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Having kept close in shore , for the land-breeze , we passed the mission of San Juan Capestrano the same night , and saw distinctly , by the bright moonlight , the hill which I had gone down by a pair of halyards in search of a few paltry hides . It has been said , that the greatest curse to each of the South Sea islands , was the first man who discovered it ; and every one who knows anything of the history of our commerce in those parts , knows how much truth there is in this ; and that the white men , with their vices , have brought in diseases before unknown to the islanders , and which are now sweeping off the native population of the Sandwich Islands , at the rate of one fortieth of the entire population annually . In a moment , we heard three , in answer , from the California 's crew , who had seen us taking in our long-boat , and - " the cry they heard - its meaning knew . Eight hours of the night , our watch was on deck , and during the whole of that time we kept a bright look-out : one man on each bow , another in the bunt of the fore yard , the third mate on the scuttle , one on each quarter , and a man always standing by the wheel . During the two days I had been below , the weather was much the same that it had been , head winds , and snow and rain ; or , if the wind came fair , too foggy , and the ice too thick , to run . What one man ate in a day , over a hearty man 's allowance , would make a Russian 's heart leap into his mouth . Though we had now the same wind , and were in the same latitude with the Pilgrim on her passage out , yet we were nearly twelve hundred miles to the westward of her course ; for the captain , depending upon the strong south-west winds which prevail in high southern latitudes during the winter months , took the full advantage of the trades , and stood well to the westward , so far that we passed within about two hundred miles of Ducie 's Island . The carpenter , very prematurely , and without any authority from the crew , had sounded the mate as to whether he would take command of the ship , and intimated an intention to displace the captain ; and the mate , as in duty bound , had told the whole to the captain , who immediately sent for all hands aft . He knew that I had no faith in the story which he told the crew , and perhaps , in the moment of parting from me , probably forever , he would have given me the true account . How great the deficiency was , or what it resulted from ; whether he was born so ; whether it was the result of disease or accident ; or whether , as some said , it was brought on by his distress of mind , during the voyage , I cannot say . He was a smart , unprincipled fellow , was at the bottom of most of the rascally doings of the country , and gave us a great deal of interesting information in the ways of the world we were in . I soon began to suspect the meaning of the thing , and was afterwards told that it was a compliment , and an offer to become the lady 's gallant for the rest of the evening , and to wait upon her home . Indeed , during all the time we were upon the coast , our principal food was fresh beef , and every man had perfect health ; but this was a time of especial devouring ; and what we should have done without meat , I cannot tell . My companion on the yard was a lad , who came out in the ship a weak , puny boy , from one of the Boston schools ; - " no larger than a spritsail sheet knot , " nor " heavier than a paper of lampblack , " and " not strong enough to haul a shad off a gridiron , " but who was now " as long as a spare topmast , strong enough to knock down an ox , and hearty enough to eat him . The next day , two of us were sent up to the town , and took care to come back by way of Capitan Noriego 's and take a look into the booth .