Indian
The London whaleship Indian was a regular visitor to New Zealand during the 1820’s. Having left England in August 1817, under Captain William Swaine, she arrived at the Bay of Islands the following April, having fallen in with another whaler, Foxhound. During this visit, Captain Swain dined on board Foxhound with Captain Watson and the Christian missionaries Kendall, King, and Hall. In August, Indian called at Port Jackson, Sydney Cove, to unload a speculative cargo of Porters Ale, soap, and slop clothing. In September, she set sail for the fishery again, still in company with Foxhound. Both ships had already secured a quantity of whale oil. In May 1819, Captain Watson of Foxhound reported that Indian had taken 260 tons of oil. Indian then headed back to London where Captain Swaine left the ship and was replaced by another famous whaling man, Silas West.
West sailed Indian from England in September 1819 and the ship arrived at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in February 1820. While Indian was anchored at Paroa Bay, the naval ship HMS Dromedary arrived and Indian's crew rowed over to greet the ship. The following month, Indian sailed for the fishery again, this time in company with the ill fated whaler Echo. Indian made several visits to the Bay of Islands during 1820 and while there in August, Chief Officer Wilson died of apparent “miserable intemperance”. One of the christian missionaries buried him in his garden at Oihi and nine boat loads of crew from four ships formed a solemn funeral procession across the bay to attend the burial. A very early resident of the Bay of Islands, salt maker James Boyle, used one of Indian’s boats to row to Kerikeri to tell the mission that his house had been burnt down by Maori, in September 1820. Shortly after, Captain Silas West sailed Indian for the fishery again. They made one more visit in January before arriving at Sydney in March 1821. By this time her crew had taken 560 barrels of oil destined for sale on the London market.
Indian had by now been out from England for 18 months, but was far from ready to head home. In 1821, she called at the Bay of Islands in August and then again in January 1822. Unfortunately Indian was back again in February to bury Captain West who had been killed by a whale off Preservation Inlet. He too was buried in Hall’s garden, as he had earlier requested. Indian’s new captain was Merrick, and in April he sailed the ship for England, from Paroa Bay. When Indian next appeared in New Zealand it was 1826 and a man very familiar with the ship was at her helm again, Captain William Swaine. Having called at Sydney beforehand, Indian had supercargo in the form of botanist, Mr Cunningham. He took a small trip up a river inland while at the Bay of Islands, accompanied by Captain Swaine and Captain Brind of Emily. Indian was still on this whaling cruise in April 1827 when she next called at the Bay, and in November she made her final stop there before sailing for England. Indian arrived in England in March 1828 and was only two months in port before sailing again for the South Seas on 23 May. In September 1829 Indian was reported to be at the Bay of Islands still under command of Captain William Swaine.
West sailed Indian from England in September 1819 and the ship arrived at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, in February 1820. While Indian was anchored at Paroa Bay, the naval ship HMS Dromedary arrived and Indian's crew rowed over to greet the ship. The following month, Indian sailed for the fishery again, this time in company with the ill fated whaler Echo. Indian made several visits to the Bay of Islands during 1820 and while there in August, Chief Officer Wilson died of apparent “miserable intemperance”. One of the christian missionaries buried him in his garden at Oihi and nine boat loads of crew from four ships formed a solemn funeral procession across the bay to attend the burial. A very early resident of the Bay of Islands, salt maker James Boyle, used one of Indian’s boats to row to Kerikeri to tell the mission that his house had been burnt down by Maori, in September 1820. Shortly after, Captain Silas West sailed Indian for the fishery again. They made one more visit in January before arriving at Sydney in March 1821. By this time her crew had taken 560 barrels of oil destined for sale on the London market.
Indian had by now been out from England for 18 months, but was far from ready to head home. In 1821, she called at the Bay of Islands in August and then again in January 1822. Unfortunately Indian was back again in February to bury Captain West who had been killed by a whale off Preservation Inlet. He too was buried in Hall’s garden, as he had earlier requested. Indian’s new captain was Merrick, and in April he sailed the ship for England, from Paroa Bay. When Indian next appeared in New Zealand it was 1826 and a man very familiar with the ship was at her helm again, Captain William Swaine. Having called at Sydney beforehand, Indian had supercargo in the form of botanist, Mr Cunningham. He took a small trip up a river inland while at the Bay of Islands, accompanied by Captain Swaine and Captain Brind of Emily. Indian was still on this whaling cruise in April 1827 when she next called at the Bay, and in November she made her final stop there before sailing for England. Indian arrived in England in March 1828 and was only two months in port before sailing again for the South Seas on 23 May. In September 1829 Indian was reported to be at the Bay of Islands still under command of Captain William Swaine.