June 23, 1823
Dearest Father,
Being captain of the whaleship called the Bengal is tiring. There is a lot of work to be done. As you know, we sailed out of Mystic. I felt sad when I left you, mother,sister Sarah,and brother Arthur. I’m leaving Tahiti and heading to Hawaii. My crew and I caught 7 whales. I’m saving you my scrimshaw that I carved for you. I carved a whale that is rumored to have bitten a boat and taken the leg of a captain.
Some of my crew are sick with scurvy. Scurvy is an illness you get when you don’t have enough Vitamin C. Your gums feel like sponge and they bleed. Your teeth could also fall out. The worst thing of all is that my cabin boy died of scurvy. His name was Henry and he was 11. I feel heartbroken that I will need to be the one to tell Henry’s mom. When we get to Hawaii I hope to sign on a new cabin boy. I will have to get some oranges and lemons to help the rest of my crew. I am going to try to protect the fruit by covering it with baleen to see if that will help it from rotting.
How is the house? How is the family dog?
Your dearest son,
Harry
Dearest Father,
Being captain of the whaleship called the Bengal is tiring. There is a lot of work to be done. As you know, we sailed out of Mystic. I felt sad when I left you, mother,sister Sarah,and brother Arthur. I’m leaving Tahiti and heading to Hawaii. My crew and I caught 7 whales. I’m saving you my scrimshaw that I carved for you. I carved a whale that is rumored to have bitten a boat and taken the leg of a captain.
Some of my crew are sick with scurvy. Scurvy is an illness you get when you don’t have enough Vitamin C. Your gums feel like sponge and they bleed. Your teeth could also fall out. The worst thing of all is that my cabin boy died of scurvy. His name was Henry and he was 11. I feel heartbroken that I will need to be the one to tell Henry’s mom. When we get to Hawaii I hope to sign on a new cabin boy. I will have to get some oranges and lemons to help the rest of my crew. I am going to try to protect the fruit by covering it with baleen to see if that will help it from rotting.
How is the house? How is the family dog?
Your dearest son,
Harry