Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1850-10-26

mentarily less distinct and visible, but knew
not from whence the shadow fell A few of
them, better versed in lunar observations,
explained to the rest the phenomenon. They
said the earth had showed bit of her black
hull between US and the moon. But when
asked why she had done this, the reason as
signed was, that the moon had probably got
little out of her reckoning, and in attempt
ing to tack missed stays
/ SLIP BETWEEN Cur AND LIP.-Ths re-
minds me of an occurrence on board the
/ Vincennes. We had been in a gale for two
days, which at last broke suddenly, leaving
a high sea. Governor V. S., Of Santa Cruz,
whom we were taking out as passenger, when
the gale had broken, sent an invitation to the
wardroom officers to come to the cabin to
take glass of whiskey-punch with him.
Total abstinence not being at that time the
order of the day, we all went up. The Go
vernon stated that he had one bottle of very
old Irish whiskey with him, which would
make capital punch. Tumblers were Or
dered; the hot-water, whisky and sugar, in
due proportions mixed and stirred. Now,
said the Governor, please take your glasses,
each lifted his glass, when tremendous sea
4 StiuS uS uuuCI tuC COuucT, puCucu Us
all in a mass together on the floor. Whisky,
glasses and sentiment, all came down in one
crash. The first thing heard was the ex-
clamatory enquiry of the governor,-"Cap
tain Shubrick, are we still ahoat?"
l CAUSE OF SToRM--We caught two days
since a stormy petrol. As the bird was
brought on board the old sailors around
shook their heads with ominous looks of dis
satisfaction. "We1l have a blow for that, -
said on old salt; and sure enough before the
wings of the petrol were dry, storm set in.
"We1l have no more fair weather." said
another, "till that petrol is put back into the
sea-" ''I knew a ship" exclaimed third
" that had forty days. gale for having kill
ed petrel; and if that bird dies on board
well escape a wreck by the skin of our
teeth, or we'll rot down in a dead calm y
Our storm continued without any token of
abatement, and last evening the ominous bird
was returned in safety to its own element.
The clouds soon swept past, the sun emerged
into bright sapphire sky, and leading wind
from the southeast sprung up.
i A Sailors OMNIBus.-All pens were now
put in motion to despatch letters home. Go
where you would, fore or aft, nothing was
ID Dc nedTu Uut tHC VI tuCSC pCuS
What surprised me most was the number OF
sailors driving the quill. How they can carry
paper in their clothes-bags unrumpled, where
every thing is mussed up, is more than ! can
explain. But of all beings the sailor is most
fertile in expedients. He slows away every
thing in his clothes-bag, from mirror to a
: marline-spike, from a cable to a cambria
needle, and has plenty Of room remaining.
AN OPINIoN-But one evil the storm has
wrought us; it has destroyed our good wind,
and left us to look out for another, like a
widow for husband. No lady should marry
a second time; if her first husband was a
good one, she would cherish his memory; II
bad, he should serve as a beacon. Gentle
men may marry again for they were once
allowed as many wives as they wished, and
it would be pity if under any circumstances
they could Mt have one. But somehow the
ladies' outdo us entirely in these second mar
riages, and in most other things which re-
quire tact and management But what has
this to do with getting round Cape Horn?
ORNIrHoLoGY.-We have the albatros
still about US; but we have missed the pen
guin. The habits of these birds are peculiar
especially when they get up their annual
rookery. They select for this purpose, as
one informs me who has been among them,
plot of smooth ground, covering two or
three acres, and opening on the sea. From
this they remove the sharp pebbles, piling
them on each side into a miniature stone
fence. The ground is then plotted off into
little squares, with paths intersecting each
other at right angles. In each corner Of a
square a penguin scoops out a nest; while
the aIbatros takes by common consent, the
centre, raises small mound, and constructs
nest on the top; so that each albatros has
four pens uins around him. The paths, which
resemble gravelled walks, are used for pro-
menadine and exercise, except the broad one
which runs around the whole encampment,
a and where sentries are constantly patroling
These sentries give the alarm at the aP-
proach of danger, and are relieved at regular
intervals. The watch is kept up night and
day, and is always under the command oi
the albatros.
When the eggs have been laid the great
est vigilance is exercised by the albatros to
prevent the penguin from stealing them; for
the penguin lays but one egg, and as II
ashamed of making all this ado for the sake
q of this one, tries to get another from the nest
of the albatros. But the latter has no idea
of gratifying the domestic ambition OF its
neighbor in that way. There is OF course
little need among them of founding hos
pital.
i The eggs are never left or exposed to
breath of cold air during incubation. The
male bird, who has been at sea seeking his
repast, returns and takes the place of his
faithful consort. He always allows her the
most favorable hours out Of the twenty-four
! in which to secure her food, and often brings
it to her, especially when the infant progeny
require her more delicate maternal atten-
tons He never ill-treats his mate, nor goes
off at the dead of night serenading other
birds He may have indeed his little domes-
tic troubles, but he overcomes them by kind
r ness and affection. His partner always greets
him on returning from his briefeScursions at
sea, with the lveliest expressions of glad