Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-11-16
MISSIONARY.

From the Bap. Missionary Magazine, Nov. 1899.
Deputation to the Missionary stations Ia
the East.
Journal Of Rev. Howard Malcolm.
Continued.
Tuesday, Dec. l. Last evening sail
was deserted directly astern, and by three
o'clock this morning, she came up and
spoke us, proving to he the TIgris, from
London to Ceylon. They passed ahead.
but the wind dying entirely away, they
after breakfast, put off boat, and the Capt
| (Stephens,) Col. Mcpherson, of the Cey-
Ion regiment, a surgeon, and several young
officers, came on board. Learning from
them that the Rev Mr.. Hardy and wife.
Wesleyan missionaries to Ceylon. were
on board, Mr.. Sutton and myself with two
or three Of the brethren went TO him, and
had pleasant interview On returning,
we found our captain had rugged my arm
chair with nice strings and tackle, to the
yard-arm, and was prepared to give the
ladies an excursion. The two boats took
them all, and they remained an hour with
the ladies in the Tigris, during which
gcnteel repast was served to them
Our first visitors remained with US, and
took lunch From Col. Mcpherson, who
had served in the Burman war, learned
few particulars respecting that people.
and also the Shans for whom feel deep
ly interested.
During the absence of the ladies, we
observed an encounter between ashump-
backed whale, and a thresher. The
whale seemed greatly provoked, founder.
thresher adroltly evaded the stroke of it's
fukes, sometimes by leapmg entirely out
of the water. Presently after these COM
batants disappeared, four or five other
whales were seen rolling and playing
within one hundred yards Of the ship, their
backs rising five or six feet out of the wa.
ter, while ever and anon, as they descend
ed. their broad tails rose up high into
view. Toward evening breeze sprung
up, the Tigris passed on, and we parted
company with the regret of severed neigh
! bors.
IS. In latitude 81 deg. 80 min, lon
gitude 70 deg. east. Never had ship
finer run than ours since we left the equa-
tor. We got up to latitude 35 deg on the
twenty-thlrd ult., being then in longitude
;, % deg. west We have thus run ninety
three degrees of longitude in thirty-three
days, and have passed the Cape without
the semblance Of storm. 1t being near
ly midsummer here, we have had mild
Qhough damp weather, the thermometer
never sinking below SO deg.
l had no conception that doubling the
Cape of Good Hope" meant passing by
the coast of S. America tot higher haiti
tude than the Cape, and then proceeding
as ns0r as possible in straight line six
thousand miles eastward, before We turn
northward again; in the mean time not
coming within one hundred and fifty or
two hundred miles of the Cape But
such is the course rendered necessary by
the trade-winds Persons going to India,
and leaving the United States at any time
except from about the first of October to
the first of January, ought to be provided
with flannels for five or six weeks use.
Having found the flesh of our porpoise
an exceedingly delicate food, we have
sought every opportunity to horpoon an
other, but without success, till yesterday,
when we welcomed one on deck. All
agree that they never ate more delicious
meat than this is, after it has been kept
day or two" 1t has no resem blanee to fish,
in appearance or taste; but when cnoked,
is Of a dark color, like venison and eats
like the tenderest beef. The liver is very
fine. This porpoise was instantly recog.
nized as of a different species from the 9TH
er, though Of the kind usually caught in
this region. 1t had strong, thick. coul-
ter-shaped fin on the back, The ight cob
or of the belly was diffused over the back
towards the tail The other, which the
sailors called Cape Horn porpoise, had
no fin on the back, and was of uniform
dark color the whole length Of the back.
The captain assures US that the porpoises
which tumble about in our bays, are quite
equal 10 these for food. 1t lis pity in this
case, that they are not broug hit to market.
Being easily taken, they would form at
once cheap and delicious food, beside
the advantage of the oil.
January /, 1886. Our fine run con-
tinues. For ffy-four days past our pro-
gress has averaged one hundred and sew
enty-two miles day, which is seventy
miles more than the average of the first
forty five days. We now see no alba
trosses, and few birds Of any kind-no
whales-no ships. The reflection that as
l walk the deck, | tan turn nowhere and
look towards home-that friends and
couutrymen are beneath my feet. and that
the thickness Of the globe divides Us.
makes this new years day memorable
Absence indeed it is, when one can GET
no further from his country!