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 South-Sea pork. The head fisherman seemed a mighty fine independent fellow, both in manner and conduct. Found our fine huge China turtle (a present for the ship-owner) quite frozen to death; indeed I was myself half frozen, being colder than ever I felt in England in my life. Absence, distance, and difficulty, seem to enhance the value of the unprized comforts which I leave behind me; my heart is thereby enlarged for those too little loved objects whom I have quitted, perhaps, to see no more.

3rd.—At six this morning weighed anchor in Holm's Hole harbour, a beautiful little port of Martha's Vineyard. On leaving this pleasant vineyard, we fired a salute of five guns, which nearly shook me out of bed. Saw a beautiful fleet, of 10 sail, around us. The island of Nantucket {27} alone sent out last year 60 sail of whalers round Cape Horn. At noon, we made Cape Cod, a long neck of land running 100 miles into the sea, and having four lighthouses on it, offering to the eye a singular scene; an immense bank or ridge of dirty white sand, quite naked, and bare, without grass, shrubs, or trees; it is the most perilous part of the coast. By midnight we made Boston light, and fired two cannon for a pilot, who soon came to us, and took the helm.

Sunday, 4th.—At daybreak passed Fort Independence, Fort Strong, and Fort William, which are all founded by