As I was known for a hide-curer, this post was assigned
to me, and I continued at it for six or eight days, tossing, in that
time, from eight to ten thousand hides, until my wrists became so lame
that I gave in; and was transferred to the gang that was employed in
filling the boats, where I remained for the rest of the time. As we
were obliged to carry the hides on our heads from fear of their
getting wet, we each had a piece of sheepskin sewed into the inside of
our hats, with the wool next to our heads, and thus were able to
bear the weight, day after day, which would otherwise have soon worn
off our hair, and borne hard upon our skulls. Upon the whole, ours was
the best berth; for though the water was nipping cold, early in the
morning and late at night, and being so continually wet was rather
an exposure, yet we got rid of the constant dust and dirt from the
beating of the hides, and being all of us young and hearty, did not
mind the exposure. The older men of the crew, whom it would have
been dangerous to have kept in the water, remained on board with the
mate, to stow the hides away, as fast as they were brought off by
the boats.
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