THE “OLD MAN” TALKS 246 ORMSBY’S PEAK 309 “THERE SHE BLOWS!” 315 CHART OF SANDWICH ISLANDS 317 LAHAINA 320 HOMEWARD BOUND 346 A LANDSHARK 356 JUST LANDED 359 LIFE AND ADVENTURE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. CHAPTER I. New Bedford.—Fitting out a Whaler.—Shipping a Crew.—Green Hands.— Shippers.—Outfitters.—A Sailor’s Wardrobe.—All Hands on board.— Good-by to Yankee Land.—The Pilot taking leave.—The last Farewell.—Captain’s Speech.—Choosing Watches.—The _Modus Operandi_ of Ships’ Watches.—Sea-sickness. The city of New Bedford, Mass., has for many years been the principal whaling-port of the United States. From there hundreds of young men have annually gone to different parts of the world to battle with the monsters of the deep, and, after a long and weary absence from home and friends, returned with ships “laden with the spoils.” It is not our purpose to give a description of this far-famed (among whalemen) place, but we trust it will prove interesting to the reader if we briefly sketch the _modus operandi_ of fitting out a whaler, and “shipping a crew,” that if any one shall be tempted to see the world in a whaler, he may be put upon his guard against some of the impositions practiced upon “green hands” by the “shippers,” as they style themselves, of whaling-ports. In fitting out a whaler for a voyage, every thing is usually done as cheaply as possible, and often on the “penny-wise and pound-foolish” plan. With some owners, however, we are happy to say, it is different. They have a regard for the health and comfort of the ship’s company, and their ships are generally well fitted, with good provisions, good whaling material, and every thing necessary to make the voyage one of pleasure and comfort to the crew as well as profit to themselves. In nine cases out of ten such ships get good crews, and make profitable voyages. But there are others who are actuated by a niggardly disposition in fitting and provisioning their ships, and the result of the voyage, as far as profit is concerned, is a corresponding one.