if two strangers crossing the pine barrens in new york state, or the equally desolate salisbury plain in england; if casually encountering each other in such inhospitable wilds, these twain, for the life of them, cannot well avoid a mutual salutation; and stopping for a moment to interchange the news; and, perhaps, sitting down for a while and resting in concert: then, how much more natural that upon the illimitable pine barrens and salisbury plains of the sea, two whaling vessels descrying each other at the ends of the earth—off lone fanning’s island, or the far away king’s mills; how much more natural, i say, that under such circumstances these ships should not only interchange hails, but come into still closer, more friendly and sociable contact. and especially would this seem to be a matter of course, in the case of vessels owned in one seaport, and whose captains, officers, and not a few of the men are personally known to each other; and consequently, have all sorts of dear domestic things to talk about.