What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.

VOYAGE FROM PAAMA TO PORT PAITA, to promote the comfort and welfare of the brave and hardy mari ners who acknowledged his rule, and were entitled to his pro tection; therefore, not doubting my homage, and in deference to the obligations of international courtesy, he would exempt me from the customary ceremonial, and merely require the pay ment of a trifling tribute in pro forma recognition of his mari time rights. I was an attentive, and as you will suppose, a deeply interested listener to this address-for I had heard of the terrible ordeal and humiliation of the victims of this awful rite -and when the conclusion was reached, and my self-possession was recovered, I acknowledged a sincere and deferential appreciation of Neptune's august consideration of my country and its representative; and complying with the required recognition of his rights, expressed, in diplomatic phrase, the very high gratification felt at the favorable opinion entertained by his marine majesty of the objects of my Government, which, in its zeal to prove its distinguished consideration of his friendship, had never rested in its progress, until traversing a continent it was able to plant its foot on the Rocky Mountains, and stretching its arms to the Atlantic and the Pacific could exclaim, we may not encroach on thy imperial domain, but thus let us stand in mutual relation and support, inseparable in manifestations of greatness, grandeur, and power. Yesterday my narrative of an audience was interrupted by an intimation from the "orderly " that I was wanted on deck. On obeying the summons and looking out, I saw something "very like a whale"-but whether it had some apprehension of a harpoon, or a shell, or was too modest to be gazed at by the strange leviathan steaming alongside, I know not-taking a hurried glance and a " spout," it disappeared in the depths below. Shortly afterwards a school of black-fish came along, a species of porpoise, resembling it in general appearance and habits, and like it a breathing, or blowing animal. In the latter particular, too, it bears a resemblance to certain terrestrial creatures known as "blowers" and" hangers on," not only in 8pOuting propensity, but also in ubiugiy and tenacity; for look in whichever direction we would for miles around, there they were apparently innumerable, sporting their self-conceits, following us 56

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Title
What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D.
Author
Baxley, Henry Willis, 1803-1876.
Canvas
Page 56
Publication
New York,: D. Appleton & company,
1865.
Subject terms
South America -- Description and travel
California -- Description and travel
Hawaii -- Description and travel

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"What I saw on the west coast of South and North America, and at the Hawaiian Islands.: By H. Willis Baxley, M.D." In the digital collection Making of America Books. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/abf7940.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 23, 2025.
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