the "roaring forties" astern. While thus making northing we had
several fine catches of porpoises, and saw many rorquals, but
sperm whales appeared to have left the locality. However, the
"old man" evidently knew what he was about, as we were not now
cruising, but making a direct passage for some definite place.

At last we sighted land, which, from the course which we had been
steering, might have been somewhere on the east coast of Africa,
but for the fact that it was right ahead, while we were pointing
at the time about N.N.W. By-and-by I came to the conclusion that
it must be the southern extremity of Madagascar, Cape St. Mary,
and, by dint of the closest, attention to every word I heard
uttered while at the wheel by the officers, found that my surmise
was correct. We skirted this point pretty closely, heading to
the westward, and, when well clear of it, bore up to the
northward, again for the Mozambique Channel. Another surprise.
The very idea of WHALING in the Mozambique Channel seemed too
ridiculous to mention; yet here we were, guided by a commander
who, whatever his faults, was certainly most keen in his
attention to business, and the unlikeliest man imaginable to take
the ship anywhere unless he anticipated a profitable return for
his visit.


*


CHAPTER X

A VISIT TO SOME STRANGE PLACES