat, 2 tubs of Whale line, 3 harpoons & as many lances, a [["conjurer"?]] 2 guns, a trifle of provision ^[[insertion]] & ammunition [[/insertion]] few blankets ^[[insertion]] & [[/insertion] a very few [[strikethrough]] [[?]] [[/strikethough]] little conveniences. Here they were, with simply one instrument for navigation - to wit, a Mariner's Compass. No Sextant or Quadrant, or Chronometer! & No Chart! No one in the company that could have used any of the instruments for determining the Latitude or Longitude. The commander who had [[underlined]]stuff [[/underlined]] in him was simply a "Boat's Steerer" which means that up to the time a Whale [[strikethrough]] is [[/strikethrough]] has received the harpoon [[end page]] [[start page]] or harpoons he manages the steering oar, acting Commander ^[[insertion]] of [[/insertion]] the boat's crew. After the harpoons are [[underlined]] "Sent home" [[/underlined]] ^[[insertion]] (to the Whale) [[/insertion]] the Steersman ^[[insertion]] immediately [[/insertion]] takes the place ^[[insertion]] of the harpooners [[/insertion]] in the forward part of the boat [[strikethough]] of the harpooner [[/strikethrough]] where he exercises the function of [[underlined]] "landing " [[/underlined]] the Whale. One who understood Navigation ^[[insertion]] the steward [[strikethrough]] of the "Ansel Gibbs" [[/strikethrough]] was expected to accompany this ^[[insertion]] crew [[/insertion]] [[strikethrough]] company [[/strikethrough]] but when the time came his heart failed, as some said, while others maintained that it was impossible that he should leave & ^[[insertion]] they [[/insertion]] not be detected as the Capt. of the moment was enjoying a smoke close by [[strikethrough]] his ^[[insertion]] the stewards [[/insertion]] birth [[/strikethrough]] ^[[insertion]]& the steward waiting upon him * [[/insertion]] [[dotted line to bottom of page]] This man, they said, understood navigating ships (He Had a Quadrant) All seemed to regret the disappointment, yet like true hearts, they were unanimous in saying that they preferred to hunger & die in the efforts they were now making then to [[strikethrough]] have [[/strikethrough]] remain as they were. Only two of the company had ever been to sea before - The two had been on whaling voyages to "Desolation" Island. [[line]] * [[continuation of the sentence in mid page]] the Capt of the Alfred Gibbs had been out "Gamming" & had remained out late that night. "Gam-ming"-means visiting on board another vessel (- a term used by the Whalers)
Transcription Notes:
'birth' is used as the spelling for 'berth' on other pages too.
'Alfred' Gibbs is written in error for 'Ansel'
