In this way he
greatly increased the royal revenue, and turned his China
speculation to account.
CHAPTER VII.
Departure From the Sandwich Islands.--Misunderstandings--
Miseries of a Suspicious Man.--Arrival at the Columbia--
Dangerous Service.--Gloomy Apprehensions--Bars and
Breakers.--Perils of the Ship. Disasters of a Boat's Crew.--
Burial of a Sandwich Islander.
IT was on the 28th of February that the Tonquin set sail from the
Sandwich Islands. For two days the wind was contrary, and the vessel was
detained in their neighborhood; at length a favorable breeze sprang up,
and in a little while the rich groves, green hills, and snowy peaks of
those happy islands one after another sank from sight, or melted into
the blue distance, and the Tonquin ploughed her course towards the
sterner regions of the Pacific.
The misunderstandings between the captain and his passengers still
continued; or rather, increased in gravity. By his altercations and his
moody humors, he had cut himself off from all community of thought, or
freedom of conversation with them. He disdained to ask questions as
to their proceedings, and could only guess at the meaning of their
movements, and in so doing indulged in conjectures and suspicions, which
produced the most whimsical self-torment.
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