That was a Mexican brig, which went ashore a few months before
our arrival, and was a total wreck, all the crew but one being
drowned. Yet this was from the carelessness or ignorance of the
captain, who paid out all his small cable before he let go his other
anchor. The ship Lagoda, of Boston, was there at the time, and rode
out the gale in safety, without dragging at all, or finding it
necessary to strike her top-gallant masts.
The only vessel in port with us was the little Loriotte. I
frequently went on board her, and became very well acquainted with her
Sandwich Island crew. One of them could speak a little English, and
from him I learned a good deal about them. They were well formed and
active, with black eyes, intelligent countenances, dark-olive, or, I
should rather say, copper complexions and coarse black hair, but not
woolly like the negroes. They appeared to be talking continually. In
the forecastle there was a complete Babel. Their language is extremely
guttural, and not pleasant at first, but improves as you hear it more,
and is said to have great capacity. They use a good deal of
gesticulation, and are exceedingly animated, saying with their might
what their tongues find to say.
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