motherly woman of about fifty, of dark, olive complexion, but
good features, was kindness itself; and their three youngest
children, who were at home, could not, in spite of repeated
warnings and threats, keep their eyes off me, as if I had been
some strange animal dropped from the moon. I felt very unwilling
to leave them so soon, but time was pressing, the stores we had
come for were all ready to ship, and I had to tear myself away
from these kindly entertainers. I declare, it seemed like
parting with old friends; yet our acquaintance might have been
measured by minutes, so brief it had been. The mate had
purchased a fine bullock, which had been slaughtered and cut up
for us with great celerity, four or five dozen fowls (alive),
four or five sacks of potatoes, eggs, etc., so that we were
heavily laden for the return journey to the ship. My friend had
kindly given me a large piece of splendid cheese, for which I was
unable to make him any return, being simply clad in a shirt and
pair of trousers, neither of which necessary garments could be
spared.

With hearty cheers from the whole population, we shoved off and
ploughed through the kelp seaweed again. When we got clear of
it, we found the swell heavier than when we had come, and a rough
journey back to the ship was the result. But, to such boatmen as
we were, that was a trifle hardly worth mentioning, and after an
hour's hard pull we got alongside again, and transhipped our
precious cargo. The weather being threatening, we at once hauled
off the land and out to sea, as night was falling and we did not
wish to be in so dangerous a vicinity any longer than could be
helped in stormy weather. Altogether, a most enjoyable day, and
one that I have ever since had a pleasant recollection of.