The Ayacucho's boat, pulled by four Kanakas,
put off first, and as they had no rudder or steering oar, would
probably never have got off, had we not waded out with them, as far as
the surf would permit. The next that made the attempt was the
whale-boat, for we, being the most experienced "beach-combers," needed
no help, and staid till the last. Whalemen make the best boats'
crews in the world for a long pull, but this landing was new to
them, and notwithstanding the examples they had had, they slued
round and were hove up- boat, oars, and men- altogether, high and dry
upon the sand. The second time, they filled, and had to turn their
boat over, and set her off again. We could be of no help to them,
for they were so many as to be in one another's way, without the
addition of our numbers. The third time, they got off, though not
without shipping a sea which drenched them all, and half filled
their boat, keeping them baling, until they reached their ship. We now
got ready to go off, putting the boat's head out; English Ben and I,
who were the largest, standing on each side of the bows, to keep her
"head on" to the sea, two more shipping and manning the two after
oars, and the captain taking the steering oar.
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