Yet they deserved to work under a better system, for they were often fine fellows, daring, active, and skilful.

Theirs was no fair-weather trade.

Their working season was in the winter.

Sharp winds and rough seas had to be faced, and when these were contrary it required no small strength to pull their heavy boats against them hour after hour, and mile after mile, to say nothing of the management of the cumbrous steering-oar, twenty-seven feet in length, to handle which the steersman had to stand upright in the stern sheets.
[Footnote 1: John Jones, of Waikouaiti.

His first missionary found two years at a whaling-station quite enough, if we may judge from his greeting to his successor, which was "Welcome to Purgatory, Brother Creed!" Brother Creed's response is not recorded.] The harpooning and lancing of the whale were wild work; and when bones were broken, a surgeon's aid was not always to be had.