10*2 THE CRATER; But Mark understood the feeling which dictated this re quest, and was disposed to deal gently by it. Betts was becoming daily more and more conscious of his depend ence em a Divine Providence, in the situation in which he was thrown ; and his mind, as well as his feelings, natu rally enough reverted to early impressions and habits, in their search for present relief. Bob had not the clearest notions of either the theory or practice of his sect, but he remembered much of the last, and believed he should be acting right by conforming as closely as possible to the usages of Friends. Mark promised to take the matter into consideration, and to come to some decision on it, at an early day. The following Monday it rained nearly the whole morn ing, confining our mariners to the ship. They took that occasion to overhaul the twixt-deck more thoroughly than had yet been done, and particularly to give the seed- boxes a close examination. Much of the lumber, and most of the tools too, were stowed on this deck, and something like a survey was also made of them. The frame and other materials of the pinnace were looked for, in addition, but without any success. If in the ship at all, they were certainly not betwixt decks. Mark was still of opinion no such articles would ever be found ; but Betts insisted on the conversation he had overheard, and on his having rightly understood it. The provision of tools was very ample, and, in some respects, a little exaggerated in the way of Friend White s expectations of civilizing the people of Fejee. It may be well, here, to say a word concerning the reason that the Rancocus contained so many of these tributes to civilization. The voyage of the ship, it will be remembered, was in quest of sandal-wood. This san dal-wood was to be carried to Canton and sold, and a cargo of teas taken in with the avails. Now, sandal-wood was supposed to be used for the purposes of idolatry, being said to be burned before the gods of that heathenish people. Idolatry being one of the chiefest of all sins, Friend Abra ham White had many compunctions and misgivings of conscience touching the propriety of embarking in the trade at all. It was true, that our knowledge of the Chi nese customs did not extend far enough to render it cer-
