The Marquesas, Panorama of a Whaling Voyage: (Roll 3, Section 3)
The Panorama Reaches the Marquesas, Showcasing Sites from Herman Melville's Writings and Indigenous Life
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 3, Section 36/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
In this section of the "Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World", the longest painting in North America, created by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce Purrington in 1848, you'll experience a portrayal of a whaling voyage that spans the globe.
Sailors passed by many ports of call, including the Marquesas Islands. It was here that author Herman Melville once deserted his ship and stayed.
Voyage MapNew Bedford Whaling Museum
"Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World"
This highlighted section of the voyage is depicted here on this line. Scroll through this story to continue the voyage.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 3, Section 33/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 33 of 44
Marquesas Islands
A whale ship is shown cruising for sperm whales off the Marquesas Islands with the island of Hivaoa in the background. Its boats are down and chasing whales.
A school of dolphins cavorts in the sea in the waters off the island of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 3, Section 34/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 34 of 44
Nuku Hiva was among the most popular ports of call in the Marquesas. It is famous as the place where Herman Melville deserted the ship Acushnet of Fairhaven in July of 1842.
In this scene, two American whalers and a small fleet of French naval vessels lay at anchor in Taiohae Bay, known to mariners as Typee Bay. Melville took the title for his book Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life (1846) from his experiences there.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 3, Section 35/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 35 of 44
A French man-of-war seems to be heading from the Marquesas to the island of Huahine in the Society Islands, or Tahiti. The ship represents French domination of the Marquesas and Tahiti in the 1840s. As in other scenes, Russell highlights sea life, featuring a couple of sawfish.
In this scene a small schooner carrying a couple of female passengers is shown. It represents the turmoil caused by the French seizure of the islands and Queen Pomare IV’s needto flee onboard the small English ketch Basilisk.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 3, Section 36/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 36 of 44
Huahine
Whalemen visited a great many islands including Huahine for fresh fruit, livestock, vegetables, and fresh water. A group of indigenous people are shown trudging along the shore carrying livestock trussed up on sticks.
The whaleboat towing a line of water casks was also a common sight in many out-of-the-way locales in the Pacific, and elsewhere in the world. The need for fresh water provided the basis for the majority of contact between whalers and other mariners, and native peoples.
The large structure at represents the London Missionary Society Chapel built in 1821.
"The Grand Panorama of a Whaling Voyage ‘Round the World" Roll 3, Section 37/44 (1848) by Benjamin Russell and Caleb Pierce PurringtonNew Bedford Whaling Museum
Section 37 of 44
In 1824 a Nantucket whaling master Richard Macy of the ship Maro visited the Society Islands for wood and water. He told a story that was printed in the Nantucket and New Bedford newspapers of how he sailed into a bay and tied his ship up to a tree.
End of Roll Three
While cruising on the Off Shore Grounds in the Pacific Ocean in November 1820, the Nantucket ship Essex, captained by George Pollard, was rammed by a large sperm whale. The twenty man crew took to the whaleboats and aimed for the Chilean coast, over 4000 miles away.
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